Film Review: Les Misérables

Directed by: Tom Hooper. Stars: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Sayfried, Helena Bonham Carter, Sasha Baron Cohen, Samantha Barks. Screenplay by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubill. Adapted from the novel by Victor Hugo and Broadway Musical. Released: December 2012. 

 What do you do after winning the Best Picture Academy Award for your feature film debut (The Kings Speech)? If you are director Tom Hooper, you attempt to prove that you are not a one hit wonder by adapting one of the most beloved and successful (and the longest) Broadway musicals that was largely considered unadaptable; and for good reason.

The twenty year story of Jean Valjean (aka 24601) running from his past of breaking parole for stealing a loaf of bread and running from Inspector Javert is an epic. Add the subplot of Fantine, the ill fated prostitute and her child, Cosette, who Valjean adopts and helps to give meaning in his life.  Throw in love at first site and the backdrop of 1832 French Revolution France, and there isn't much left that isn't brought up.  

That is my one major criticism for the film. It is so epic that the film’s pacing tends to drag in the second half. There is a bit of a repetitivness, in particular with Valjean’s musical numbers. The pacing and editing could have been more concise with the same emotional pull while not sacrificing the storytelling.

Hooper differentiates his musical in two distinct ways. There is extremely little talking dialogue, a handful in a two hour and forty-three minute film. Second, all the singing was done live on set and not pre-record (as usual practice) this helps to add to the rawness and emotional pull that is needed for the story.  I’ll admit that this worked better in certain moments than others.

Cinematographer Danny Cohen manages to show the beauty and the ugliness of France during this time. Costume designer Paco Delgado does his first major Hollywood film with a talent that I can only dream to possess. One of the best period costume designs in film this year that I have seen.

The performances are strong and I was pleasantly surprised a couple times. There was no doubt Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean was going to be good. He has the acting and singing chops to pull off the character.   You feel his pain, anger, bitterness towards the world and the desire to be a better person, but his past keeps coming back to haunt him. As seen in his "Who Am I?" number. Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert has been discussed as the weakest of the singers and I agree. His traditional rock singing style may not have worked for Valjean, but as Javert and playing against Jackman as his foe, it can be argued that it does.

Anne Hathaway in the small but pivotal role of Fantine is the talk of the film. I’m not really a fan of Anne Hathaway, but the lady can sing and I would say next to her performance in Rachel Getting Married, this is her best.  Her rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream” is emotional and one of the best moments in the film. If you don’t at least have a small lump in your throat while she is singing about giving up and wanting to die, I question you having a soul.

What surprised me the most was the singing of Eddie Redmayne as Marius and newcomer Samantha Barks as Epione.  I've seen Eddie in other films and he is an up and coming talent acting wise. He is part of the invasion of young British male actors taking over Hollywood, which my biased British loving heart is all for. I wasn't aware that he could sing as well, and his song “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” encompasses a young man full of love, hope and dreams but at the same time in morning for all the death of his friends and unknown future for his beloved county and the unfulfillment  of those dreams.

New to film but veteran of stage is Samantha Barks, whose Epione sings my second favourite song in the musical.  Her character serves as the opposite to Cossette, but she is strong and is willing to sacrifice herself for the dream and her love of Marius.  Anyone who has experienced unrequited love will no doubt find “On my Own” as the ultimate when describing what it feels like to love someone who doesn't love you back and watch them love someone else, but know that you will be okay in the end. Even if the love at first sight story between Cossette and Marius is a little unrealistic and too sugary sweet for my liking.

Giving much needed comedic relief is Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen as innkeepers Monsieur and Madame Thenardier.  It was also nice to see Colm Wilkinson (half Canadian) who originally played Jean Valjean (and the original Phantom of the Opera) as the Bishop who gives the means for Valjean to start a new life.

I must also give a shout out to two child actors; Isabelle Allen who plays young Cossette and Daniel Huttlestone who plays the young streetwise revolutionary Gavroche. These kids held their own and steal the show against the adults and will probably only get better as they grow.

 Les Misérables is an epic of a musical about hope, love, honour and sacrifice. It should be seen on a big screen.

“Do you hear the people sing...”