Bottom Line: “Masterpiece Theatre”-style drama soars beyond the trappings of the genre.

Telluride Film Festival

TELLURIDE, Colo. — With awards season looking a little thin this year, a savvy distributor should snap up Michael Hoffman’s “The Last Station,” which had its world premiere screenings during the weekend at Telluride. Three superb performances by Helen Mirren, Christopher Plummer and James McAvoy should have Oscar handicappers drooling. Although this story of the last days of Leo Tolstoy is specialized …

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Bottom Line: Laughs and heartbreak meld seamlessly in this brilliant character drama.

Telluride Film Festival

TELLURIDE, Colo. — Cynicism and sentiment have melded magically in movies by some of the best American directors, from Preston Sturges and Billy Wilder to Alexander Payne. Jason Reitman mined the same territory in “Thank You for Smoking” and his smash hit, “Juno,” and it’s pleasing to report that he’s taken another rewarding journey down this prickly path in his eagerly awaited …

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