Les Misérables Review

Rated PG-13 (Suggestive and Sexual Material, Violence and Thematic Elements)

Running Time: 2 Hours & 37 Minutes

Cast-

Hugh Jackman-Jean Valjean

Russell Crowe-Inspector Javert

Anne Hathaway-Fantine

Amanda Seyfried-Cosette (Isabelle Allen-Young Cosette)

Eddie Redmayne-Marius Pontmercy

Samantha Barks-Éponine Thénardier

Sacha Baron Cohen-Thénardier

Helena Bonham Carter-Madame Thénardier

Aaron Tveit-Enjolras

Colm Wilkinson-Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel, Bishop of Digne

Daniel Huttlestone-Gavroche

Directed by Tom Hooper

Will someone just give Anne Hathaway an Academy Award already?!

Men are often discouraged from crying at an early age because it's considered to be a sign of weakness and 'un-masculine' but I feel a real man is one who isn't afraid to show his emotions, regardless of what society or culture dictates. As an amateur film critic, I've come across numerous instances where I just couldn't help but feel a lump in my throat yet none of it compares to the experience of watching director Tom Hooper's latest film, "Les Misérables," based upon the musical of the same name by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, which is in turn based on Victor Hugo's 1862 magnum opus. Widely considered as one of the greatest novels ever written, Les Misérables has been adapted into every form imaginable while the musical (which debuted in London in 1985) ranks as the fourth longest running Broadway show in history. Plans for a film adaptation of the musical stretched as far back as 1988 but it was mired in development hell until 2005. During that time, three major adaptations of Les Misérables were released: Claude Lelouch's 1995 re-imagination (set in France during the first half of the twentieth century), Bille August's 1998 version based on the novel starring Liam Neeson and Geoffrey Rush, and the 2000 French mini-series from Josée Dayan. After winning Best Director and Best Picture at the 83rd Academy Awards for "The King's Speech," Hooper took on "Les Misérables" as his next project, signing on in 2011 with production beginning the following year (he was also offered to direct "Iron Man 3" but declined). While the film may feel bloated at times, "Les Misérables" still stands as one of the most moving cinematic experiences I've ever seen, a grandiose epic that will sweep you away with its raw, emotional performances. 

In 1815 Toulon, France, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), otherwise known as 'Prisoner 24601,' is released on parole by the policeman Javert (Russell Crowe) after spending nineteen years in prison (five for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving sister and her family, and the rest for his repeated escape attempts). Marked as an ex-convict due to his yellow ticket-of-leave, Valjean is unable to find work and sleeps on the street, bitter and angry. Myriel, the Bishop of Digne (Colm Wilkinson), offers him food and a warm bed to sleep in but Valjean instead runs off with the Bishop's silverware. When the police arrest him, the Bishop pretends that he has given the silverware to Valjean and insists he take the two candlesticks as well. Taken aback by his kindness, Valjean breaks his parole and vows to live his life as an honest man. Eight years later, Valjean has re-invented himself as 'Monsieur Madeleine' and is now a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. One of his employees is Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a seamstress struggling to earn a living but when a fight breaks out between her and the other workers due to the discovery of her illegitimate daughter (Isabelle Allen), the foreman throws her out onto the street. Desperate for money, Fantine sells her hair and two front teeth to support her daughter. She resorts to prostitution but when she attacks an abusive customer, Javert (now an Inspector stationed at Montreuil-sur-Mer) arrests her. Valjean arrives and realizing that he was indirectly responsible for her ruination, orders Javert to release her and takes her to the hospital. As Fantine lies on her deathbed, Valjean promises to look after her daughter Cosette. Learning of his true identity, Javert attempts to arrest Valjean for breaking his parole but he manages to slip away. Valjean travels to Montfermeil and rescues Cosette from the greedy Thénardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter). Ten years later in Paris, Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), now a beautiful young woman, catches the eye of Marius Pontmercy (Eddie Redmayne). However, Éponine (Samantha Barks), the destitute daughter of the Thénardiers, is also in love with Marius but he sees her as only a friend. Marius is part of a student revolutionary group called the 'Friends of the ABC' led by the charismatic Enjolras (Aaron Tveit). Valjean and Javert's fates become intertwined on the eve of the June Rebellion. 

Go big or go home; that's the approach Tom Hooper takes with "Les Misérables," opening the film with a spectacular scene set in 1815 Toulon, where a group of haggard prisoners are pulling a large ship into a shipyard while singing Look Down under the watchful eye of Javert. The production design, from the sets to the costume, is incredibly ambitious and is just beautiful to behold. Although the running time is already 2 hours and 37 minutes, the film can still feel somewhat rushed and overstuffed with its numerous themes and ensemble cast, leaving some of the characters underdeveloped. At its core, "Les Misérables" is a story of redemption and second chances, with its main character Jean Valjean trying to redeem himself in the eyes of God. However, he is constantly chased by Inspector Javert, who is convinced that a criminal like Valjean will never change. There's a certain irony at play here because in order to become an honest man, Valjean intentionally breaks his parole. He lives a moral life by breaking the law yet Javert sees justice as an absolute; to him being moral means following the law without question. Although positioned as an antagonist, Javert is not evil as he is only doing what he feels is right and it's more appropriate to call him misguided. The film (and by extension, the novel) also deals with inequality and social injustice. Seeing the citizens of Paris protest and throw rotten food at the wealthy reminded me of Occupy Wall Street (all the events lead up to the ill-fated June Rebellion or Paris Uprising of 1832). Again, it's ironic as Valjean only turned to crime because his sister was starving and all prison did was fuel his hatred. Fantine's extreme suffering is due to a cruel society where the men take advantage of her without consequences while the women condemn her for it. "Les Misérables" is also a romance, which the script unfortunately short changes as Cosette and Marius spend very little screen-time together. The weighty story and large number of characters can make the film feel bloated yet audiences won't care as they're seeing it for the music. While it's labeled as a musical, calling it that is a bit of a misnomer as it's really an opera, with all the dialogue being sung…live! Normally, a musical's soundtrack is pre-recorded in advance and then played back on set for the cast to lip-sync to. Hooper instead had everyone sing live on set while piano accompaniments were played through earpieces as a guide, with the orchestral accompaniment recorded during post-production. This is a brilliant move on his part because it lends a sense of realness and passion to the performances. 

I have to say, no other film has made me want to break out in tears like "Les Misérables." The high point is when Anne Hathaway belts out I Dreamed a Dream and you can feel her anger and desperation as she sings of Fantine's loss of innocence and shattered hopes. It's so beautifully sung and so heartbreaking to hear that just typing about it makes me emotional! Samantha Barks, who reprises her role as Éponine from the West End production (2010 to 2011) and the 25th Anniversary concert, is just as impressive, capturing the agony of unrequited love during her solo, On My Own. Eddie Redmayne (from 2011's "My Week with Marilyn") came as a total surprise, his vocals invoking the youthful idealism and young love that embodies Marius. His rendition of Empty Chairs at Empty Tables really tugs at your heartstrings. As for the rest of the cast, Jean Valjean is a role that Hugh Jackman was born to play. He has a powerful voice that fully conveys Valjean's sense of guilt and his longing for redemption. Although a capable actor in his own right, Russell Crowe unfortunately never feels comfortable with all the sung dialogue and his solos lack the conviction that is needed for Javert. That's not to say he's terrible but Crowe is the sole weak link in an otherwise perfect cast. Cosette is a rather dull character yet Amanda Seyfried manages to channel her character's sweet innocence through her vocals. Finally, there's Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the thieving Thénardiers, who essentially serve as comic relief. Popping up throughout the film from time to time, their presence brings a sense of levity and keeps the tone from being too bleak. Cohen and Carter's duet of Master of the House, which includes a drunken Santa Claus, drew a lot of laughs from the audience. There are also a number of cameos that pay homage to the novel's numerous stage productions, including the original Jean Valjean, Colm Wilkinson, as the Bishop of Digne and Daniel Huttlestone reprising his role as streetwise urchin Gavroche from the West End production. 

To be released on December 25, 2012, "Les Misérables" has received surprisingly lukewarm reviews with 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics found it 'impeccably mounted but occasionally bombastic, [the film] largely succeeds thanks to bravura performances from its distinguished cast.' Some have found Hooper's use of close-ups too repetitive but I thought it made the music much more intimate, something that cannot be replicated on a stage. This was one of those rare screenings where I had to pay the ticket price ($14.00) to see it early, which I gladly did. While I did overhear some negative comments, the audience loved the film, with the couple behind me bawling like babies! Given the level of anticipation, I foresee a lucrative run at the box office and Hathaway is already a lock for Best Supporting Actress; it truly is a career-defining performance. "Les Misérables" is a bombastic film and yet its grandiosity suits it just fine. This is by far one of the best musicals I've seen and one of the best films of 2012.

Film Rating: 4.5 out of 5

"I had a dream my life would be / So much different from this hell I'm living / So different now from what it seemed / Now life has killed / The dream…I dreamed."