The latest in a very long line of musicals and film adaptations, this Best Picture nominee
by director Tom Hooper was released nationwide on Christmas Day, and in just a few short
weeks earned $200 million dollars.
A faithful adaptation of the 1980's musical, which itself was based on the 1862 French
novel by Victor Hugo, the sung-through style of the picture, which has virtually every
line of dialogue being sung by the actors can honestly be distracting at times.
The music and performances are so enthralling, you forget you're supposed to be paying attention
to the exposition within the lyrics.
With all of the A-list cast commendably singing live, Hooper's decision to film many of the
movie's most delicate moments with non-steady cam handheld was jarring at times.
Especially so, when juxtaposed to the rest of the otherwise deliberate and conventional
filming style: the dimly let Paris backdrop gloriously photographed in every scene.
The plot of this 158-minute musical drama follows Hugh Jackman as a paroled prisoner
who decides to care for the wayward daughter of a troubled factory worker, played by Anne
Hathaway who has been reduced to a life prostitution, all while Russell Crowe, a ruthless Parisian
policeman attempts to track them down.
Undergoing impressive make-up changes to make his character age 16-years over the course
of the film, Jackman's leading performance is remarkably relatable and engrossing one:
audiences should have no issue rooting for his Academy-nominated performance.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are briefly featured as scheming housekeepers,
their delightfully fun duet, "Master Of The House", infuses this rather somber British
musical with some much needed comic relief.
Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried contribute a lackluster love-story later in the film,
but even their above-average singing wasn't enough to truly sell their passion for each
other.
Despite her limited screentime, Hathaway's Oscar-nominated performance is a brilliant
show-stopper, her goosebump-educing singing soliloquy of the musical's most famous number,
"I Dreamed A Dream" is as amazing beautiful as it is emotional resonant.
In that intensely intimate, uncut three-minute close-up, she single-handily made audiences
everywhere cry, while simultaneously winning herself an eventual Oscar, frustratingly belting
out, "I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living!"
But with two hours left after this incredibly memorable scene occurs, the picture never
quite returns to the powerfully moving experience: falling back on unlayered stereotypes, and
relationships between characters that lack much importance.
Throughout it all, Crowe continues his fugitive purist, but eventually his character seems
desperate and clueless, with his singing curiously falling flat in a few scenes.
The introduction of an almost completely new plot halfway through the picture was bothersome
as well, but the visuals, costumes, and set-design are all breathtaking: for all intents and
purposes, this movie was filmed in 19th century France, even if it all but glosses over the
importance or historical context of the Paris Uprising Of 1832.
Considering this entire overly long picture is nothing but singing, I was surprised that
so few of the number were catchy or memorable... but rather a commendably performed means to
an end.
Fans of the original musical and soundtrack will no doubt love this picture, but as it
was only truly incredible in a few scenes, it ultimately left me wanting more.
Les Mis�rables, "Enchantingly powerful, but only sporadically."
Now lets check out the YouTube comments to read some of your reviews.
A NINE and an EIGHT for Les Mis�rables.
Your opinions were widely varied on this one, but only to a degree of how emotional effective,
and how well the singing was performed.
Unanimous praise was given to Hathaway's performance, while you were less impressed with Crowe - rating
the movie an "Awesome".
As you probably guessed, I'm not a huge musical guy, but of the few I've seen, this is easily
the strongest.
You remove Anne's amazing performance though, and this picture is maybe a six.
As is though, I enjoyed this picture, despite its flaws: I thought it was GREAT.