Poor Helen Mirren. In accurately portraying Sofya Tolstoy in “The Last Station” she must appear as though she is over-acting. But historians might well note that Sofya was a real drama queen given to broad over-reaction. So it seems that Mirren has truly nailed this character, although at times it does feel suspiciously like over-acting.
In any case, it’s a joy to watch Mirren immerse herself in the character of Leo Tolstoy’s wife during the final days of his life. Christopher Plummer gives a remarkable performance as the iconic Russian novelist whose best known works are the classics “War And Peace” and “Anna Karenina”.
Unlike the recent “Creation” which detailed the life of Charles Darwin while he was writing his master work, “The Last Station” introduces us to Tolstoy after he has already achieved fame from his work. In fact, many Russians regarded him as a living saint. Paul Giamatti plays a character who is building a religious movement around Tolstoy.
But the heart of this movie’s plot is in the love story. Director Michael Hoffman and his two leads do a splendid job in balancing the serious drama with comedic opportunities. Sofya’s over-the-top affection for Leo is both touching and humorous.
“The Last Station” portrays the final days of an icon, but it does so with a universal appeal. It’s not a conventional bio-pic about Leo Tolstoy. It’s a story about the difficulty of living with love and the impossibility of living without it.
“The Last Station” portrays the final days of an icon, but it does so with a universal appeal. It’s not a conventional bio-pic about Leo Tolstoy. It’s a story about the difficulty of living with love and the impossibility of living without it.
DVD Double Feature: Although Tolstoy was an outspoken critic of William Shakespeare, “The Last Station” reminded me of 1998’s “Shakespeare In Love”. Joseph Fiennes plays the iconic writer who falls in love with Gwyneth Platrow while he is working on his play “Romeo And Juliet”. The film won 7 Oscars including Best Picture.