Very interesting peek into literary giant's life and his lesser-known domestic troubles that completely lies on the shoulders of strong actors - it looks very much like stage drama but in fact it is adaptation from a novel. Director Michael Hoffman does his best to show off beautiful locations in Germany and Russia, however the main dialogues happens always indoors, so there is a certain "staginess" which in itself its not bad - specially since we have actors of this calibre.
Both Christopher Plummer and Helen Mirren were either awarded or nominated for awards on international film festivals for their roles of Leo Tolstoy and his wife Sofya, deservedly so: they completely bring back to life two people who lived, loved and fought for 48 years side by side, while creating some of the world's greatest novels together. Like probably for most of the people, their marriage was full of happiness, laughter, frustrations and compromises - strong personalities who needed each other and the movie shows fascinating interaction between them as they fight about publishing rights that might pass into public domain (Tolstoy's well-intended but somehow clumsy and selfish idea, considering his wealth should provide his family estate with comfortable life after his death). There are lots of hyenas and vultures around, excellent Paul Giamatti being just one of the many amongst them - and young secretary (James McAvoy) whose romance with free-spirited Russian girl reflecting passion between elderly Tolstoy couple. The character of this young, enthusiastic and open-hearted secretary is well-acted, though his initial naivety slowly started to go on my nerves, where towards the end of the movie I find him so annoying (he is aware of all the backstage manipulations but does absolutely nothing to prevent them or to help anybody) that I started to argue with the movie. Yes, I remember what it was to be young and unsure, painfully willing to please everybody and to tremble in front of authority but even than I was opinionated and probably more prone to fight for the right thing than today - its young people who are ready to die for their beliefs, so I just wanted this secretary to show some guts and fire, instead of being innocent, passive bystander.
All the best about Plummer and Mirren, though. Whatever they do - when they argue, throw the plates, laugh or make love, they are joy to watch.
"You don't need the husband, you need a greek chorus" as angry Tolstoy scorns his wife.
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