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The Last Station

Russia, Germany, United Kingdom

2009

112 Min
Color
2.35:1
English
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
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DIR Michael Hoffman

EXEC Andrei Konchalovsky, Robert Little, Phil Robertson, Judy Tossell

PROD Bonnie Arnold, Chris Curling

SCR Michael Hoffman, Jay Parini

DP Sebastian Edschmid

CAST Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti, Anne-Marie Duff, John Sessions, Patrick Kennedy, Kerry Condon

ED Patricia Rommel

PROD DES Patrizia von Brandenstein

MUSIC Sergei Yevtushenko

Telluride (The 'Show'), AFI FEST, São Paulo (International Perspective)

Synopsis

In 1910, acclaimed Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy, in the later stage of his life, works rather than a writer but as the leader of the Tolstoyan Movement, whose basic tenets are brotherly love and world peace through pacifism, and a denouncement of material wealth and physical love. His chief follower is Vladimir Chertkov, who does whatever he requires to advance the cause. Chertkov hires a young man named Valentin Bulgakov to be Tolstoy’s personal secretary in carrying out this work. Once ensconced in the life on the estate where much of the work is taking place, Bulgakov quickly learns that many there take from the movement only what he/she wants/believes. Also chief amongst the movement’s wants is the deeding of all Tolstoy’s writings to the people so that after his death it will become public domain. Tolstoy’s wife, the Countess Sofya Andreevna Tolstoy, believes that her husband’s writings are rightfully hers after he passes, as she wants and believes she deserves the monetary benefits derived from such. This places a strain between those in the movement, especially Chertov and the Tolstoy’s daughter Sasha, and the Countess. Bulgatov acts as the mediator between the parties, he who feels he needs to do what is truly in Tolstoy’s heart regardless of what Tolstoy may say or do. –IMDb

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Michael Harbour

15Jan12

Most movie love stories show the origin of what we expect will be a great love. This movie shows us the last days of a great love. By turns uplifting and heartbreaking. A movie that feeds your soul. (Plus a bonus story of budding love if you really can't live without that.)

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Christopher

1Sep11

Entertaining, and it made me laugh heartily in a few spots. I like the insult toward the end of the movie (I won't spoil it, but it has to do with five of Sofya's children dying). Plummer and Mirren have a convincing dynamic.

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sean

6Apr11

i would've respected it much more in russian, otherwise good acting, good depiction.

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Kirby

3Mar11

Excellent performances from almost every cast member. It's really great what some of the smaller characters manage to do in their little screen time. The story, however, feels like it drags on a bit. I felt two hours may have been too much.

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W184

In Theaters: "Up in the Air," "The Last Station," "Brothers"...

By David Hudson on December 4, 2009

Reviews from Telluride and Toronto may have been mixed, but Jason Reitman's Up in the Air got a bit of a boost yesterday when the National

read article
W184

Lists and Awards: Gothams, IDA, Spirits

By David Hudson on December 1, 2009

This year's double-round of list-making - best of the year, best of the decade - is already well underway (see "Let the Wild Listings Start

read article
W184

The Auteurs Daily: Telluride. The Last Station

By David Hudson on September 8, 2009

  "A melodramatic account of the tempestuous final year of Leo Tolstoy's life, The Last Station is solid middlebrow biographical

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THE LAST STATION BluRay review

By Twitchfilm.com on May 17, 2011
Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station is a great example of the kind of Hollywood production that frustrates for what it could have been. Adapted from Jay Parini’s fictional biography of the last days of
read on Twitchfilm.com

THE LAST STATION BluRay review

By Twitchfilm.net on June 15, 2010
Michael Hoffman’s The Last Station is a great example of the kind of Hollywood production that frustrates for what it could have been. Adapted from Jay Parini’s fictional biography of the last days of
read on Twitchfilm.net

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A Vexing Melodrama

By Dzimas on August 27, 2010

I finally got around to watching The Last Station. Despite my many misgivings, I found myself enjoying this movie largely for the stellar performance by Helen Mirren, which was worthy of a Moscow…  read review

Nice attempt, wrong approach

By d on January 23, 2010

Wonderful performances bring a small light to this film, and even from James McAvoy who while being an affable charming fellow struggles to translate that into a commanding acting performance. Paul…  read review

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