The Last Station (2009)

Content by Tony Macklin. Originally published on February 13, 2010 @ tonymacklin.net.

The Last Station is a tale of venerable conflict, deception, and love.

It's an age-old, old age power struggle. But it's not just in the room down the hall of the retirement home; it's in Mother Russia.

Based on the last days of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy -- from a novel by Jay Parini -- The Last Station is about a power triangle of Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) his wife Sofya (Helen Mirren), and interloper Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti).

In The Last Station, Tolstoy, one of the foremost writers in the world and the author of War and Peace, is the leader of a communal movement pushing for the rejection of private property and the promotion of passive resistance.

Sofya desperately is trying to hold on to the rights to her husband's estate and the rights to his writings. Her adversary Chertkov wants the rights to go to the Tolstoyan movement.

It's an unholy war.

Tolstoy seems to want to live out his days in peace and writing. But it's not to be. There's too much at stake.

The voice of some sanity in the movie -- between the furious bickering and rollicking yelling of Leo and Sofya -- is Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy). He is the one individual who seems to be a confidant of both Tolstoys, even though Chertkov has hired him as Tolstoy's secretary to report back to him.

With a trim beard, Valentin is fresh-faced and clear-eyed. Chertkov refers to him as, "our naive sentimentalist." Valentin too falls in love, smitten and dreamy, with a young woman at the commune, Masha (Kerry Condon). Masha says to Valentin, "You're pure." She tells him, "You're what I came here for." But their relationship is tested.

Both Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer have received Oscar nominations for their performances in The Last Station. They artfully mix angst, anger, and humor.

Giamatti's role doesn't allow him much more scope than to frown and twirl his mustache. McAvoy leavens the proceedings with amiable energy and youthfulness.

Michael Hoffman wrote the screenplay and directed with suitable aplomb. He stays out of the way of his stellar actors.

The Last Station juxtaposes old love and young love. Must The Last Station of love be dilapidated?

Leo and Sofya and Valentin and Masha do not seem to think so.