willcundallreview Rating-7/10The Last Station is a biopic of good proportions and delivers them thoroughly and dramatically to produce a film about Leo Tolstoy that isn't his point of view at all, if anything is criticises parts of his mentality. It isn't scared to show the fragility's of every person included in this film and just what it takes to push them over the limit. I particularly liked this movie also for it's moments of silent drama pieced with it's angry drama together which build up for a good drama, and that is exactly what I found it, a safely good drama.The story is slow yes but it has to be to that to show the drama unravel and who is treacherous and who is faithful for a good film that shows good drama. I enjoyed the more humorous side with James McAvoy portraying a character who although it is in no way a comedy but a drama that isn't afraid to not always be serious and produce a more light side that runs along side the darker tones too. Finally on the story it is a story that starts by being more happy than expected but by the end darker tones come in and not to ruin it but it is dark until the very last few scenes(well kind of).Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren(both nominated for Oscars) do superb and although Ii actually didn't feel this was Mirren's best, she still did a great job as the slightly damaged wife. Plummer I felt was great support for McAvoy as the main man Tolstoy, he excerpted his smart mind with a tad of crazy to bring in a portrayal that can dazzle. Supporting cast are all good, literally nearly all of them and the film gains on that point with a solid cast as I said. I finally will say that the acting deserves more praise as the characters are diverse and unpredictable, and so there skills are pushed to the limit, all of them.This is based on Jay Parini's book of the same name and the screenplay adaption by Michael Hoffman is a well unknown if it is a good on the book but in any cast the script is good and is of course adapted very well by the actors on screen. Hoffman is also director and proves to be a great one of that making this film nearly very good, but not quite. Finally on technical terms the locations are beautiful in Tolstoy's grounds and make for a drama yes, but it is beautiful to look at if you happened to not like the story.The film is not without criticism but not a lot so here is the only thing I found wrong with this, the film is incredibly slow and set in the most similar places scene for scene, now personally I found the drama in most scenes but I felt maybe some were wasted and boring, but also why my rating is not higher than what I gave it. I think some will not find these annoying and some will hate the entire film but in the end it is your opinion.I think those who enjoy straight drama will love this and if you enjoy films set in these kind of early 20th century settings then it is perfection for you, although maybe a more romantic film set in this time would be a better choice for you. Those who like big and loud films stay away, this is slow and also slow releasing drama that is for those who like it that way, but still worth a watch nonetheless.Overall I give it a 7/10 and it is Safely a Good film, it just escapes from being simply Pretty Good and I feel I could have rated it a bit higher, but also rated it lower. People will be mixed on how to rate it and although I do believe if you watch this you will like it, in the final end it comes right down to preference and what kind of film you enjoy watching. Finally also even if you don't like films like this, if you are an aspiring actor this film has prime example of how to be a good actor and really is worth taking notes on.

Vihren Mitev I hope that I can make you feel the humble feeling that is lurking from that movie, that can distance you from the noise and the lack of orientation, that make you feel comfortable and feel the good behind which is the true love.Although his life is quite, the connections with the people for Tolstoy are dynamic. What is happening to them is really interesting to him and gives him strength. Trying to give balance to what is happening to him, he follows his heart which he has given to everyone he knew. Spread the love one every parallel in your life like a cobweb and give it to everyone and everything, he is saying. But I know this from somewhere else.This time I write because I also want to share something. Why I know this from somewhere else? Is it normal to you when your cats, came after a big change in your life, put off the shelf several times a book about Lev Tolstoy? So many times that is easier for you to read that book instead of putting it back again? I doubt that. And like it is written in this book – the great writer often make chance to look like necessity, following the good side of his curiosity. I do so too.I have to check what is his astrological sign. And I can not miss saying the name of Mikhail Bulgakov, the metaphor of the train, the last stop and the number of the last train 6009 – the abyss (one for him and one for her) staying between life and man that his true love is away.http://vihrenmitevmovies.blogspot.com/

MLDinTN I don't see what the point of making this movie was. It was boring and about an uninteresting writer. The 2 lead actors are good, but they aren't given much to do. Christopher Plummer plays famed writer Tolstoy and Helen Mirren is his wife, Sofya. They have been married nearly 50 years and love each other but also fight a lot. Sofya gets carried away and has a lot of emotional fights with her husband. She is worried that Vladamir, Tolstoy's friend, will try to steel the rights to his books once he dies. She's always talking about Vladamir trying to get the will changed. As a side plot, Vladmair hires Valentin to be Tolstoy's assistant, and report back to him everything that happens at home. Valentin starts an affair, she leaves, not much else with that story line.The ending is basically the last days of Tolstoy and how his wife really loves him.FINAL VERDICT: don't waste your time

edwagreen Pre-Communist 1917 revolution is the backdrop for this drama which features a totally over-the-top performance by Helen Mirren as the Countess Tolstoy, and Christopher Plummer as the great writer Leo Tolstoy. Both Mirren and Plummer were nominated for Oscars in the best actress and supporting actor divisions, respectively and deservedly lost to Sandra Bullock and Christoph Waltz, respectively.The movie is a slow moving one with a sidebar story of Tolstoy's social secretary finding love in the commune that the writer has set up.The film is extremely slow moving and brooding with Paul Giamatti, the friend of Plummer, stealing every scene that he is in. Conniving and supposedly loyal to his friend, he sets forth a changing of the will to supposedly help Tolstoy's cause of peace which sets him against Mirren.As shown in the film, the peasants didn't look like they had it that bad which is a major flaw of the film. In fact, Mirren seems to be suffering even more. Is she that money hungry, desperate for love or just what?