Here is a link to Amazon UK to get this BLU RAY at a very cheap price:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00370843A
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00370843A
"…You're What I Came To Find…" - The Last Station
on BLU RAY
In the last two decades of his life – the author of
"War And Peace" and "Anna Karenina" - wasn’t just the most
famous writer in the world – Leo Tolstoy was the inspiration for an entire
movement that advocated pacifism, vegetarianism and love as the core of its
commune philosophy. Tolstoy also rejected Church dictate, private property and
was even seen by some as a living saint. And in 1919 his fame was such that he
actually became one of the world’s first modern-day celebrities - filmed on
Pathe Cameras everywhere he went - with crews and press teams relentlessly
stalking his home for photos and footage of the great man. And although he
neither sought out publicity nor was comfortable with it – his ego as Demigod
enjoyed it too – putting huge pressure of his home life and volatile marriage.
The statistics surrounding the lifelong union of Leo and Sofya
Tolstoy are incredible (played to perfection by Christopher Plummer and Helen
Mirren). Married when she was 18, she bore him 13 children and they were still
sexually passionate into their 80s. But forces like the leader of the worldwide
Tolstoyan movement Vladamir Chertkov (Paul Giamatti), his devoted Doctor Dushan
(John Sessions) and even his daughter Sasha (Anne-Marie Duff) all wanted him to
give his legacy to posterity. This effectively meant forfeiting the copyright
to his written works – giving the lot to the people and not his family.
Seeing how her ageing husband was being flattered for
political ends while her family’s fortune was being simultaneously shafted -
Countess Sofya thought otherwise - battling constantly with him and his army of
devoted followers. After all - she had hand-written “War And Peace” six times
for him – spent her entire life devoted to the man – only at the end to see his
life’s accomplishments be used by reformist zealots ("They read him but
they don't understand a word…").
Entering into this cauldron of personal warfare and
political intrigue comes a young virginal Moscow idealist of 26 - Valentin
Bulgakov (James McAvoy) - who becomes Tolstoy’s Private Secretary for the last
year of his life. Valentin’s stay at the Tolstoy Estate of Yasnaya Polyana and
the nearby Tolstoyan commune of Telyatinki introduces him to temper tantrums,
ideological debate at garden parties, endless scribbling and even love in the
shape of the feisty Masha (a fabulous turn by Irish Actress Kerry Condon – the
jockey Rosie in the TV series "Luck" – her dialogue above titles this
review). But soon Valentin is more than in love – he’s conflicted. Should he
keep on spying for the ruthless and obsessed Chertkov or should he leave the
great man in peace. It all culminates in driving the old author into despair -
until one day Tolstoy can take no more and leaves on a train. But ill health
brings him to…
"The Last Station" was adapted by Writer and
Director Michael Hoffman from Jay Parini's 1989 novel of the same name (itself
based on Valentin’s diaries). With such a juicy story and a well-written script
– big names and big talent were drawn to it.
But none of this would amount to naught if it weren’t for
the central story of their 'love' – the difficulty of living in it and the
impossibility of doing without it. Mirren’s Sofya is all spiky rage, steely
determination and drama Queen swoons while Plummer’s bearded Tolstoy looks
benevolently on her - adoring his long-suffering wife one moment - repulsed by
her need and annoyed by her courage the next. Both characters are big shoes to
fill – and with fantastic word battles – they give utterly convincing
performances of trapped people – giggling in young bedroom tenderness one night
then spitting ideological venom at each other the following morning on the
porch.
There are also fabulous conversations between Plummer and
McAvoy as they walk on lilac-scented evenings about 'actual life' instead of
philosophy and the scheming Giamatti character fills ever scene with a
self-righteous knowing that he is so good at. Throw in acting heavyweights like
John Sessions, Anne-Marie Duff, Kerry Condon and the spot-on James McAvoy
(married in real life to Anne-Marie Duff) and you’re in for an emotional ride
as well as an engaging historical tale. This is sumptuous, well-crafted, intelligent
filmmaking (and even funny too in places) and quite why either Mirren or
Plummer didn’t get Oscars for their lead roles is frankly a bit of a mystery…
Filmed in Germany with huge production values "The Last
Station" is also a gorgeous watch on BLU RAY. Defaulted to 2.35:1 – there
are bars top and bottom of the screen - but even stretching to Full Aspect –
it’s looks beautiful throughout – especially on close ups of clothes, steam
trains and in the idyllic countryside communes.
One of the two Extras includes a truly superb 45-minute
Making Of called "Conversations On…" which features extensive
interviews with Director and Screenplay Writer Michael Hoffman, the original
author Jay Parini, Producers Jens Meurer and Bonnie Arnold and all the leads (the
work process, favourite scenes, discussion of Tolstoy and the period). There's
even Anthony Quinn’s agent who owned the book rights for decades (he had hoped
to do the part). Audio is 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and the Subtitle is English.
In the end it’s a fascinating story – and an insight into
the world of arguably the world’s first global pop star – only with a beard,
arteritis, a cranky wife and a troop of peasants in tow waving their cloth caps
instead of their Dolce and Gabbana handbags.
A top job done by all (especially Michael Hoffman) –
"The Last Station" is a movie journey well worth the huff and puff…
