Tom Hooper made a name for himself with lavish historical
drama The King’s Speech and continues with this emotionally charged adaptation
of the stage musical inspired by Victor Hugo’s historical novel, Les Miserables.
The story centres on Jean Valjean, (Hugh Jackman sporting mutton chops that
would make Wolverine jealous), an ex-con who is pursued relentlessly police official
Javert (Russell Crowe) after skipping parole. He is joined by a host of other
miserable characters, most notably Fantine (Anne Hathaway) and Cosette (Amanda Seyfried).
The story, which spans 17 years, is played out against the backdrop of the French
Revolution and is told entirely through song.
Some may be put off by the continuous singing, but the songs
and music are the films strongest points. The singing is almost uniformly
brilliant, perhaps with the exception of Russell Crowe. The actors all sing
live in front of the camera, rather than miming to recorded tracks and this adds
to the visceral emotion of each performance. You can hear every breath and sigh
as voices break and tears fall naturally which really adds to the impact of
each song. Anne Hathaway’s short supporting role is fantastic and her rendition
of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ will shake you to your core and forever banish memories
of Susan Boyle.
The first half of the movie, where we introduced to Valjean,
Javert, Fantine and her daughter Cosette moves forward at a fast pace and is completely
engaging as we Hugh Jackman’s character transform from a bitter man to a kind
soul who agrees to care for Fantines daughter, Cosette. The second half of the
movie is the weak part, as it starts to drag under the weight of its two hour
and forty minute run-time. Here the characters take back seat to some
historical warfare as the revolution becomes the focus, with only a paltry love
triangle involving Cosette, a young revolutionary and his childhood friend
provide the drama (of which there is sadly little to be had. Even what should
be a heart wrenching scene lacks much emotional impact and the battles which
should be grand and epic, feel sadly as though you are watching them unfold on
stage rather than on film.
There’s excellent supporting turns from Sacha Baron Cohen
and Helena Bonham Carter (who always seems to play bad women with bad hair) as
a dastardly innkeeper and his conniving wife who provide the only comedy in an
otherwise dour affair. Anne Hathaway gives the stand out performance of the
movie and Hugh Jackman is solid and believable as salt of the earth good guy
Jean Valjean, selfless to the last. Russell Crowe even does a good job of
making heartless bastard Javert somewhat likeable.
Overall, Les Miserables is a thoroughly downbeat and
depressing tale, worthy of its title. The film adaptation is sure to delight
fans of the stage musical and ensnare those who have never seen it as well.
If you like this try: The Phantom of the Opera (2004), Anna Karenina (2012)
