Les Miserables

 

 

I think people's reviews of this are going to be all over the map, my own opinions certainly are. It's been weeks since we've seen this and at home we're still talking about it, debating about its overall success. It is almost impossible not to look at this iteration of Victor Hugo's novel as a spoke in the Les Mis wheel and I generally feel bad if this is someone's first introduction to this music.

There, I said it.

Les Mis is half of a really good movie and without certain cast members who shall be denounced later it could have been great.

The Bad:

Oh Russell. Why were you even in the running? I'm going to make some comparisons here to the stage productions, not to point out personal flaws on Mr. Crowe's part but only to say that his role is pivotal to this story and to cast someone without the singing chops to do it justice you essentially pull the rug out from under the power of the Javert/Valjean struggle. Because Crowe cannot sing up to par, his Javert feels flat and emotionless. You feel virtually nothing. Well, you do feel that you'd like him to stop singing, you feel that desperately, so I guess that's something. The success of this movie hinged on how well the story of Javert and Valjean could be translated to the big screen. Hugh Jackman's efforts were herculean but it wasn't enough. Just for the record, I am not a Russell hater in general, obviously he's a putz in real life but he's done some very good movies. (No, NOT A Beautiful Mind)

Amanda Seyfried's, Cosette...I'm lookin' at you Amanda. AWFUL. There is no doubt Ms. Seyfried can hit a high C but the quavering and warbling that happens along the way is distracting. She could not hold one sustained note, not even once, without an annoying trilling in her voice. Just terrible. Wretched.

 

The Good

Hugh Jackman. His first big number was a marvel and he continued to deliver flawlessly throughout. I've always loved Hugh Jackman and this makes me wish more than ever that he would just call me already.

Anne Hathaway, hmmmmm... in spite of how irritated I am with her this awards season you cannot take away the fact that she nailed this. And I don't mean she nailed it for some Hollywood type, she nailed it period. I personally don't think you should get an Oscar for one song but as the doomed Fantine her talent could not be denied and let's face it; if Marisa Tomei gets a gold statue for My Cousin Vinny then an argument can be made for Anne Hathaway.

Eddie Redmayne. Hello there sweetheart, where did YOU come from. Of all the weenie roles in the history of theater, Marius is just about the weeniest there is. How pleasantly surprising Mr. Redmayne was in this role. As a young man coming of age in desperate times, he imbues the character with hope and the somewhat childish ideals of a better world but doesn't make you feel like he's prancing about using moral outrage like it's an accessory. You feel his youthful ideals shatter and instead of whimpering, Redmayne roars (as much as you can while singing anyway). It does not hurt that he sings the shit out of his numbers. Too bad the love scenes with Seyfried felt as colorless and barren as the encounters between Javert and Valjean.

 

 

 

This movie should earn high marks for production value and Tom Hooper's direction was astounding. I wondered how he'd translate this and I was impressed with his vision. If only we could turn back time and recast this.

 

One final bone to pick with Mr. Hooper...'eff you for adding a new song that didn't at all fit in with the rest of the music.