***
It was never my intention to see ‘Les Misérables’ at the
cinema as I saw it as a stage production and wasn’t that enthused by it.
However, after hearing the rave reviews from professional critics as well as
friends, I decided I would take the plunge and make my mind up for myself.
The plot follows Jean Valjean (the excellent Hugh Jackman) as
he leaves prison and attempts to rebuild his life, always pursued by his
previous captor and tormentor, Javert (Russell Crowe). The film spans three
different time zones, from the time when Valjean is released, to his position
as a Mayor, and then to the Revolution. In that time, Valjean becomes the
adopted father of Cosette, the daughter of Fantine. One of the draws of the
film is undoubtedly to see Anne Hathaway sing ‘I Dreamed a Dream’. Even as
someone who disliked the stage production, the power of this ballad is
undeniable. Being filmed, of course, allows for a softer rendition of this
song, with some words cried and others almost whispered and I thought Hathaway’s
interpretation was fine, but just fine. It didn’t move me like it has moved so
many others. I couldn’t think of anything that could have been done to make it
better, it just didn’t affect me. And this is my underlying issue with the film
– I was largely unmoved by the whole experience. Yes, there are some moments
which stir the blood, but at some points I found myself wondering how much
longer it would be going on for, or what I would be having for breakfast the
next day.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are brilliant as
the Thénardier couple – maybe too good as I groaned inwardly whenever they
appeared on scene. Their characters actually made me angry, but maybe that was
the desired effect. For me, the stand-out performances come from Eddie Redmayne
and Aaron Tveit as Marius and Enjolras respectively. Both encapsulate the
passion of young men determined to fight for a greater cause than themselves,
and when they sang ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ I believed every word.
Redmayne’s performance of ‘Empty Chairs, Empty Tables’ was heartfelt and
genuinely moving; it was one of the highlights of the film.
As I said before, there is nothing bad about the film. The
direction is excellent – the sustained close-ups of the actors whilst they are
singing does not feel uncomfortable, rather intimate and genuine, but I still
left the cinema feeling that something had been missing. The acting was all
fine, and I had no problems with Russell Crowe’s singing, even though many have
criticised it. Maybe I am just a heathen when it comes to musicals, but I felt
remarkably apathetic after the credits rolled. I cannot place the exact ‘thing’
that would have made it more complete for me, if indeed there was anything.
This film is rightly in contention for an Academy Award and I will not be
disappointed if it does, I was just not as swept along in the epic as everyone
else seems to be.
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