The Last Station

The Last Station alternates between pathos and comedy as it illustrates the last days of Leo Tolstoy. This eye opening account of a kind of commune that also practices pacifist and socialist ideals merely reminds a modern audience that free love didn't begin in the 1960s.
Director Michael Hoffman, whose previous films include the romantic period meller Restoration, establishes Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) at odds with his wife Sofya (Helen Mirren, nominated for Best Actress for her performance here) over his decision to sign over his royalties to the people. "Your family is starving," Sofya begrudges Leo. He retorts "Nobody is starving in this household," to which she replies "And you're always the first at the trough." The back and forth between this pair resembles an absurdist sitcom bickering couple who like to argue until they're in the bedroom where their sarcastic asides become love coos.
Prodding Toystoy to sign away his wealth, for the people of course, is his slick advisor played by Paul Giamatti (a reptile without a heart in some scenes). Caught between the factions in the various Tolstoy camps is newcomer Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy, always good in bumbling lad roles). McAvoy is seduced both by the new age compound Tolstoy lords over as well as by Kerry Condon as Masha, a spry nymph who takes McAvoy straight to bed, much to his surprise and delight. The movie's as much about this young couple as the older Tolstoys.
As terrible as some of the quarrels seem to be The Last Station never poisons the story or atmosphere with animosity. The film has a light airy mood that's accentuated by a rather haunting and brilliant solo piano theme (original music by Sergei Yevtushenko) that lifts The Last Station whenever it's heard. The Last Station will appeal beyond heavy literary types who may've actually read more than one of Tolstoy's books; it offers solid production values to go with its compelling relations and wide vision of a community that seems to exist outside time.
The Last Station opens exclusively this weekend at the River Oaks Three before widening to the suburbs next week.