It's a little odd to spend $61 million to make a movie--with
much of that likely going into lavish set construction--and then spend so much
time in tight, shaky closeups of the warbling cast. The effect is not unlike "The Hurt Locker" with
show tunes. And there is
definitely something cringeworthy about Russell Crowe's vocals. He's not a terrible singer, per se,
but he booms in a manner akin to an adolescent being forced to sing in the
church choir.
Having said that, the film incarnation of "Les
Miserables" is competent and entertaining as a whole. For those whose girlfriends/wives never
dragged them to the stage musical, "Les Miserables" is an adaptation
of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name.
It takes place in 19th century France and centers on Jean Valjean (Hugh
Jackman), a convict paroled after a nineteen-year sentence for stealing bread
and attempted escape. Embittered,
hungry, and marked as a criminal, Valjean turns to theft to feed himself, until
the kindness of a bishop inspires him to start his life anew as a good and
charitable man. This includes
saving Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a young woman-turned-prostitute to whose
misfortune Valjean unwittingly contributed. Later, Valjean adopts Fantine's orphaned daughter, Cosette
(Isabelle Allen and later Amanda Seyfried), and resides with her in Paris as a
second revolution brews among the poor and local students. Always in pursuit of Valjean is
Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), Valjean's former jailer whose rising through
the police ranks fatefully brings him into Valjean's path many times over the
years. Javert pursues Valjean for no other reason than that he broke parole and
is a criminal and therefore cannot be redeemed.
The best musical performance is hands-down Anne Hathaway's
sorrowful rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream". She has said that she practiced singing whilst crying to
nail the emotion of the scene, and the effect is heartbreaking. Given Dame Judi Dench's Oscar win for
her eight-minute role in "Shakespeare in Love", it is not implausible
that Hathaway will pick up a nod this year.
This is definitely a case where the lack of an intermission
in which to use the restroom and gulp a merlot at the bar causes the story to
drag a little bit. While the
script is faithful to the musical, there are a few moments during the a few of
the ballads where one starts to feel numb in the backside and wishful for a
sword fight or a riot to liven up the mood.
The main issue that this writer had is the wasted potential
for grandiose delivery. It is
arguable that Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper sacrifices spectacle for
emotional intimacy, and that what worked in "The King's Speech" is a
little awkward here. Maybe no one
told Hooper he had four times the budget of that movie to play with here. Also, many of the performances teeter
on the edge of melodrama.
Overall, though, Tom Hooper's "Les Miserables" is
an often rousing and eventually soaring tale of love, liberty, and the pursuit
of criminal fugitives.
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