Title: Les Mis\u00e9rables<\/p>\n
Directed By: Tom Hooper<\/p>\n
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Isabelle Allen, Aaron Tveit, Colm Wilkinson, Daniel Huttlestone<\/B><\/p>\n
I never cared much for \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d back when every other girl in my class had to sing \u201cCastle on a Cloud\u201d at the school talent show and, it turns out, I don\u2019t care all that much for it in movie form either, even when it\u2019s an immensely impressive production.<\/p>\n
In case you\u2019re like me and never bothered to see the musical or read the book, \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d focuses on Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a man enslaved for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving nephew. After finally being released, Valjean violates his parole to start anew. Even though he really does turn over a new leaf, running an honest business and doing good whenever he can, the \u00fcber by-the-book policeman, Javert (Russell Crowe), is determined to make Valjean pay.<\/p>\n
Still, nothing stops Valjean from being a good man. As Fantine\u2019s (Anne Hathaway) life spins out of control, Valjean comes to her aid, agreeing to care for her young daughter, Cosette. Valjean rescues Cosette from her unloving and eccentric caretakers, Th\u00e9nardier and Madame Th\u00e9nardier (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter), and raises her as his own until she catches the eye of the young Revolutionary, Marius (Eddie Redmayne).<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve seen that singing live featurette time and time again; you know what\u2019s coming \u2013 famous faces, incredible voices, mesmerizing set design and pitch perfect costume work. While the film\u2019s little newcomers, Isabelle Allen as young Cosette and Daniel Huttlestone as Gavorche, put up a good effort at stealing the spotlight, truly stellar casting results in both high profile and high quality leads. Hathaway\u2019s Fantine might not get much screen time, but she easily makes the biggest impression with her rendition of \u201cI Dreamed a Dream.\u201d The tune works wonders in the film\u2019s trailer, and then in the full feature it takes on an entirely new form, the song being shot in one single close-up on Hathaway, making the moment incredibly raw and heart wrenching.<\/p>\n
Jackman clearly gives Valjean everything he\u2019s got, seamlessly taking him from time period to time period. He\u2019s also a master of chemistry, selling the tension between Valjean and Javert, his compassion for Fantine and his undying love for Cosette. Jackman\u2019s sole snag is the fact that he\u2019s in the majority of the movie. As one of the only characters that comes with us through each and every portion, he sings a lot. He\u2019s got a spectacular voice, but after two and half hours of tunes, and often unmelodic ones that sound like sung words rather than musical songs, it can become just the slightest bit monotonous.<\/p>\n
Crowe runs into a similar problem as someone who frequently sings the same tune, but still, his voice is one of the nicest surprises of the bunch and his character\u2019s calamity the most memorable, and even disturbing to a degree. Seyfried makes for a fine older Cosette and has a beautiful voice, but as Cosette doesn\u2019t do all that much besides trail behind Valjean and wait for Marius to come for a visit, \u00c9ponine (Samantha Barks) becomes the more engaging of the film\u2019s two young women. Similarly, Redmayne makes for a fine Marius, but he does tend to get swallowed up by the booming sound and presence of the student revolutionaries as a whole.<\/p>\n
With just about every cast member shedding at least one perfect tear mid-song and the tale being a bit gloomy overall, Bonham Carter and Baron Cohen offer up some much-needed comedic relief. \u201cMaster of the House\u201d is the most energetic and entertaining number of the bunch, and the Th\u00e9nardiers are truly funny. You\u2019d think the gag of Baron Cohen constantly mispronouncing Cosette\u2019s name would grow old, but he earns a laugh each and every time.<\/p>\n
While much of the cast\u2019s success comes from the skill of the actors themselves, they also owe a great deal to director Tom Hooper who made an epic, but personal piece. Wide span shots of gorgeous production design flawlessly set the scene, but then Hooper comes in for the close-up, revealing even the tiniest of details, whether it be the grain in the walls or a facial blemish. Hooper establishes this shooting style early and sticks to it, making it quite easy to adjust. His preference to put the camera as close to his actors as possible, softening the background, gives the imagery a 3D-like quality, yet, paradoxically, \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d is almost entirely devoid of flashy visual tricks. If the camera moves, it\u2019s because an actor\u2019s blocking or performance calls for it. It\u2019s Hooper\u2019s dedication to putting those performances first that makes \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d a new breed of movie musical.<\/p>\n
Then again, it still is a movie musical and if that\u2019s not your thing, \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d probably won\u2019t change that. At a whopping 157-minutes, the film can be a lot to take in, especially for someone who might not be able to adapt to the all-singing format. There are moments that even the most adamant naysayer won\u2019t be able to deny like \u201cI Dreamed a Dream,\u201d \u201cDo You Hear the People Sing,\u201d \u201cOn My Own,\u201d and \u201cEmpty Chairs at Empty Tables,\u201d just to name a few. They could wind up being standalone triumphs, but within a grander world with which it\u2019s harder to connect.<\/p>\n
However, have no fear, lifelong fans. Hooper, writer William Nicholson and the producing team did the beloved source material justice, handling it with the utmost care and bringing it to the big screen in the most effective way possible. As for the rest of us, if \u201cLes Mis\u00e9rables\u201d the movie doesn\u2019t get you to crack and fall for it, it\u2019ll at least make you appreciate a handful of many cinematic achievements.<\/p>\n
Technical: B+<\/p>\n
Acting: A-<\/p>\n
Story: B+<\/p>\n
Overall: B+<\/B><\/p>\n
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