My love affair with Les Miserables goes back more than 20 years. I first acquired the London Cast recording in either the late 80s or early 90s. I can't remember for sure. Either way, it was a long time ago. I literally grew up on it. I listened to it over and over again and, of course, memorized it.
The first time I actually got to see the show was the National Tour in 1999. I was blown away (and not just by the gunshots that were fired directly above us in our seats on the side of the top balcony.) Such a beautiful show! I saw a then-not-famous Sutton Foster as Eponine. Incredible!
I didn't see the show again until 2010. My dad and I saw the British National Tour in Edinburgh! As we were sitting there, waiting for the show to start, Dad asked me if Les Miz was one of my favorite shows. I said that it was probably in my top 10. Well, as I sat there at the end, tears streaming down my face, I said to him "This just moved into my top 5!" You can read my review of that production here.
When I heard that they were FINALLY making a movie version of the musical, I eagerly followed all the news I could find about it. I was ECSTATIC when they announced that Hugh Jackman would be playing Jean Valjean. He is one of my favorite actors! Some of the other casting news was a bit concerning (especially when it was rumored that Taylor Swift would be playing Eponine. WHAT?!?! Luckily, that one turned out to be untrue.) I had a few misgivings about Russell Crowe as Javert, but I decided to wait to pass judgement until I saw him in the role. I decided that I would put my full trust in the director that he would make the right choices.
I was always so happy to see little snippets of the movie as they were released. The backlash started from the naysayers, but I ignored it. Let them complain. Who cares? That's their opinion. I will form my own opinion based on what I see, hear, and feel. Not because of what someone else says or thinks. When the movie was completed and the reviews started coming in from people who got to see previews of it, I was very careful what I read. I didn't want to go any with any preconceived notions. I was even prepared to set aside my memories of the stage version and take the movie at face value...not as a comparison to what had previously been done and what I had previously seen. There is a HUGE difference between "theatrically correct" and "cinematically correct". I could write an entirely separate blog about it. Suffice it to say, there are things that work on stage and not on film....and vice versa. I was open to new interpretations of scenes, songs, and characters. If you aren't, then don't see the movie. Go see the stage version and shut up about it.
Fast forward to this morning. Christmas morning! We got our tickets early to avoid standing in line and went to the 11:30 am showing. The theater was PACKED! We didn't even get to all sit together, even though Robin got in there like 45 minutes early to save seats! Crazy! Especially for Christmas morning! Oh, well.
The first chords of the music began and I was already tearing up. This was a dream come true! I had waited so long! And I was not disappointed! This movie is exquisite. It's breathtakingly beautiful from beginning to end. I cried through the entire movie. I have NEVER cried that much in a movie. NEVER! So many moments, I can't even remember them all! Not just tearing up a little...tears streaming down my face! At the end of the movie, I was practically hyperventilating to keep from sobbing out loud. (That would have been awfully embarrassing in that full theater. I was already sniffling quite a bit.)
There are so many things that make this movie great. The biggest thing is being up close and personal with the faces of the actors. You are able to see every emotion on their faces. This more intimate portrayal takes you deeper into their character. That is something that you can almost never get on stage, especially when you're like me and can only afford the cheap seats. Due to this new intimacy, it brought new interpretations of some of the songs. Moments that were previously performed as show-stopping personal anthems become quieter and more heart-wrenching. "I Dreamed a Dream" is a perfect example. Everyone has heard Patti LuPone's emotionally charged anthem version of this song. It's amazing. But to watch Anne Hathaway, tears streaming down her face, as she is practically in shock by all that is happening to her...it breaks your heart in an equally poignant way. Fantine was a broken woman, and Anne was incredible in her portrayal of the agony. Oscar win for Anne! I'm calling it now.
I loved the new song, "Suddenly", sung by Valjean as he is taking Cosette away from the Thenardiers'. I heard an interview with the composers. They wanted to have a song like that in the original production, but that kind of quiet moment would never have worked on stage. When the movie came along, they saw it as a chance to write the song they had always wanted. It's such a beautiful, simple song, that truly shows what Valjean is feeling at that moment.
Hugh Jackman....wow. What an amazing performance. That role is such a challenge for anyone and he totally owned it. Such emotion...such depth. I have one tiny, eensy, weensy complaint. Couldn't they have lowered the key a bit for Hugh? Most songs were fine, but some were just a bit too high. He was straining and it was a little uncomfortable. I was trying so hard not to compare what I was hearing to previous people, but some songs were a little on the harsh side because of how high he was having to sing. He's not a tenor. But really, that was my only complaint. Character-wise, acting-wise, he was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! He'll win the Golden Globe for sure. (I can't say about the Oscar. He's got some stiff competition from Daniel Day-Lewis.)
On to Russell Crowe. I loved his portrayal of Javert. He could never pull it off on stage, but he totally worked for the film. He was great opposite Hugh Jackman, for one. A good match. But also, he's a wonderful actor and really understood just what it is that makes Javert tick. Javert's not a bad guy. He's not evil. He just sees the world as black and white...no gray area. He's doing what he thinks is right and he is true to his job. Russell is a good singer. I've definitely heard the role sung better, but that's not the point. He was right for the movie...and did a great job with the character. That's what really matters!
I could go on for days on the virtues of the remainder of the cast. I'll just hit a few of the highlights:
- Colm Wilkinson - How awesome is it to see him in this movie? The original Jean Valjean! He is so great as the Bishop.
- Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter - I never thought I was say nice things about Sasha Baron Cohen. I think some of the movies he has done are disgusting. But as Thenardier? Couldn't have been better cast! He was SO GREAT! And you really can't go wrong with Helena Bonham Carter. She's a gem!
- Samantha Barks - How tiny exactly is her waist?!?! And what a great Eponine. She played the role in London, so she's had lots of experience with the character. Wonderful job!
- Eddie Redmayne - Lovely voice! A wonderful Marius! I really loved "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables".
- Gavroche - I don't know the kid's name. I didn't look it up yet, but he was WONDERFUL! A little charmer!
"To love another person is to see the face of God." *sob*
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