The Last Station

Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren are aces as Leo and Sofya Tolstoy during his last year on Earth. When a young Tolstoy fan (James McAvoy) gets a gig as Tolstoy’s secretary, he gets close to the legend while finding some hot love of his own. This movie is a little trite, but Mirren and Plummer absolutely make the most of it and elevate the picture to something worthwhile. Ditto Paul Giamatti as Vladimir Chertkov, determined to change Tolstoy’s will so that his properties are made public domain for the people. The ending of the movie doesn’t seem to jibe with actual history, but few historical dramas stick close to the truth these days. Seeing Plummer and Mirren share the screen is worth the price of admission. It’s no classic, but it will do.