Seen: 31st December 2012, 3rd January 2013, 22nd January 2013
Rating: 5/5
I haven’t loved a movie this much in a long time. I am a huge musical theatre fan. I have seen Les Mis 5 times on the stage ranging from West End - to - Broadway Across Canada. I have also been in 2 local amdram productions of Les Mis. So to say I know the musical is an understatement. I have to say though. I prefer the movie to any stage production I have seen. Tom Hooper captures everything about Les Mis perfectly. The desperation, the passion, the heartache and the romance. Victor Hugo’s novel is a piece of literary brilliance. Claude-Michel Schonberg’s musical is a classical masterpiece. Now Tom Hooper’s movie is pure cinematic genius.
The cinematography of the film is breathtaking, beginning with the Victory being pulled into dock all the way through to Javert’s dice with death opposite NotreDame and of course the barricade.
As for the cast! First off to have the original Jean Valjean as the Priest was FANTASTIC. Hugh Jackman was wonderful but everyone was overshadowed by the heart-wrenching performance of Anne Hathaway as the fated Fantine ~ The Oscar is yours my dear! My favorite Broadway star Aaron Tveit shone, as did the rest of the students. It was very clear throughout the movie who was a stage star and who was a movie star... none more so than Samantha Barks who was simply gorgeous as Eponine. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were hilarious as the comical interlude however, you could not help but notice the similarities of their acting to that of their parts in Sweeney Todd. The children who are often overlooked onstage were definitely the best of the cast in the movie little Gavroche played by Daniel Huttlestone was AMAZING and darling Cosette, Isabelle Allen again adorable. I will make a clear definition between Baby Cosette and Grown Cosette- Amanda Seyfried was awful. Yes she looked like the perfect Cosette but the moment she opened her mouth to sing all was forgotten. OUCH!! I will stand to defend Russell Crowe. His singing may not have been the best but he WAS JAVERT. His acting and appearance was spot on. You felt his desperation. His acting was brilliant enough that you could overlook the Backstreet Boy performance of Stars. I leave Eddie Redmayne till last. Having been a big fan of his acting since Tess I was worried about his ability to sing Marius... I needn’t have worried... WOW!
I have seen the movie three times and I still sob loudly and uncontrollably. It is brilliant. So well acted. So well put together. Bring on the Oscars.
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