Film Review: Les Miserables

Director: Tom Hooper

One of the most renowned musicals of all-time was always likely to be converted to a spectacular and epic film, in many ways a tough act to follow as many have seen revered musicals on Broadway and the West End with such legends as Maurice Barrier and Colm Wilkinson have played the lead character of Jean Valjean. The film sticks to its musical roots as all dialogue is sung throughout.

Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman)

The story starts in 1815 follows a man named Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) who is released on parole after serving a 19 year sentence for stealing some bread. He vows to changes his ways and breaks his parole to start a new life under a new identity but his nemesis from prison Javert (Russell Crowe) vows to track him down and put him back in prison. The battle for Valjean's capture is interwoven over the later story of the French Revolution of Parisien students 17 years later, as Valjean has cared for factory worker Fantine's (Anne Hathaway) baby Cosette (Amanda Seyfried as an adult) and he wants to ensure her happiness in later life.

A film of this nature is harder to review in the sense that the story is one that I fell in love with as a child and will always be one that I enjoy, the performance by Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean is simply excellent and you can see his background in musical and theatre acting shine though. Russell Crowe gives an uneven performance and the weakness in his singing voice is apparent but he does slightly redeem himself later in the film. Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks are both impressive in their supporting roles whilst Anne Hathaway's rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" pretty much brought me to tears. Another disappointment was the casting of Sacha Baron Cohen as Monsieur Thénadier, his version of "Master of the House" lacked spark and was frankly a disappointment although Helena Bonham Carter was capable at least but overall it was an impressively acted and sung adaptation.

Fantine (Anne Hathaway)

Unfortunately I found some of the camerawork a bit frustrating at times, Hooper seemed obsessed with moving camera shots either around or above a scene which detracted from the movie. The scene of Jalvert singing on the bridge near the end was like watching it on a bouncy castle as the camera flew overhead for no real apparent reason. But this aside it was a beautifully choreographed movie with much of the filming done around England including Winchester College and Cathedral as well as Portsmouth Naval base. As a film it is certainly unique given how much emotion it brings out of you, whether you love the musical or not you will be mesmerized by the performances that makes it hard not to feel something for the characters.

3.5/4 an excellent adaptation with just some minor flaws.