The Film
There is no denying that the works of Russian author Leo Tolstoy are more well known than that of his own life. Yet, as The Last Station shows us that the literary icon was as complex - and complicated - as any of his own characters. With the lead character played by Christopher Plummer, the film chronicles his final days when Tolstoy renounces his title and property, much to the disdain of his wife (Helen Mirren). As a film it has does have a feeling that this story should be epic, much like a Tolstoy story, but instead comes off a tad too much like a crib note version. And thus Tolstoy and even the supporting characters including Vladimir Chertkov are reduced to being just Tolstoy-esque characters.
The Picture
Life in Pre-World War I Czarist Russia couldn't have been easy, and the 2.35:1 widescreen 1080p video shows that even a famous author didn't exactly live the good life all the time. Visually this period costume drama looks sharp and detailed, and shows off the attention to the various nuances of the production. The colors of the villages as well as those of the surrounding forests are excellent, making this feel at times like a travelogue to a faraway land.
The Sound
As a dialog heavy film there isn't much in the way of any bombastic moments. War and Peace this is not, even if Mr. and Mrs. Tolstoy wage a war of words at various times. Throughout the production the 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio handles the dialog and more subtle sounds extremely well. The sounds that should be loud - such as the trains and crowds - have an even more realistic punch as a result. This is by no means reference quality audio for showcasing your home theater system, but the sound is well beyond adequate. About the only complaint with the audio is that the cast sounds all too "un-Russian," but this is typical of period costume dramas, where the actors tend to over emphasize their stage accents.
The Extras
The bonus features have everything you'd probably ever want to know about this production, including a commentary track from writer/director Michael Hoffman, as well as a second commentary from Plummer and Mirren. There are also deleted screens, and interestingly enough a "Missed Station" gag reel of outtakes (something you don't normally expect in this type of drama). There is also a "Tribute to Christopher Plummer" featurette and the theatrical trailer. All of this helps build to the mystique of both Tolstoy and the actor who plays him.
Final Thoughts
Given that the film is actually less than two hours (113 minutes), and covers the final year of the author's life there is actually a lot of story jammed in here. The tale itself is enjoyable enough, and looks decent, and even if Russian literature isn't really your thing this one is easy enough to sit through and enjoy - unlike some of the real author's works!
Product Details
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