les miserables - the movie

I recently had the rare opportunity to attend the pre-screening of les miserables in Malaysia - courtesy of Loong-Updates, Nuffnang, Churp Churp. It's been the one movie that I've been really looking forward to since its trailers came out somewhere in 3Q2012 and thought I'd write a word or two on the movie.

I couldn't have been more pleased of how the movie turned out! I initially had reservations over Hooper's decision to cast Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean considering Jackman's musical theater experience  (well, I still do...) but overall i thought it played out really well!

The movie

The movie was simply amazing. The right cast, the right filming, everything just fell together so perfectly. In the beginning I thought it was a little rushed and could've done a better job in leading into the story (especially for those who didn't know much about les mis) - but when I realized 2.5 hours has passed, and in retrospect, it just couldn't have have been done differently. 

Hooper's decision to film everything live - and I thought it really did what it was supposed to - strengthens the bond between audience and actors. I used to really like Phantom of the Opera (movie and theater), but I think this movie simply sets the bar higher now when translating theater to screens. You can feel for the characters - like it or not, the close-up shots work, and that's only one part of it. Overall, absolutely no questions that this is my favorite movie of the year ("2012" being the most entertaining one since the world didn't end on the 21st :) )

Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean

At first I wasn't sure if Jackman's voice and singing style would let him succeed in the role of Jean Valjean - a role so versatile in its performance that I wasn't sure if Jackman's signature powerful vocals would overpower delicate sides of Valjean's pieces. 

I'm still a huge fan of Alfie Boe's interpretation of Bring Him Home, but over the past few days since I watched the movie I've grown fond of Jackman's more powerful version - Boe's sounded more like "God on high hear my prayers" while Jackman's sounded more like "God on high you better answer my prayers"  

Jackman's good. Watching him performing is kinda like seeing Gerald Butler plays the Phantom on screen and then Leonidas in 300; though, in reverse, due to the whole Wolverine thing. Hooper's right - I don't think the movie would've been this successful without Hugh Jackman playing the lead role. There are parts that I still didn't like Jackman's interpretation - seemed a little monotonous with excessive vibrato, and simply too over-powering - but I couldn't think of another actor for the role (maybe, Gerald Butler) - kudos to Wolverine for making les mis possible!

Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried

Anne Hathaway is just amazing. I think we all know her previous singing experience, but without her taking on I Dreamed a Dream I'm simply not sure how the rest of the pieces can build on it. She delivered the anchor piece to the whole movie - and didn't appear again till the very last piece, which I thought was kinda a waste... but hey, that performance makes Susan Boyle looks like a school girl learning how to sing.

Russell Crowe's performance was unexpectedly good. What I really like was how he casually pulled off the role of Javert - the unyielding law enforcer who eventually doubted his own judgement the past 20 years. Nothing much to comment on, really - there were only parts of his performance that I thought were really good - One Day, and his final piece - the rest are so-so. But his Base voice. You can never get too much of gladiator's deep magnetic resonating goodness.

Amanda Seyfried was beautiful from beginning to end - singing, I mean. The truth is, I think, not all actors / actresses in this cast are technically impeccable. Seyfried is one of the few whose techniques and vocals are really, really, really good. Further strengthening her musical prowess since Mama Mia!

Pleasant Surprise from the Boy Band

Not sure bout you, but it's the first time I actually heard of Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks. The other guy Aaron Tveit starred in Gossip Girl. Tveit and Barks are both really solid singers and actors (Barks started her career entirely in musical), but Redmayne (Etonian, 2000) seems to have tensions in the vocal chords and sounds a little muffled from time to time. But it's still a really good performance especially when the choir came together at the barricade. It worked out. Actually, more than just worked out. The barricade was a really important scene in les mis, and the guys did a really good job marking the essence of the June Rebellion.

Special note to Samantha Barks starring as Eponine. The lady who played Eponine when I watched it in West End didn't stand out at all, unlike Barks who played Eponine on screens. She was delicate, strong, perplexed, yet daring. All of the qualities that embodied Eponine. What an amazing portrayal.

And We Can't Forget Young Gavroche Now, Can We?

Daniel Huttlestone played young Gavroche. This 9-year-old who captured audience's attention from Oliver! and now les mis - I think we can expect a lot from him in the years to come!

End note

I went into the movies with high expectations - you can't just re-enact les mis, you need to make it perfect - and came out with my expectations exceeded. Definitely a must-watch for 2012!

Go in expecting a fulfilling 2.5 hours, bring tissues (hugging pillows too if they're your thing...), and come out to that Christmas Party with a little tingling that'll bring you well into 2013.

Highly recommend.