The Last Station (DVD)

I missed this film in the cinema - no that's not true - the distribution system in the UK these days is a disgrace. Unless they're up for an Oscar, quality films with quality UK actors get a raw deal. This film had a two-day stint at the local cinema. I liked everything about it: it draws you in and doesn't let you go with fine acting, bewitching locations and sharp script. Why are distributors so frightened of intelligent films? My big grouse is not with the film but the company releasing the DVD. There are 10 minutes of unwanted and excruciating 'coming shortly' extended extracts from three films I had no interest, in followed by an advertisement for Maltesers! The real insult was there was no way to fast forward this section and get on with watching the film proper. What is the point of this inane practice? These 'coming shortly' films are already well past their sell-by dates and have already dropped into the black hole marked Totally Forgettable. Buy the DVD, set to play and go and make a cuppa. The film should just be about starting when you get back.

It's Russia, 1910, and Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) is the most revered author of his day having written War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. He happily shuns material things and is contemplating leaving his works to the Russian people. His wife, Sofya (Helen Mirren), understandably doesn't see eye to eye with her husband's philanthropic views, worrying that her family will be left impoverished, and she voices her concerns quite openly. No matter what his wife's views are, Tolstoy has an active following in the Tolstoyans who live their lives according to what they believe to be Leo Tolstoy's principles. One leading Tolstoyan, Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), who edited Tolstoy's work, recruits a young man, Valentin Fyodorovich Bulgakov (James McAvoy), to be Tolstoy's personal secretary and requests that he make a note of everything the Countess says and does. Chertkov aims to prevent Sofya influencing Tolstoy with regard to his last Will and Testament, and Bulgakov is unhappily trapped in a difficult situation of caring for both the Count and Countess. The Last Station (2009) is an engaging gem of a movie with a cast of actors who are just perfect in their roles. We can never know (unless we were a fly on the wall at the time) what was actually said between the various real life characters but the script of this movie is written in such a way that it's hard to doubt anything that was said or done. It's believable. Christopher Plummer is just marvellous as Tolstoy who, in his last year (in the movie) is pulled in two directions by Chertkov and Sofya. Plummer almost outshines Helen Mirren, which is no easy feat. She literally threw herself into the role of the desperate diva dreading the death of Tolstoy if he changed his Will. It was cringeworthy watching Sofya keep harping on to Tolstoy about the Will and his inevitable, impending death. James McAvoy looked ingenuous (doesn't he always?) enough to play the rather naïve secretary whose attempt at being celibate didn't exactly live up to his raging hormones and passion for Masha (Kerry Condon). All in all it's a good 112 minute drama and worth checking out if only to watch Mirren's absurd theatricals as the Countess. I mean, we have a Countess clucking like a hen and Tolstoy crowing like a cock. It's all too much. :) As for the Blu-ray, it was all you can expect from a Blu-ray, visual and audio (5.1 DTS HD Master Audio), but it bugged me no end that I wasn't allowed (by the disk) to pause during the trailers, and that there was an advert for Malteasers. Do we want to pay a fortune for DVDs and Blu-rays so that the movie makers can make more money from advertisers? No. The extras on the Blu-ray are an Interview with Director Michael Hoffman; and Conversations on 'The Last Station', which I confess I have not watched. VJ - Movies and Books World

Remarkable film about the last days of Tolstoy. Plummer and Mirren are perfect for their roles and there is a tremendous supporting cast. Historical accuracy seems high and it is also emotionally charged, capturing the love hate relationship of the central couple.

The title tells all. As he is about to die his wife (Helen Mirren) has a stormy relationship with Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer). At the root of this is Tolstoy's will in which he has left the rights to his work to the State. To watch this film you must be interested in Tolstoy and pre Revolution Russia. Mildly interesting, well acted and produced.

This is a moving and brilliantly acted film. There is never a dull moment so your emotions and interest are given a good workout. The cast give fabulous performances but for me it was Helen Mirren who was particularly captivating and I really felt for her character. My heart-strings were pulled a few times and I did shed a tear or two at the end. I don't know how historically correct the film is but from an entertainment point of view I would highly recommend it just for the amazing acting and wonderful story.

I enjoyed this film in the cinema and it worked again on tv. Marvellous performances from Plummer and Mirren as the Tolstoys. I think that the complexity of their relationship is shown well. Then all the Tolstoyans - hilarious and ghastly.

I just received the second Bluray disk with the movie "Last Station" and again it is a faulty one. It will not start playing, I tried on three Bluray players. I hope I can get a refund. Optimun Release does not care about his customers and does not answer my request for a replacement disk. Very pity, this is a beautiful film. I will buy the german DVD now.

I like this movie because though it is a story about the last days of Tolstoy, The tune (at least for most of the time) is light and fun. The acting is great from all the actors. The one thing that I am not very happy about this particular disc is that the commentary audios are not included. Probably it is on DVD version? The commentary audios are great fun to hear so it is pity that this one does not have them.

The acting in this film is incredible. Really interesting story and great production. Will watch it many times. Ordered through Rarewaves Ca who I have ordered with many times. The dvds are from the UK so different region - need a compatible dvd player. They always ship very quickly so items often arrive before the estimated delivery time. Items always in perfect condition, never any problems. Thank You!

What a beautiful, appealing film is the Last Station. Even if it takes placed during th final months of the celebrated author Leo Tolstoy's life, it is really about life and its complexities and choices and options. The scenes of the Russian countryside are beautiful and certainly explain why Tolstoy would opt for the pure country life in his later years. The acting is perfect with Helen Mirren and James McAvoy delivering wonderful performances. The film is about complexity also. Life offers complexity and this film does a superb job of revealing the conflicting nature of our desires and personal philosophy. Leo Tolstoy, played beautifully by Christopher Plummer, is torn between his love and loyalty to his large family and to the Russian peasants and the rest of downtrodden humanity. His wife, Countess Sophya Tolstoy, played by Mirren, wishes for the royalties of his many novels to remain as part of the family estate, providing her, her children, her grandchildren with income for generations to come. Yet Tolstoy's personal philosophy has become a new emerging ideology and the primary disciple and mover of the movement wishes that Tolstoy would make all his works available free of copy right to anyone who wishes to publish and distribute his work. The screenwriters displayed perfect balance between Helen Mirren as the Countess, concerned with the security of herself and family and that of Paul Giamatti who is standardizing and canonizing Tolstoy's philosophy for the good of mankind. Is the Countess greedy? Yes, but so is everyone to some extent. It is a normal human emotion and it is not until the Countess becomes extremely histrionic that Count Leo Tolstoy becomes weary of her manipulation. Giamatti plays a more controlled and careful character, trying to make the works of the great writer as accessible and affordable as possible, yet in the name of loving and helping mankind, he cuts corners and hurts. This is not a simple issue for we have seen the results of ideology gone wrong in the lives and careers of Robespierre, Pol Pot, Jim Jones, Stalin, and others. The zealot who will hurt other humans for a higher good is a theme of great importance for ideologies that are meant to spread love often spread pain, hatred, and intolerance. Tolstoy is torn between them personally and intellectually and the film displays his struggle to reconcile these warring camps. The screen writers inserted the naïve, thoughtful, observer in the character of Tolstoy's new secretary, played by James McAvoy. Tolstoy insists that all world religion is based on the common concept and experience of human love. McAvoy begins to experience that love and it opens him up to the struggle that Count Tolstoy undergoes in the power struggle between his wife and his disciples. Valentin, the secretary, is amazed that Tolstoy wishes to know all about him and to hear his life experiences. He is amazed that a great man wishes to hear the experiences and thoughts of a young man rather than relate his own illustrious career and philosophy. I love this concept in the film for great men are open to experiences of others, to their views, their pain and belief, for it fuels the mind and soul of a great man to hear these things. Tolstoy is the great man who wishes not to impress you with his philosophy but to open you to your own personal philosophy. The virgin Valentin is opened to a world of emotion, experience, and love when he meets a fellow pilgrim, Masha, played by the subtle beauty, Kerry Condon. Valentin is placed in a similar situation to Tolstoy, do we side with those whom we love or do we side with those comrades who join us in philosophy and ideology for the better good? Valentin calls Masha to him whereas Tolstoy must separate himself from hysteria to gain peace of mind in his final days. The film is a beautiful life affirming experience and is highly recommended. I left the film feeling elated for there are no easy solutions, there are no uncomplicated relationships, there are no decisions that don't have unforeseen consequences; yet the human heart is a guide - a blind, innocent, easily fooled guide, but a guide none the less.

can't comment on the movie because I could not watch it. Tried three different machines, all region-compatible, and none would play it. Too late now to send it back.

Strindberg lags far behind the Tolstoys in humanity, romance, heart and intelligence. The passion of Tolstoy and Sofya, Dame Tolstoy, was their greatest journey. Actors Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer, James McAvoy and Kerry Condon are all wonderful.

Very much enjoyed this movie!!