AT THE MOVIES

Share the Wealth!

 

By Robert Waldman

 
History can be a dry subject.  Brought to the screen old subject matter can be either copious or enlightening.  Into the breach we go as a political giant springs to life in bold fashion in The Last Station, a truthfully revealing tale from Sony Pictures Classics and Mongrel Media now hoping to entice audiences to The Fifth Avenue Cinemas.   

Turn a page in any history book on the modern world and the name Leo Tolstoy is someone to be reckoned with.  Long the sage of philosophy students and the unwashed peasants this one man managed to transform Russian society forever.  In The Last Station director writer Michael Hoffman (One Fine Day) delves deep into the “personal” life of this intellectual giant with smashing results.  Thanks to expert casting we get to see the emotional side of Tolstoy along with his admirers and detractors. 

Who would have thought actors with Canadian and British backgrounds could have pulled off such pitch perfect portrayals of these Russian larger than life figures. Early on we see the aging Tolstoy grappling with his waning health.  Christopher Plummer (The Sound of Music), white beard and all, nails down the nuances of Tolstoy.  Seeing him rant and rave against his wife all for the cause of common property rights is a sight to behold as we peek into not just the outer persona of this man but the inner turmoil he faces on an almost constant basis.

Audiences in North America have for years raved about the on camera abilities of Meryl Streep as one of the best actors out there.  Right they are.  Across the pond in England continental audiences have long know the sheer magnificence of Helen Mirren (The Queen).  Ms. Mirren’s portrayal of Tolstoy’s wife, Sofya, seems to have Oscar written all over it. No over-acting here as the two life-long lovers stare each other down and face off on a host of issues all of which relate to the welfare of the family versus the cause of the state.  You can’t help but get caught up in this personal squabble which in a way symbolizes the battles that often occur in most “normal” households over such rather mundane things as money.  In The Last Station that gulf between one’s own greed, the necessities of life and helping others in an ideal world is magnified exponentially. 

Adding more fuel to this incendiary fire are three other characters that play pivotal roles in the life of Tolstoy.  Old time friend Vladimir Chertkov, like many others, believes in Tolstoy’s political philosophy and his proletariat views as well as commune living and sharing.  Eye to eye they see the world and American actor Paul Giamatti (Duplicity) proves again that he’s able to take on any challenge and rise to the occasion offering up a memorable rendition of a Russian crusader out to change the world. 

Into this mix comes a newcomer to the Tolstoy inner circle.   Naive at the start and ready to help and serve his new master as a personal secretary is Valentin Bulgakov.  Major young talent James McAvoy (Atonement) continues to mature and impress with each new venture and his depiction of a shy boy unaccustomed to the ways of the world turns out to be intriguing in the extreme.  One chance meeting with a woman named Marsha doing chores at the commune in a way symbolizes the ways one must wrestle with making decisions.  Memorable is the plain style Kerry Condon (Angela’s Ashes) brings to the table as Marsha in order to make an impression on this bright new thinker from the big city. 

Friction and internal conflict make up lots of the tension in The Last Station which boasts tremendous acting, a revealing look into the personal life of one of the 20^th Century’s leading political figures and cultural icons, all set deftly amidst a great rural Russian background.  Learn a lot about living history by the quick fire jousts between these intellectuals and the sparring family wars over things like estates and legacy.  Oh, and the occasional love affair thrown in further ramps up the intensity of the relationships of one man and the millions that follow his every word. 

Palace intrigue set at a home out in the country instead of a lavish estate capture the way these folks live.  Good shots of the rural commune that Tolstoy adores and the way he treats others also ring true in this noble offering that is a study in good taste and the excesses power can hold for those on their last legs.

 
The Last Station (G) * * * * * 

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