The Last Station (2009)

Having renounced his title and property, renowned Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer) makes plans to donate his royalties to the Russian people. He is supported in this by his trusted disciple (Paul Giamatti). But his outraged wife (Helen Mirren) wages a one woman war to challenge her husband's outrageous act of idealism. Based on the biographical novel by Jay Parini and directed by Michael Hoffman (SOAPDISH). The film is set during the last weeks of Tolstoy's life and could be dismissed as Oscar bait. But although it received nominations for Mirren (best actress) and Plummer (best supporting actor), it would be an unfair assessment. What director Hoffman and his stellar group of actors have done is turn what could have been a tedious postcard period piece into a vital film laced with generous doses of wit. Sebastian Ebschmid gets the honors for the splendid camera work and the striking score is by Sergei Yevtushenko. With James McAvot, Kerry Condon, Anne Marie Duff and John Sessions.