In 1815, Jean Valjean (Jackman) is released from his 19 year imprisonment. He is given a second chance at life when a Bishop (Colm Wilkinson) sees the good in him. Vajean decides to create a new persona to atone for his life, while staying one step ahead of Inspector Javert (Crowe), who refuses to give up.
Years later Valjean is serving as the father to Cosette (Seyfried), after he failed to save her mother Fantine (Hathaway). They are in Paris on the eve of the June Rebellion, led by students Enjolras (Tveit) and Marius (Redmayne). Javert leads the police and plans to destroy the rebellion. And Cosette's former guardians, the Thenardiers (Baron Cohen and Bonham Carter), are own hand to make trouble. "Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store! One more dawn, one more day, one day more!"
WOW! I just saw the film in theaters and am still recovering. It is a three hour emotional roller coaster... even if you know the story / show, it is an emotional journey.
Hugh Jackman is incredible as Jean Valjean. Jackman is a strong actor / performer (he won a Tony in 2004 for starring in "The Boy From Oz") and does justice to the title role. Apparently there are people who felt he was miscast, but I thought he was great! Anne Hathaway is awesome, a memorable performance and the front-runner for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Samantha Barks, who played Eponine in the 25th Anniversary Concert, is a revelation as Eponine. And it was great to see Broadway vet Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, again awesome. And the film features Colm Wilkinson, who originated Jean Valjean on West End and Broadway and in the 10th Anniversary Concert, as the Bishop.
I don't normally enjoy Helena Bonham carter or Sacha Baron Cohen, but they are perfectly cast as the Thenardier's. They are everywhere, continually adding humor to the dark proceedings of the film. But I didn't love all of the casting: Javert, Cosette, and Marius. Amanda Seyfried proved in Mamma Mia! that she could sing, and she is ok here, but I would prefer to see a Broadway star in the role. Apparently Eddie Redmayne played Marius before... but he didn't work in the role. Yes, he is cute, but every time he had a solo I wasn't impressed. And then we have Russell Crowe as Javert. For someone I don't associate with singing, he was ok, but how did he win this role? Where were all the Broadway / West End actors to steal the role? Crowe is a good actor, but I wanted a stronger singer / performance. Overall, the casting is incredible. Many of the extras are West End stars or performed in Les Miserables at some point... which is awesome.
The film is based on the popular, award-winning musical (created in France in 1980, West End in 1985, and Broadway in 1987), which is based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo. The show, which is mostly sung, overcame initial bad press to become one of the most popular and enduring musicals of our time. Several of the songs are well-known: "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "Stars," "Master of the House," "One Day More," and "Bring Him Home."
I read the novel in middle school, and have never seen any version of the stage show (but I just added the 10th and 25th Anniversary Concerts to my Netflix queue), although I did have the Broadway soundtrack on my iPod (until my computer crashed and I lost all of my non-purchased music). That being said, I knew the story and the music, but was still shocked and moved by each death. From what I have read online, the film stays true to the stage show, with a few differences. The songs remain in tact with a few exceptions: a new song "Suddenly" for Valjean, one missing song "Dog Eat Dog" performed by Thenardier, and a shortened version of "Turning." Tom Hooper, who won the Oscar for The King's Speech, is not an obvious choice to direct this film, but he really knocked it out of the park! I genuinely don't know how or why he isn't getting an Oscar nomination for the film, but he should be proud of the film and the performances he captured.
Like the show, the film is 95% sung, with a few lines of dialogue here and there. It is a sweeping epic, with impressive sets and costumes. The film will have a long life, but the stage version of the show will always win. I predict an Oscar win for Anne Hathaway, but I don't think the film can steal Best Picture. I suggest seeing this film, and if you can't survive 3 hours in a theater, wait until it is available to rent... you won't regret it!
Les Misérables (2012) 157 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for suggestive and sexual material, violence and thematic elements.
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean
Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert
Anne Hathaway as Fantine
Amanda Seyfried as Cosette
Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier
Helen Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier
Eddie Redmayne as Marius
Aaron Tveit as Enjolras
Samantha Barks as Eponine
Daniel Huttlestone as Gavroche
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