Les Misérables: So, what did you think?- Page 7

[Idiot]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:20pm

Dramamom -- I wept like mad during the first hour of the film in spots that never moved me as much in the stage version (which I saw more than 10 times all around the globe). Oddly, at the end when Fantine came to take Valjean home, I was moved but didn't cry. I'm fascinated by the difference in the emotional heartbeat of the film version vs. the stage version.

[AlanAntonio]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:30pm

Fantine singing I Dreamed A Dream after she had gone through so much suffering made more sense. The lyrics became more meaningful, especially the part "...I dreamed a dream my life would be so different from this HELL I am living." On stage, Fantine sings I Dreamed A Dream right after she is thrown out of the factory. In the movie, Fantine sings it after she had gone through so much pain - physical and emotional - so you understand what the song means on a deeper level.












Updated On: 12/27/12 at 08:30 PM

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:33pm

Made more sense than what? She goes through the same things in the stage version.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:37pm

Okay...so I'm trying to give myself some time to let it all sink in as I left the theater with a lot of thoughts floating around in my brain.

Firstly, the performances are without fault. They are truly all exceptional, except for maybe Crowe, who I thought was still pretty good. It's really nice to see Jackman carry a meaty role and film like this on his shoulders, and he does so effortlessly. His "Soliloquy" was beautifully performed. Redmayne also impressed me, especially his "Empty Chairs..." which was a highlight. Trumping everyone though, is Hathaway. Everyone else has praised her enough, so in hopes of trying not to just repeat the general consensus, I will say that for someone who is in the film for all of twenty five minutes, I couldn't stop thinking about her for the remainder of the movie.

Now, here's where my thoughts get a little messy. Tom Hooper shouldn't have directed this film, period. To me, he didn't know how to film any of the musical numbers, or the battle sequences. Some of the singing is a bit jarring, which I can't help but blame on Hooper not really knowing how to approach the musicality of the piece. The close-ups didn't bother me as much as the constant shaky-cam, at least for the first hour or so. At some points, it was unnerving. And this is from someone who has enjoyed quite a handful of "found footage" films that use that technique for their entirety. Secondly, the "bigness" of the film is wasted on scenes that don't need it, which leads to a lot of overblown melodramatics and soapiness, leading a lot of the film to be bombastic. Save that grandiosity for the climactic musical numbers and the battle sequences! Thirdly, the editing is just a travesty. There are sequences that are so confusingly edited (ie: the section of "Lovely Ladies" with Fantine's haircut, teeth pulling, etc.) Parts of the film look as though they were edited by Edward Scissorhands. The beginning of "At The End of The Day," "Master of the House," and "One Day More" stand out in my mind as being way too choppy when it came to editing. My eyes barely adjusted to one frame before it was replaced with another.

I really thought the film came alive for extended periods of time when Hathaway was on screen and then for the segment of the movie starting with "In My Life..." and beginning again after the battle scenes. There is no denying the power of the film's final ten minutes, though. The finale is gorgeously mounted and rendered...it definitely got me choked up.

But let's be fair...I couldn't help but wonder how I would feel about the movie if I wasn't so familiar with the musical. I can't figure out if I would have liked it less, or more. I am probably being a little hard on it. But while my thoughts are all over the place, I do have to say that this ensemble is so wonderful that it made me really sad someone better fit for this piece didn't direct it. I don't think Hooper is an untalented director by any means, but I could almost feel his uneasy hand radiating throughout large stretches of the movie.

The film looks lovely (in terms of art direction, costumes, makeup, special effects, etc) sounds great, and is performed with sincerity and clear devotion, particularly by Jackman, Hathaway, Redmayne, Barks, and (I was surprised I felt this way) Seyfried. The live singing absolutely adds to the experience (I almost couldn't imagine this piece being performed to a prerecorded track, as I was watching it).

I really do think the performances elevate the film and make it worth seeing, but I wish it was executed with a more steady and sure approach. While still disappointed, overall I appreciated and enjoyed it for what it was One thing's for sure, you can definitely not call this film unambitious. That being said it's not the best film of the year and it's not a great movie musical. It's probably not even one of the top ten films of the year. At least those are my personal opinions.


I know there's a lot going on in this post, so I apologize for any contradictions it may include. Regardless of everything, it is very heartening to know that audiences are turning out to see a two hour and forty minute sung-through movie musical. Updated On: 12/26/12 at 08:37 PM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:39pm

Made more sense than what? She goes through the same things in the stage version.

But on stage, she sings "I Dreamed a Dream" immediately after she gets sacked from the factory. She hasn't sold her hair yet or resorted to prostitution, so the line "I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living" doesn't ring true. But in the film, she sings it after she's hit rock bottom, which AlanAntonio says makes more sense, and I agree.

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 08:39 PM

[AlanAntonio]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:41pm

Read my updated message.

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:42pm

I thought the whole film was quite good. Probably the best movie musical since Chicago. No gimmicks, no apologies for being a musical, pretty much everyone can sing quite well, etc.

Cal me crazy, but I think it works much better on film than on stage, which is rare.

As far as I'm concerned, Hathaway already has her Oscar. There's not another performance this year that's moved me as much.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:43pm

....I'd totally forgotten that. Thanks for reminding me. I guess in my mind, KNOWING what happens, mushed it together.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:51pm

I wish they would have stuck to the original novel and had Fantine sell her two FRONT teeth. What a sight to have Anne Hathaway warble "I Dreamed A Dream" with her two front teeth missing!

[AlanAntonio]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:54pm

Mwahahahahahahahahaha HAHA

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 8:57pm

Oh and someone needs to feed Samantha Barks a hamburger, ASAP.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:00pm

Noooooo!!!!! They were all MISERABLE, living a rotting, stinking life in a Paris where they were all resorted to stealing loaves of bread and selling their bodies, teeth and hair just to survive! DON'T. YOU. GET. IT? She was SUPPOSED to look like that!



Updated On: 12/26/12 at 09:00 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:05pm

....I said Samantha Barks, not Eponine. Samantha Barks is skinny in real life too. Eponine is not a real person. Samantha Barks is. She needs a hamburger. DON'T. YOU. GET. IT?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:06pm

It's called METHOD ACTING. Hugh and Anne lost a TON OF WEIGHT for their craft. If Hugh would have taken some singing lessons and Anne would have REALLY pulled out her teeth and become a prostitute I would have been more impressed.

Give Amanda Seyfried an Oscar for her dead on impression of Jeannette McDonald. Trilly high-pitched Minnie Mouse singing is definitely going to make a comeback if she has her way.

[metropolis10111]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:06pm

Yet Samantha had enough money to get her eyebrows plucked and have her dress tailored and her hair Pantened shiny for some odd reason

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 09:06 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:07pm

NO.. She starved herself for her ART. YOU CLEARLY..DON'T GET.IT.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:09pm

@ metropolis10111: That wasn't Pantene...that was the wetness of the rain giving her that shine to her long tresses. The moisture of that rain was also responsible for her dewey lips and her clingy wardrobe. She looked good in her MISERY albeit a little on the thin side!
Updated On: 12/26/12 at 09:09 PM

[AlanAntonio]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:14pm

Can you imagine how much better the movie would have become if the producers dared to cast a really strong, albeit unknown actor, to essay Javert? There are so many fantastic, insanely talented actors on Broadway and the West End, for example (and I bet they were all cringing watching Russell Crowe). Crowe's portrayal was weak, and his singing was bland, deprived of conviction.

[Luscious]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:16pm

Wanted to love it... but didn't. Some of it is very good. Most of it is not. Unfortunately, Hooper got more wrong than right. Loved Hathaway. Hated Crowe. Jackman was very good, but far from perfect. Never could get past the fact that I was watching Hugh Jackman. For me, he never became Valjean.

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 09:16 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:20pm

Noooooo Luscious!!! You have to LOVE IT!!! This is broadwayworld.com!! If you don't ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT, then you are considered a traitor: against musicals, musical film and THEE-AY-TURR in general!! You musn't say that!!!

Don't you know that Anne Hathaway already HAS her Oscar and that giving it to her in March, during the ceremony is just a formality?!?

[Luscious]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:24pm

LOL! Well... I DID love Hathaway. Don't know if she'll be taking home Oscar, but she was the best thing in the movie. It wouldn't bother me one bit if everyone else involved were overlooked come Oscar time.

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 09:24 PM

[metropolis10111]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:24pm

Luscious can come have a drink with me. I didn't loth it but it was a LONG 3 hours of my life I'll never get back.

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 09:24 PM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:27pm

Luscious can have a drink...or is that rink..with me as well. I loved Hathaway, Redmayne and Barks...oh and Isabelle Allen and the kid who played Gavroche.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:31pm

I really hope Hooper gets shut out of the Best Director nominees, if nothing else. His was hardly one of the five best directorial efforts of the year.

[Joviedamian]

Posted: 12/26/12 at 9:59pm

I wish Robert Downey, Jr. would have been Javert!

This guy sings "Stars" better than Russell did, and this kid is only 15 at the time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQI_NqpNsIM

Updated On: 12/26/12 at 09:59 PM