To my happy surprise, this film was a story about Leo Tolstoy. True. But it was enveloped in an issue of the Russian husband and wife rights. Women's rights then and now is of interest. In fact, this story highlights the utter demon-ification of a woman who simply wants what rightfully should be hers as his wife. I was disgusted at the trials she endured at the unenlightened times. A monster, absolutely not. Crazy. No way. Troublemaker. Maybe, that was the only way to get her message heard.
Christopher Plummer was gigantic in this role. I felt as if I knew him by the end. This made me happy and sad. A good outcome for an actor to project from the character.
If you saw, Paul Giamatti in "John Adams", you already know what a stellar actor he his. He elevates his performance in The Last Station. He is fabulous as the impassioned Tolstoyian, Vladimir Chertkov. Wow!
Watching the story unfold, I wasn't sure whether he was a devotee with good intentions, or a scoundrel set on deceiving and cheating Tolstoy out of the rights to his life's work. A villan or hero. Who could tell and even to the end, it is a mystery barely revealed.
No review of this film should omit the enjoyment of Helen Mirren, who is such a great actress proven, but reawakened by every facial expression and sigh. An advocate of women's rights, I felt her pain. Her feeling of betrayal. Her hopelessness. Her trust and mistrust. Mirren is the benchmark for performance extraordinaire.
James McAvoy as Valentin, showed his magnificent side by portraying the multiple and complex struggles of a young man caught in a situation he could not envision or expect. Good for him as this role will surely elevate his status as an actor.
That's how I size this movie up, blog. I recommend it.