For some reason, even though touring
companies have come through my area with off Broadway productions of Les Miserables, I’ve never seen the
stage version of it. I have, however, read the Victor Hugo novel on which it is
based. One of my advanced French classes in college required it and I remember
struggling through it, determined not to read it in English. Maybe that’s what
made me a little biased when it came to the movie.
Les Miserables is nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best
Picture, Best Actor (Hugh Jackman), and Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway).
The film has taken the Golden Globe award for each of those categories (Best
Musical or Comedy) and is certain to take home a few Oscars as well.
But not if I were giving them out.
The story begins in 1825 and follows
an ex-slave/criminal, Jean Valjean (Jackman), for the next 14 years. Valjean is
caught stealing from a church, but through grace is spared when the priest fibs
to police to protect him. He then devotes his life to helping others and
becomes a successful businessman and mayor while being chased unmercifully by
Javert (Russell Crowe), a prison guard who is sworn to bring Valjean to justice
for violating his parole.
Fantine (Hathaway) is a young mother
who works in one of Valjean’s factories. She is fired by a foreman and turns to
prostitution to survive. In her death scene, she sings “I Dreamed a Dream,”
(the song made more famous by Susan Boyle), and makes Valjean promise to watch
after her daughter Cozette.
The next nine years are spent
watching Cozette (Amanda Seyfried) mature and Valjean age. By this time, the
peasants in Paris are ready to stage a revolution in protest of their miserable
lives. Valjean is once again pulled apart by dilemmas: does he protect his
charge Cozette, or does he allow her possible happiness by marrying one of the
young revolutionaries?
Ninety-five percent of the movie is
done in song. It’s more of an opera than a musical, along the lines of Jesus
Christ Superstar or Phantom of the Opera.
Although I enjoyed the movie for the
most part, I started looking at my watch about 90 minutes into it, wondering
how much longer it was going to be. The film is 158 minutes (that’s two hours
and 38 minutes if you don’t want to pull out the calculator) which, I think, is
about 45 minutes too long. Things really started to drag towards the end.
Where I saw the movie, there were
about 100 people in the theater and a few of them clapped at the end. I’m not
sure if it was because they enjoyed the movie or because they were glad it was
FINALLY over. I would have been in the latter group. I was surprised at the
number of negative comments I heard on the way out.
The music was okay, but there are
very few memorable songs, save “I Dreamed a Dream.” I doubt if many
people can hum or whistle any other tune from the movie. The vocals were
impressive, especially Hathaway’s, though both Jackman and Crowe showed their
considerable vocal skills as well.
I don’t believe it was good enough
to take home the Oscar for Best Picture. Both Lincoln and Argo
were better.
It’s hard to judge the acting
performance of Hathaway and Jackman since all their lines were sung. Hathaway
did a marvelous job with the big song in the show and I wouldn’t be surprised
if she takes home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her facial
expressions and body language during her scenes added to her character.
As for Jackman, if he does get Best
Actor, part of the credit should go to the makeup department. His
transformation from slave to mayor to old dying man is amazing, but I’m just
not sure how much was his acting ability and how much was makeup. I’m sure that
the nomination stems mainly from the very touching scene at the end when he’s
saying goodbye to Cozette. For me, that’s not enough to overcome someone like
Daniel Day-Lewis, who maintains character throughout the entire movie. Jackman’s
body language and facial expressions were not in the same league as Hathaway’s.
Some voters may feel obligated to
keep up their “artsy-fartsy” image by voting for this as Best Picture, but as I
said before, it’s not my choice. On my grading scale, I’ll give it a C+, mainly
because of the length.
I won’t be buying or renting it once
it comes out on DVD, but in all honesty, that might be the best way to enjoy
this film with a pause button on hand to give an occasional break to the
viewer. Just make sure you have a good sound system to get the full experience.
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