Film Review: Les Misérables
This review must come with a warning though: if you don’t
like musicals, it’s probably best if you leave this one alone as it’s like a
musical on steroids. With very little, if not any, dialogue, the film converses through the power of song. So if you are willing and can shake the thought of
Russell Crowe stringing together a tune, then you will be able to journey
through it.
In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, who decades
has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees
to care for factory worker Fantine’s daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision
changes their lives forever.
You’d never think that an ensemble of dirty French prostitutes
with missing teeth and frazzled hair would be so tranquilizing, but Les Misérables
delivers audiences scenes just like that.
Anne Hathaway cuts her luscious locks for the role of Fantene,
and her rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ is a definite tear jerker. All shot in
extreme close up and in one take; you can smell the hurt on her breath and see
the desperate despair behind her glassy eyes.
The scene is sure to give you goose bumps, and although the
song is shot in one long close up, she keeps you captivated with her ability
to contort raw emotion on her fresh face. You feel for the street prostitute and
her gaunt frame.
The chilly weather is an explicit parallel to the remorse
given by Russel Crowe’s character Javert for the treatment of convicts and
street folk. His ability to look fierce even while holding onto a melody is impressive; however, it is doubtful that he will receive any awards for this role. He is outshined by the cast in terms of ability, but holds to his own sufficiently throughout the film.
Sacha Baron Cohen’s natural comedic charm translates well as
his character Thenardier, and he and Helena Bonham Carter act as the perfect
couple. As the landlord and lady, their hunger for fortune breathes fresh air
to the darkness, a much needed lift from the constant dreary and sad atmosphere.
Well, what’s a musical without a love story?
This is where Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks walk in. Playing an
older Cosette, Seyfried embodies the character of a loved up teenager yet
again. Cosette and Marius (Redmayne) confess their love for one another but are
torn apart (what an unpredictable twist). The third wheel, Eponine (Barks)
realises that her secret love for Marius will never be reciprocated.
Set designers deserve a nod of appreciation as the constant
darkness paralleled with the beauty of song makes for a pleasing contrast.
What’s the verdict? Well, it’s not the most pleasant of
films. You wouldn’t want to watch it if you had a bad day, or if you were not particularly
in the best of moods. There are moments, yes, that there is a sense of
uplifting triumph; however, the darkness and despair almost definitely cancels it
out quickly. I understand why there were YouTube clips uploaded almost
instantly after the premiere of moviegoers in tears, it’s hard to watch a film
where the characters never smile and be happy about it.
To watch this film you have to be open to ideas, the idea
that for 2 and half hours you will not hear a moment of dialogue but only the sound
of song, the idea that a movie can be shot with a constant undertone of
darkness, the idea of Russel Crowe singing and the idea that not all bad things
come to an end.
Rating
Four birds
Even though the plot is emotionally
draining, the translation of this Broadway musical onto film is of cinematic excellence,
and even if you don’t enjoy the singing, you’ll be sure to at least enjoy that.
Trivia
Anne Hathaway reportedly blew everyone away at her audition,
leaving everyone in tears.
Anne Hathaway’s mother, Kate McCarley Hathaway, played the
same character in 1987 in the first US tour of the musical.
Hugh Jackman personally lobbied for Hathaway to play
Fontaine.
“I Dreamed a Dream” took 8 hours to film, the fourth take
made the final cut.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter have been cast
alongside in a musical before in “Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”
The cast went under extreme transformations for the film.
Hugh Jackman lost a considerable amount of weight and grew a scraggly beard for
scenes when his character was a slave, and shaved the beard and returned to his
normal weight for scenes as a wealthy man. Anne Hathaway lost 25 pounds
(approximately 11kgs) in preparation for her role. She revealed her diet
consisted of oatmeal paste.