The Last Station

Full disclosure, I am not a big classic literature kind of guy. As much as I have written, or been praised or encouraged for writing, literature bores me. The more I am told something is a classic or required reading, the more likely I am to watch Spider-man or Hot Fuzz, order a donair, and drift away on a wispy thin cloud of fuck you. I don't read the book a movie is based on either, not since the train wreck that was Steven King's It starring John Ritter and John Boy from the Waltons.

I expected to hate the Last Station, figuring I might hang in there for 20 minutes or so, get bored and go on an internet search for NHL trade rumors or boobies or something more my speed. Instead here I am about to talk about how great this movie is, albeit with a few caveats.

This is a grown up movie. It is rich with story, plot, subplot, juxtaposition and all other kinds of fancy nuanced shit. It is a shut up, get serious and pay attention kinda deal so if you get bored without a car chase or ninja battle, you might want to give this a pass.

Christopher Plummer plays legendary Russian author Leo Tolstoy, the man responsible for War and Peace, as he struggles to find a balance between fame and wealth and his disdain for material possessions. Ageless sexpot Helen Mirren plays his batshit crazy wife Sofya Tolstaya, who quite enjoys the trappings of success and positively hates all the sycophants surrounding her beloved husband. She knows Leo hasn't much longer to live and is desperate to provide some security for herself and her many many children.

Working against her is Paul Giamatti, Hollywood's preeminent go to weasel, as Vladimir Chertkov, a devoted follower of Tolstoyism (basically a life of abject dullness and suppression of our more base and interesting instincts like sex, and owning stuff, and hating things). He wants Tolstoy to cut her out of his will, to turn over the rights and all future royalties to the Russian people. Because Sofya is completely insane and scares him shitless, he sends in a plant, James McAvoy, to serve as Tolstoy's new secretary but more importantly, to record his every movement and dealings, so he can gain the upper hand on crazy woman.

There is a lot of story here, and I am way too lazy to get into it all. Suffice it to say, I gleefully went down every little bunny trail, every nook and cranny director and screenwriter Michael Hoffman wanted me to go. Performances were wonderful all round, I particularly enjoyed Helen Mirren and Paul Giamatti - who in a rare move for him, was fairly restrained. Equally surprising was the fact Christopher Plummer didn't annoy me once. Jesus, maybe I am getting old.

This is not a popcorn movie. It is neither breezy or light, and should not be watched with a casual attitude. It is an engaging, slow moving, sophisticated, artsy fartsy bit of brain candy. And I loved it.

8 out of 10