Too much of everything

People are voting emotionally.

There's no way I can possibly love it entirely but I just think its ridiculously bad, but enjoyable at the same time.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I didn't know anything about what this movie was about, only one or two of its stars, and I knew the critics gave it slightly low ratings, but I was prepared to give it a chance, directed by Michael Hoffman (One Fine Day). Basically set in the year 1910, the last year in the life famous Russian author Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer), regarded as one of the greatest writers of all time. Tolstoy was thought of as a saint or a prophet, with many followers known as "disciples", his most famous works are probably War and Peace, and Anna Karenina. The story sees Tolstoy's disciples, led by Vladimir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), trying to get control of his legacy and the copyright of his works, after he dies, from his wife Sofya (Dame Helen Mirren). The main setting is Tolstoy's country estate of Yasnaya Polyana, Tolstoy and his wife have had a long, passionate marriage, she mothered his fifteen children, but they are at odds with her more aristocratic and conventionally religious views. The manoeuvring of the copyrights is seen through the eyes of Tolstoy's new secretary, Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy), who is inbetween both sides, he also has a love affair with Masha (Kerry Condon), one of the Tolstoians. Ultimately, Tolstoy signs the new will and travels to an undisclosed location (the last station of the title), to continue his work undisturbed, after his departure, Sofya unsuccessfully attempts to commit suicide, trying to drown herself in the lake. During his journey, Tolstoy falls ill, it ends with his near death at the Astapovo train station, daughter Sasha (Anne-Marie Duff) allows her to see him moments before his death, it is revealed that five years later the Russian senate reverted the copyrights of Tolstoy's work to Sofya. Also starring John Sessions as Dushan, Patrick Kennedy as Sergeyenko and Tomas Spencer as Andrey. Plummer looks the part with the big white hair and beard, Mirren is interesting as his wife, it was perhaps a mistake to have McAvoy be more focused on rather than the sparks flying between Plummer and Mirren, the story lacked flair, but there were a few interesting moments, overall it was a slightly below average period biographical drama. Okay!

Very interesting peek into literary giant's life and his lesser-known domestic troubles that completely lies on the shoulders of strong actors - it looks very much like stage drama but in fact it is adaptation from a novel. Director Michael Hoffman does his best to show off beautiful locations in Germany and Russia, however the main dialogues happens always indoors, so there is a certain "staginess" which in itself its not bad - specially since we have actors of this caliber. Both Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren were either awarded or nominated for awards on international film festivals for their roles of Leo Tolstoy and his wife Sofya, deservedly so: they completely bring back to life two people who lived, loved and fought for 48 years side by side, while creating some of the world's greatest novels together. Like probably for most of the people, their marriage was full of happiness, laughter, frustrations and compromises - strong personalities who needed each other and the movie shows fascinating interaction between them as they fight about publishing rights that might pass into public domain (Tolstoy's well-intended but somehow clumsy and selfish idea, considering his wealth should provide his family estate with comfortable life after his death). There are lots of hyenas and vultures around, excellent Paul Giamatti being just one of the many amongst them - and young secretary (James McAvoy) whose romance with free-spirited Russian girl reflecting passion between elderly Tolstoy couple. The character of this young, enthusiastic and open- hearted secretary is well-acted, though his initial naivety slowly started to go on my nerves, where towards the end of the movie I find him so annoying (he is aware of all the backstage manipulations but does absolutely nothing to prevent them or to help anybody) that I started to argue with the movie. Yes, I remember what it was to be young and unsure, painfully willing to please everybody and to tremble in front of authority but even than I was opinionated and probably more prone to fight for the right thing than today - its young people who are ready to die for their beliefs, so I just wanted this secretary to show some guts and fire, instead of being innocent, passive bystander. All the best about Plummer and Mirren, though. Whatever they do - when they argue, throw the plates, laugh or make love, they are joy to watch. "You don't need the husband, you need a Greek chorus" as angry Tolstoy scorns his wife.

The movie presents us with the last years of Tolstoy's life and his relationship with his wife, Sofia. The film it supposed to be historical, but it has few historical facts in it. It focuses more on Sofia's character, her relationship with her husband and his friend, who wants to alter Tolstoy's will so that the copyrights of the books won't go to his wife, but the Russian people. Apart from that, there is the romance between Tolstoy's secretary and a young girl from his community or Tolstoyans. The insistence on the presentation of love in all it's forms and the continuous talking about sex is getting tiring after a while, and while Helen Mirren is fantastic in the role of Sofia, the movie strays of the main idea and focuses on the love between the two young people. Other than that, the rest of the scenes are endlessly boring. So, only because of the performances, I am giving the movie 4 out of 10.

This kind of Hollywood trash has Tolstoy rolling in his grave.It's like watching an extended American soap opera; just a bunch of ballyhoo and over-dramatic lovers' quarrels that focus obsessively on the question of who will retain the copyright to Tolstoy's works.There's not even a single mention of Tolstoy's literary work and the film is bereft of any philosophy leading up to the Russian Revolution less than a decade later.In this film, Vladimir Chertkov says to Tolstoy's Wife, "I would have blown my brains out. Or gone to America." After watching this movie, you'll likely prefer the former...In short, this film is total drivel and an utter two hour waste of time.