MOVIE REVIEW: LES MISERABLES

For those who know me, they know that I am such a sucker for anything Broadway or Musical, so when I learned that the latest adaptation of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables on screen will be a musical, I said I have to watch this. (Not like the 'non-musical' 1998 adaptation starring Liam Neeson, Uma Thurman & Claire Danes. Yawwn! Yawwn!). Then I saw the trailer in Youtube, I said, 'No, I got to watch this!' (With matching stomping of fists on the table, haha!).

So finally, I got a chance to watch the movie.

As you could see, they got an amazing cast. And all of them will be singing live on-screen while filming rather than dubbing it & just miming the lyrics while performing. Hugh Jackman will play the lead role of Jean Valjean, the ex-convict turned Mayor who is being chased persistently by the prison guard Javert played by Russel Crowe. Anne Hathaway plays a worker named Fantine in one of Jean Valjean's factory who sends money to her illegitimate young daughter, Cosette but later her character Fantine was fired by the foreman and she resorted to prostitution just to send money to her daughter. She then got tuberculosis and died. When Jean Valjean learned about this, he tried to look for the Cosette who was under the care of the scroupolous couple, The Thenardiers played by Sascha Cohen (of Borat) and Helena Bonham Carter. Jan Valjean took Cosette as his own daughter when was all grown was played by Amanda Seyfried. Amanda Seyfried's love interest  in this film my crush from the movie, A Weekend with Marilyn, Eddie Redmayne plays a principled activist, Marius. One of the favourite characters, Eponine, the daughter of the Thenardiers who suffers from unrequited love from Marius was played by the theatre actress, Samantha Barker.

This film is produced by no other than the makers of the West End- "Les Miserables", "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Miss Saigon" headed by Sir Cameron Mackintosh. I was blown away with the production. The set and background of the movie was amazing. In the first few minutes, I was already in musical euphoria as they sang, "Look Down". I was transfixed on the screen, emotions swelled up on me and I was on high. 

I totally understand why they picked actors rather than singers to play the parts. They don't sound perfect pitched all the time but they can convey emotions so well and make the audience respond. Adam Lambert did dissed this movie of 'actors pretending to be singers'. Sour-graping maybe? The noteworthy scenes that tugged my heart and made my eyes flow with tears were Hugh Jackman's  'Jan Valjean's Soliloquy'  and Anne Hathaway's rendition of the famous "I Dreamed A Dream". You could hear Anne Hathway almost croaking on the high notes but it's her delivery that captures perfectly the despair and loneliness of Fantine. It is a heartbreaking scene. Hugh Jackman did a lot of singing here and I could tell this is such a hard role for him. He belted out a lot of good notes with his strong diaphragm. His voice did quiver in a few bits maybe from all the singing. As the movie progress and with all his singing & his hairstyle, I almost mistaken him for Barry Manilow. Russel Crowe was awkward during conversational singing parts but when he does his solo, his singing reminds me of a pop country singer, so, not bad, Gladiator. Also when he and Hugh Jackman had a scene of them fighting in sword, "I was thinking, Hey its Gladiator and Wolverine fighting! Cool!" 

I can't think of anyone better than Sacha Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter playing The Thenardiers. They are perfect, colorful and funny. They are a delight to watch. I love them! They are even more delightful than those who played in the 10th Anniversary Production of Les Miserables in Concert.

I was excited to see how Samantha Barker would do as Eponine. The song, "On My Own" is the most popular song in the musical next to " I Dreamed A Dream". Sadly, I wasn't very impressed. I was hoping the scene when she sang the song, it would be one of the best scene but it wasn't. It didn't made me sympathize for her unlike her actor companions. Maybe that is why performing on the silver screen is different from performing on stage. Samantha Barker was in the 25th Anniversary Production of Les Miserables and I understand why she was picked to the role on screen. She was amazing as Eponine on stage. Her voice range was spectacular, she was gorgeous on stage and she conveyed a sadness in her voice that made my hair at the back of my neck stand. But sadly, she lacked charm on film. There were rumors before that Taylor Swift would play the part but I doubt she can pull it either. The better candidates would have been Lea Michele or Catherine McPhee who actually uncannily looks like a thinner version of Samantha Barker. Eponine should have been more adorable to the audience. Also I have seen Lea Salonga in the 10th Anniversary Production of Les Miserables on VHS (Yes, VHS pa yun!) and she was phenomenal. I am not saying that because she is Filipino but she is. She was adorable and cute and sang the song with so much heart. If only she was younger, the role could have been given to here. She also played Fantine on the 25th Anniversary of the play. There is even an ongoing debate who is the better Eponine on Youtube, Lea Salonga or Samantha Barker
. 

Amanda Seyfried, I believed, is the most skilled singer among the actors. Her soft falsetto reminds of young opera-singers like Charlotte Church. It was studied opera and trained by a Broadway church, the reason why she was great in the Musical, Mama Mia which is her breakthrough role. Her soprano voice was admirable but can be shrilly for others who is not used to opera music. I have also to mention that I look Amanda Seyfried's look on the film, her hair and her makeup. She look fresh and classy. She is like a daughter you wish you will have. Eddie Redmayne's voice was mediorce but he was fit for the part. When he sang his body shakes with his vibrato. His lovely freckles peeked in this film but were hardly seen in A Weekend with Marilyn.

I have to mention the little boy who played the streetwise urchin who helps in the revolution. He was such a scene-stealer. I was so heartbroken when he was killed.(SPOILER!) He also played the part in the West End production.

I have to commend the director of this film, the same director of The King's speech for a job well done. When credits rolled, I almost clapped totally forgetting that it was a film, not a theatrical production. Les Miserables is best conveyed with songs rather than talking parts. I have tried to read Victor Hugo book but I wasn't able to finish it. This is how I want to know the story--- with songs. The story is about second chances and hope. The story is about how God can always change our circumstance and make us see that life is beautiful. The story that everyone has a noble soul lurking within us. The story is about making use of blessings for the greater good.

For those who hasn't seen the movie, go watch! You'll love it!

I will leave you with the trailer of the movie with Anne Hathaway singing, this will definitely get you to watch it... 

For those who has already seen it. Let me know what you think of the movie by leaving a comment below.