I went to both these screenings with high expectations, roundly dashed:
- Jay Parini’s novelization of Tolstoy’s weird last days, The Last Station, was favourably reviewed and I always regretted not reading it. But the film of the same name, directed by Michael Hoffman, is a sanitized, over-earnest failure. Fine acting by Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren and the impressive James McAvoy cannot overcome a laborious script and lack of insight into Tolstoy, Russia or idealism. A special black mark for intrusive, saccharine music. 2 stars
- The Eclipse is one of those low-key Irish dramas that observe pain and joy at close quarters. Cierán Hinds is marvellous in the role of a grieving widower who falls for a visiting celebrity author. The dialogue and nuanced acting are just fine, the scenery and music fitting and lovely, and the emotional terrain is carefully exposed. All in all, a recipe for a worthy piece – but director Conor McPherson unseats the film by staging histrionic ‘ghost’ scenes straight out of a schlock movie. A botch. 1 star.