Les Misérables
2012 Directed by Tom Hooper
Synopsis
Fight. Dream. Hope. Love.
An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption.
Cast
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I wouldn't say I 'watched' Les Misérables. I kind of just sat in front of it and waited. And waited. And waited.
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I thought long and hard but this is all I've got:
Les Miserables, c'est moi.
If this is what constitutes award-winning cinema these days I'll just pack my bags and leave with a heartfelt: 'It's me, not you. Probably.'
The two stars are for Miss Hathaway and for her alone.
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VALJEAN
One star more!
Another day, another bad movie.
This never-ending film's my destiny;
These men who can't seem to hold a tune
Will surely spell but certain doom.
One star more!MARIUS
You liked "Les Mis" until today.
How can you turn this off now that you have started?VALJEAN
One star more.MARIUS & COSETTE
Tomorrow you'll drink thoughts of this film away.
And yet right now, this film's JUST started!EPONINE
Deduct one star more all on my own.MARIUS & COSETTE
Will you ever like this play again?EPONINE
One star more with Tom Hooper not caring.MARIUS & COSETTE
I was born to overact with you.EPONINE
What a better film I might have known.MARIUS & COSETTE
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Part of the December Project: Film #66
I'm too disappointed to write a full paragraph style review, so I'm just going to dissect it piece by piece:
Music numbers:
Some of them are excellent, but the rest of them are so low key, especially for Les Miserables, that they are complete failures in terms of getting me roused. I Dreamed a Dream, One Day More, Stars, and both versions of Do You Hear the People Sing? are great. The rest is middling.
The Cast
Hugh Jackman: A mediocre Jean Valjean. He'd be fantastic purely for his acting alone, but his singing is just passable. I expected better.
Russell Crowe: A surprise. While his singing is far from being full of…
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Golden boy director, hot off earnest 2011 Oscar winner The King’s Speech, cashes in open-slather offer for next project by committing to film universally adored hit musical about love at first sight and the redemptive power of student uprisings.
Loses drunken bet over which member of the Master and Commander cast will play the pivotal role of Javert, and is forced to cast vocally-challenged Aussie rocker, only to have him murder ‘Stars’ and be thoroughly upstaged by pint-sized unknown Daniel Huttlestone.
Throws bone to Colm Wilkinson, originator of Valjean role in London and New York, who shines alongside knockout performances by Hathaway, Barks, Tveit and Eddie Redmayne’s Kermit voice and waggly chin. Supporting cast of West End players, set decoration…
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Fucking hell...
The fuck was I thinking?Let me get this out of the way now...I don't like musicals. Now, I don't hate them necessarily. There are a couple (very few) that I enjoy like Chicago and...nothing else comes to mind. Most musicals I downright detest (I hate Moulin Rouge with every inch of my bones). So if I have this beef with musicals, why did I go see Miserable Lesbians, you may ask? Well, I promised myself I would try to see every film nominated for Best Picture this year before the Oscars after I was so close to seeing them all last year. Going in, I thought there wouldn't be that much singing like with most musicals; just…
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Not a roller skate in sight and nobody dressed as a cat. Extremely disappointing.
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I enjoyed it but I think Les Mis is really one of those things better in a theatre, the film is not a patch on the West End show, which I saw earlier this year. I agree that it drags but that's just the plot.
Some of the actors surprised me, specially Anne Hathaway, where as others fell flat.I'd probably watch it again but it's not a personal favourite
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What an achievement! A musical that has very little, if any, spoken dialogue, the whole story is driven through song and these actors really do give it their all.
Beautifully shot and performed, with actors truly embodying the parts. Hugh Jackman is striking as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe excels as his nemesis, whilst Eddie Redmayne captivates as Marius. Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hathaway and Samantha Barkes are equally wonderful.
There are few flaws in the casting of this film and its clear that the love of musicals is what brought this cast together.
Sure, if you've seen the stage show you'll probably prefer what you saw on stage, but this is leagues above many musical films. It's not camp (like Phantom of the Opera) or whimsical (like Mamma Mia.) The beauty and scope is something to behold.
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It did what I wanted it to: make me wanna vomit from all my tears.
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I wish I could give six stars to this movie. Five stars are just not enough.
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Look, "Les Misérables" isn't Shakespeare. It's not even a movie that lends close voice to the Occupy feeling of revolution-era France. I say this while Tom Hooper's adaptation is the only version I've seen, and – acting against a few muddy shots, some poor singing, and a probably bloated runtime – it filled me with crazy stupid joy. Think what you will about Hooper's direction; it's nontraditional for a period piece, that's understood. Personally I love his Soderbergh-ian use of texture and color in making scenes pop.
Just as much you'll either laugh or cry at Hooper's decision to make his cast sing live, and sing, sing, sing entirely, no bull. Awards fold? Come on. Get over it. It's the…
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Look, "Les Misérables" isn't Shakespeare. It's not even a movie that lends close voice to the Occupy feeling of revolution-era France. I say this while Tom Hooper's adaptation is the only version I've seen, and – acting against a few muddy shots, some poor singing, and a probably bloated runtime – it filled me with crazy stupid joy. Think what you will about Hooper's direction; it's nontraditional for a period piece, that's understood. Personally I love his Soderbergh-ian use of texture and color in making scenes pop.
Just as much you'll either laugh or cry at Hooper's decision to make his cast sing live, and sing, sing, sing entirely, no bull. Awards fold? Come on. Get over it. It's the…
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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I wouldn't say I set out to dislike this film, but I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did. Just like Tom Hooper's previous film, The King's Speech, I ended up loving the film. I am now a fan of Tom Hooper after making me love two of his films when I did not expect to whatsoever. I wouldn't say Les Misérables is a HUGE step forward for him, but it is certainly not a step back. It safe to say I am now fully interested in what Tom Hooper will do next!
P.S. If you know the songs (like me), you will certainly clocked yourself singing along with the majority of them lol.