Talk about the little film that could: The Last Station, the story of the final days of Russian author Tolstoy, has managed to get itself Oscar-nominated not once but twice, with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer both nominated. And you can get a taste of what landed them the nods below.
The film sees Valentin Bulgakov (James McAvoy) arrive to act as secretary to the aging Leo Tolstoy (Plummer), who is in the last year of his life and has decided, as part of his commitment to a non-material life, to leave his works and fortune to the Russian people. His wife Sofya (Mirren) is less than happy with this decision, and does everything she can to try to stop him.
It's all directed by Michael Hoffman, based on the novel by Jay Parini. The Last Station is out on February 19, so you can see what all the fuss is about then.