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Writer-director Michael Hoffman’s adaptation of Jay Parini’s novel about Leo Tolstoy’s disorderly final months provided a friendly platform to lift the never-before-nominated Christopher Plummer and Oscar darling Helen Mirren into contention as Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress in this year’s Oscar race. ==I — PC==

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CalMatters is a Sacramento-based nonpartisan, nonprofit journalism venture committed to explaining how California's state Capitol works and why it matters. It works with more than 130 media partners throughout the state that have long, deep relationships with their local audiences, including Embarcadero Media.