Review #21 - Les Misérables (2012)

It is the start of 2013 and already we have had some amazing movies released. Les Mis has been backed up with cast from the theater showings including Samantha Barks (Esponine), Daniel Huttlestone (Gavroche) and more. However these are just a few of the cast in this story. Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean), Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Russell Crowe (Javert) to name a few of the lead roles.

  Upon the opening scenes, if you are a fan of the story and have seen the musical on stage, will send tingles up you’re spine – it sure did for me. Even though many comment on the singing it is simply the instrumental that gets me throughout this movie.

    I am not aware of Hugh Jackman doing any musicals before – I apologise if he has – but from my point of view he did incredibly well during many of his songs including ‘Valjeans Soliloquy’ which is well supported with close ups on his facial expressions. For me this scene and song sung by Jackman had me rooting for him as a character knowing that this is the turning point from a bad life to a new life, with the voice portraying the emotions that Valjean goes through. Another notable song that I feel Jackman nailed was ‘Suddenly’, an emotional start to Valjeans and Cosettes life together.  As supporting evidence of Hugh Jackmans enticing acting he managed to pick up a nomination in Les Mis for the Oscars.

    Anne Hathaway, also picking up a nomination in the Oscars for best actress in a supporting role, has shocked many with her utterly wonderful version of “I Dreamed A Dream” (currently rank 19 in the iTunes charts at the time this was written). This song was recently, 2009, covered by Susan Boyle who got the song into the top 40s and Hathaway smashed that with the emotional tear jerking version. With Hathaways short screen time she is one of the key components that allowed this film to pick up so many nominations. 
    Another big name that comes to mind in this production and a key role is Russell Crowe, Javert, who in my opinion suited his role did not perform as well as the others. Throughout the movie his voice is fairly monotone. Songs that Crowe sings include “The Confrontation”, “Stars” and “Javert’s Suicide” to which need more emotion and power to which Crowes voice couldn't give. However as an actor and his character this role was well suited for Russel Crowe to which we see a man strong and unstoppable in his profession beaten by Valjeans choices.

    Other actors who deserve a mention for their singing include Isabelle Allen who sings “Castle On A Cloud”, the base instrumental for the trailer and an emotional start to Cosettes role. One of the more fun songs in this musical is “Master Of The House” sung by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter who create the roles of Madame Thenardier and Thendarier himself. Putting their own twist on the role these two lighten up this movie with light jokes and a few laughs from the audience. Samantha Barks, Eponine, who was in the stage show as well as the movie sings “On My Own” who got this moving song to 37 in the charts. Then combined singing from Barks, Amanda Seyfriend and Eddie Redmayne in “In My Life / A Heart Full Of Love” who compliment each others voices so well create the love story behind this musical.  Eddie Redmayne who plays Marius creates one of the most tear jerking moments in the movie which is the song “Empty Chairs At Empty Tables” his voice just carries so much emotion in this scene.
    However with all these individual songs two songs which will always stick out to me will be “One Day More” and “Do You Hear The People Sing?” which are sung by the whole cast combined. “One Day More” is one song which I feel Russell Crowes voice is strongest and suits so well.
All actors in this production deserve credit for the live singing they used for each scene which allowed a initial reaction and emotion from themselves singing it how it feels right rather than being told to do it in a certain way.

Moving on from the musical side and onto the film aspect. There is only one thing which I feel let the film down on the majority part and that was the fixed, close up shots on the actor’s & actress’ faces throughout.  Where it worked for Anne Hathaways “I dreamed a Dream” it did not work so much on songs such as “Javerts Suicide”. Where this type of shot helped give the same feeling as if it was on stage and showing the emotions there could have been room for so much more which was sadly missed. 
 The creative side to this film also deserve a mention as many of the set was created in a warehouse and looked genuine and perfect and also the fact that they chose to use the church 5 minutes from where both Jess and I live. The make up teams deserve note for the scenes with “Lovely Ladies” and the transformation of both Valjean and Fantine – special note to Hathaway for persisting that her real hair be cut in the scene for authenticity.

This fantastic film of one of the greatest musicals I have seen at the theater picked up 8 Oscar nominations – winners announced on 24^th/2. Whilst at the Golden Globes Les Mis picked up 3 gongs. With the Les Mis Soundtrack album currently resting at number 1 on the UK iTunes album charts – even though there are songs missing. 

Overall this movie is a fantastic transition from stage to film and has been recommended by many and remains trending on twitter, #LesMis. I rate this movie 5/5 and have recommended to so many.

#LESMIS