Susan Granger’s review of “The Last Station” (Sony Classics)
Acclaimed Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy copes with the consequences of celebrity in this melodramatic true story which chronicles the final year of his life. He writes in his diary: “I feel that the attitude of people…is either complete devotion and confidence or, on the contrary, repudiation and hatred.”
Ensconced in his country estate in 1910, Count Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) has come to reject private property, much to the chagrin of his aristocratic wife of 48 years, Countess Sofya (Helen Mirren), who has not only borne him 13 children but helped him with his work, dutifully copying “War and Peace” six times – by hand. Her nemesis is pompous, scheming Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), a zealous disciple who is urging Tolstoy to bequeath his literary estate to the Russian people in public domain. To that end, he hires naïve, worshipful Valentin (James McAvoy) as a new assistant for Tolstoy; gullible Valentin’s duties include spying on the household and reporting back to Chertkov. Meanwhile, in a nearby commune, Tolstoy’s followers do farm labor while spreading his doctrine of pacifism, social equality, vegetarianism and celibacy. Living there, virginal Valentin is seduced by hedonistic Masha (Kerry Condon). Eventually, tired of temptuous Sofya’s histrionics, Tolstoy, accompanied by Valentin, boards a train for Southern Russia, decamping at Astapovo, a remote outpost, where the conflicts must be resolved.
Adapting a 1990 best-seller by Jay Parini, advised by Tolstoy’s descendants, and filming in bucolic German locations, versatile writer-director Michael Hoffman (“One Fine Day,” “Restoration,” “Soapdish”) tackles universal themes like love, greed and sexual politics – set against the perennial divergence between idealism and reality – with varying degrees of success, due to his uneven scripting and pacing .
What’s impressive are the naturalistic performances. Christopher Plummer (“The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus”) exudes seductive, contradictory self-assurance, while Helen Mirren (“The Queen”) ignites her righteous outrage. Despite their one-dimensional roles, James McAvoy (“Atonement”) and Paul Giamatti (“John Adams”) also have memorable moments. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “The Last Station” is an intriguing, art-house 8, bringing history to life.
