For the uninitiated, Les Miserables (or Les Mis) tells the story of ex-convict Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) who breaks parole and is pursued by the unrelenting and law abiding Inspector Javert (played by Russell Crowe). This cat-and-mouse chase spans two decades and during that time Valjean attempts to redeem himself for his past sins by becoming a well-respected mayor of a French town as well vowing to take care of the daughter of Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a struggling factory worker.
In a stage production, most of the acting is done through the actor's voice and movements, but a film allows the camera to focus on the emotions etched on a character's face. Director Tom Hooper (who also directed The King's Speech) shot a lot of the film using close-up of the actors' face so that we clearly see and feel what their characters are going through.
Unlike traditional movies, the singing is all done live rather than being pre-recorded. Because of this, the singing may not be perfect, but it is certainly much more authentic and the performances carry tremendous raw emotion. This is perfectly illustrated by Hathaway's rendition of 'I Dreamed a Dream' which many critics remarked is the best ever cover of the famous song. I even heard a few sniffles in the cinema as Hathaway sang her heart out in what was one of many tearjearker moments throughout the film.
Around 95% of the movie is sung so it was really important that the actors can carry a song. Fortunately, the casting was brilliant, and all of the actors give virtuoso performances.
Hugh Jackman was born to play Valjean and carries the weight of the film on his shoulders. Les Miserables is, after all, the story of Jean Valjean's redemption, and without a charismatic leading man, the whole film would fall apart.
There have been criticisms of Russell Crowe's singing by sections of the internet and while his voice is nowhere near as polished as Hugh Jackman's and Anne Hathaway's, it's not as horrendous as some people make it out to be. It's actually pretty decent once you get used to it but I guess it's a bit odd when you first see the usually gruff Crowe belt out a few tunes.
But the standout performance is no doubt Anne Hathaway who delivers an Oscar-worthy performance as the vulnerable and desperate Fantine. Fantine is the complete opposite of Hathaway's sly and confident Catwoman and really showcases the depth of Hathaway's acting talents. While her appearance in the film lasts for little more than 20 minutes, for me those 20 minutes were the pinnacle of the film.
As you would expect from a musical, there are some lavish locations and spectacular scenery. The production team certainly did a fantastic job in recreating 19th century Paris. In particular, the scenes where Javert stands on the balcony at night, watching over Paris as it sleeps, are simply mesmerising.
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| Samantha Barks, who plays the friend-zoned Eponine, also played Eponine in the Les Miserables musical's 25th Anniversary Tour. |
Les Miserables is epic in scope but the the showstopping moments are the scenes of emotional intimacy when the characters use songs to express their innermost struggles, doubts, desperation and dreams. It is a timeless story of lost dreams, unrequited love, sacrifice and redemption and these universal themes will touch the hearts of audiences around the world.
