Movie Review: Les Misérables (2012)
Written by Anthony Sargon
This reviewer isn't a very big fan of musicals, so there was a certain degree of skepticism before watching "Les Misérables". After all, it's a three-hour movie where all the dialogue is sung. Luckily, there are a lot of things to like about "Les Mis", but its excessive length ultimately bogs down the film.
Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, the story takes place in 19th century France. Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is condemned to slavery for 19 years after he steals a loaf of bread to save a starving family member. After he breaks parole, he is hunted down by the merciless Javert (Russell Crowe), his pissed off ex prison guard. Fast forward a few years, and Valjean is a changed man. He's now a successful factory owner and mayor, but when one of his employees, Fantine (Anne Hathaway), dies after some unfortunate circumstances, he vows to take care of her young daughter Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) and take her in as his own.
Some of the film's performances are phenomenal, and that's mostly referring to Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman. Director Tom Hooper made the choice of having all of his actors sing live rather than record their audio tracks in a studio, which makes a world of difference. These people are singing, crying, and acting at the same time, and it can be quite stunning to see. Anne Hathaway's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" is for sure going to land her an Oscar nomination, and it'll be surprising if Jackman isn't nominated as well.
Unfortunately, Russell Crowe isn't the greatest singer in the world, and he sticks out a bit given how good everyone around him is. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter provide some much needed comic relief as slimy innkeepers, and Cohen's character is easily this reviewer's favorite in the film.
The main issue with the movie is its length, and when everyone is constantly singing for 3 hours, it can be a little taxing. There are multiple songs that could have been trimmed or cut out entirely, seeing as how they didn't add anything to the overall story. There also seemed to be a few plot holes, but that might just be a by-product of having none of the dialogue actually spoken.
Anthony's Verdict:
Complaints aside, "Les Misérables" is a tough film to ignore. It's beautiful and daring, and it can feel like you're watching a play. If you're into musicals, then "Les Misérables" will blow your mind. If you're not, just watch Django Unchained.
Numerical Score: 7/10
Read the Original post on The Sargon Times
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