LES MISERABLES - the movie musical - 2012

I suppose its bound to happen sooner or later. I doubt they will find a way to make it uniquely special as a film -just play one of the countless other movies on mute with the cast recording in the background and I imagine you will get a pretty good idea of what it will look like.

MISS SAIGON is a lot more exciting a cinematic idea.

I agree and I've always wanted to see Oliver Stone's script for MISS SAIGON... hopefully he'll get his shot to direct it someday soon as I think he'd be a good match for the material.

I think a LES MIZ movie could be something special with the right director, but MISS SAIGON has more possibilities for inventive filmmaking...

I think with either one you're pretty much forced to keep it sung-through... I REALLY can't see either of these working very well with lots of dialogue scenes replacing the recitative... but PLEASE get a better sync person than on POTO!

P

"Missed opportunity. This is coming WAY too late."

Not unless they cast Miley Cyrus as Eponine, one of the Jonas Brothers as Marius and Selena Gomez or Demi Lovato as Cosette.

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Not sure if I ever want to see this movie musicalized.

However in my head, I always thought Russell Crowe would make a great Valjean, ironic that they think so to. And how about Emily Blunt as Fantine or Eponine, instead of some awful teenybopper.

God on high, hear my prayer, PLEASE, PLEASE don't let them ruin this!

Sung through musicals simply don't work as movies.

There is no one who can make an audience accept people bursting into song unless they have a creative justification for it (ala Rob Marshall) or are doing a jukebox show where the songs are the main reason for the movie in the first place.

And that's assuming they cut out ALL the recitative.

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I think an all sung movie musical would work if the vocals were recorded live. The problem is that the audience begins to disengage when there is a disconnect between the singers and their vocal tracks

I always thought this would be better off as a made for TV movie / mini series

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The Thenardier's are two great roles with the potential to cast ANY type of actor! From A-listers to niche celebrities to unknowns!

I for one would LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE to see Geoffrey Rush as Thenardier and would it be thrilling to age, uglify, and fatten Anne Hathaway for Mme. Thenardier??? I just know she could kill that role!

HELL NO! to Russell Crowe!

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Really, Schmerg? I think Ewan's much more suited to Marius...


And YES to Geoffrey Rush as Thenardier!!


If it really happens I hope they cast singers at least. This trend of casting non-singing actors is frustrating.

I hate it, too. It's kind of annoying that people automatically think of certain actors/esses because they can sort of sing a little. There's a HUGE multitude of fantastic actor/singers out there, you just have to look outside of Hollywood! If they insist on casting Hollywood actors, they should only consider the ones who are actually good at singing, like Jackman.

Updated On: 10/16/09 at 02:53 PM

I think Ewan McGregor has the kind of face that would work really well for age makeup. But what I like about his voice is the way that he has a strong low register as well as a very SWOOPY high register that could handle Valjean's songs so well... and he can express so much strength and compassion. I think he'd be a great Valjean... plus he looks great with a beard.

I've never really been a huge fan of his, but ever since I first saw Moulin Rouge, I've wanted him to play Valjean.

I think Hugh Jackman would be a great Enjolras if he was younger, but not Valjean. I actually REALLLY want Josh Groban as Marius, although I know he's old for the part.

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I really like the idea(s) of Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman in the leads. And Ridley Scott directing. He's good at other-worldly stuff. Borderline surreal. Sometimes not even borderline. And I'd like to see him tackle this.

But I would "demand" one more thing in order to make it work: live singing. No lip-syncing at all. I agree with everyone who says a through-sung movie with all prerecords doesn't cut it.

The only scenes that worked for me really well in Evita were the "live" ones, such as Madonna on her deathbed with Jonathan Pryce. It was as if the whole movie was running submerged under water and then suddenly came up for air.

So, live singing please. Or get ready for a stinker.

As far as the timing, I don't think it matters at all. Nor do I think the opportunity was missed. Chicago, anyone? Dreamgirls anyone? Both were successful at the box office, and both were well over 20 years old.

It means nothing. Especial with a period piece show (just like Chicago and Dreamgirls) that were both about other eras when they first opened.

BUT ... they seriously will have to tone down the cheesy synthesizer stuff and re-orchestrate just about everything. Easily done.

And they should do some serious editing. I'd say a half hour could go, easily. Particularly with three- and four-verse songs. Cut a verse or two!

My biggest problem with Les Mis has always been the lyrics. They are WAY too literal. Translations from French to English, done by a former theatre critic. Some of them are pretty terrible. But they don't amount to much more than describing, in a very mundane way, exactly what is going on on-stage.

"I'm sitting here in my chair, missing you, and looking into the darkness." No, that's not one of the lyrics, but it might as well be.

Any of those stage-direction-like lyrics should be chucked. We can SEE that you're sitting in a chair, missing someone, and looking into the darkness.

So, I would hope that a well-crafted screenplay could do away with much of that, raise the show up to a cinematic approach, and help fine-tune the rough parts a bit.

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