........Better Than an Operrrra?
My reaction to the much-anticipated (by me) Les Miserables movie behind the cut!
Random immediate reactions here, rather than a full coherent review.
The opening scene was great. Total WOW! factor with the convicts hauling that huge ship into dry dock.
I liked how they'd included various things from the book that aren't in the musical. Fantine selling some of her teeth , the elephant, the convent and Fauchelevent, Javert denouncing himself to M. Madeleine, Valjean packing money and candlesticks before leaving Montreuil-Sur-Mer, Marius's grandfather, Valjean nearly drowning in sewage....
I ALSO liked how they'd sprinkled little "original" bits and pieces of storytelling throughout to make the story more coherent and to show character development... like Valjean retrieving the flag and impressing on Javert his immense strenght at the beginning, or Valjean being distracted by seeing Javert and therefore leaving the scene when Fantine and that other woman are fighting over Fantine's letter. And the various reaction shots of young Eponine during Master of the House. And Valjean going back to the convent at the end rather than living on his own in a dreary flat. And Javert giving dead Gavroche the medal.
I liked the much-touted New Song "Suddenly" well enough, but also thought it went a way to over-explaining Valjean's emotions, in case we didn't *get* what Cosette meant to him.
I *loved* the finale number. Not so much "One Day More", but I suppose it would be nearly impossible to top what the musical itself is serving up there.
I adored Grantaire! Enjolras didn't do nearly as much for me, though, unfortunately. But his death scene was a homage to the musical that I applauded with a tear in my eye. And the final battle from floor to floor in the cafe - wonderful, and the two of them taking the last volley side by side.... Oh God meep. Tragic slash prospects ahoy!
And oh, Marius and Cosette. They are hard to like in the book (well, Cosette is depicted as a doll more than a living human being), they are far more likable in the musical, but here they were *wonderful*, both of them. Big kudos! Especially Redmayne's Marius came across as so much more, he really shone, an interesting and likable character in his own right, more than in the musical.
Gavroche ♥
Colm Wilkinson as the bishop also made me emit a silent cheer.
Loved it whenever the camera pulled back and showed us the bigger picture. Paris's rooftops and mazes of alleys at the time, the funeral procession, the grand landscapes as Valjean travelled away from Toulon.
The constant close-ups were not a good directing choice. I never wanted the opportunity to study all the actors' tonsils and tongues that closely. And I really wanted the camera to rather pull back many times and show me "the bigger picture". But I had been sufficiently warned, so it didn't distract or disappoint me *too* much.
Eponine was wonderfully played and sung.
My absolute pet peeve with this film was the Thenardiers. They're comic relief, OK, and in the musical it works well, but here IMO they seemed to be in a completely other movie than the rest of the cast. Gross charicatures, all the way, over-the-top buffonery and ditto costumes and make-up where otherwise there was an effort at realism. I honestly have no idea what the director was thinking - I guess Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are not the ones to be blamed. I disliked all and any scenes they were in as a consequence. Very disappointed at this. Who could ever imagine the sweet Fantine leaving her little child with these weird clownish nasties?
I...didn't mind Crowe's Javert as much as I had feared. He is no great singer, but he seemed to hold back on pushing himself in the big musical moments for fear of it becoming "too emotional" and "too unrealistic" rather than (just) because of his singing abilities. I do wish they'd rather gone with someone who could do "Stars" justice, but I wasn't too disappointed. And that's saying something because I dislike Crowe whether he sings or not.
So, the Oscar contenders, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway? I... wasn't utterly bowled over by either, tbh. Both aquitted themselves well enough, but I thought Fantine's misery was played up too extremely with snot and tears and gaping mouth and quivering tongue and it became too much, almost. Though Fantine going with her first customer was completely heartwrenching all right. :( Jackman was solid, he just didn't manage to *move* me before the very last scene(s).
By and large I enjoyed the "second act" more than the first in this one - whenever I watch the musical it has been the other way around.
All in all, I did enjoy the film. I loved all the views we got of "the larger picture" and the big scenes that the musical format cannot provide. I have to digest it all a little more I guess, before I pass the final verdict. :)
This Les Mis nut signing out, for now! :)
Random immediate reactions here, rather than a full coherent review.
The opening scene was great. Total WOW! factor with the convicts hauling that huge ship into dry dock.
I liked how they'd included various things from the book that aren't in the musical. Fantine selling some of her teeth , the elephant, the convent and Fauchelevent, Javert denouncing himself to M. Madeleine, Valjean packing money and candlesticks before leaving Montreuil-Sur-Mer, Marius's grandfather, Valjean nearly drowning in sewage....
I ALSO liked how they'd sprinkled little "original" bits and pieces of storytelling throughout to make the story more coherent and to show character development... like Valjean retrieving the flag and impressing on Javert his immense strenght at the beginning, or Valjean being distracted by seeing Javert and therefore leaving the scene when Fantine and that other woman are fighting over Fantine's letter. And the various reaction shots of young Eponine during Master of the House. And Valjean going back to the convent at the end rather than living on his own in a dreary flat. And Javert giving dead Gavroche the medal.
I liked the much-touted New Song "Suddenly" well enough, but also thought it went a way to over-explaining Valjean's emotions, in case we didn't *get* what Cosette meant to him.
I *loved* the finale number. Not so much "One Day More", but I suppose it would be nearly impossible to top what the musical itself is serving up there.
I adored Grantaire! Enjolras didn't do nearly as much for me, though, unfortunately. But his death scene was a homage to the musical that I applauded with a tear in my eye. And the final battle from floor to floor in the cafe - wonderful, and the two of them taking the last volley side by side.... Oh God meep. Tragic slash prospects ahoy!
And oh, Marius and Cosette. They are hard to like in the book (well, Cosette is depicted as a doll more than a living human being), they are far more likable in the musical, but here they were *wonderful*, both of them. Big kudos! Especially Redmayne's Marius came across as so much more, he really shone, an interesting and likable character in his own right, more than in the musical.
Gavroche ♥
Colm Wilkinson as the bishop also made me emit a silent cheer.
Loved it whenever the camera pulled back and showed us the bigger picture. Paris's rooftops and mazes of alleys at the time, the funeral procession, the grand landscapes as Valjean travelled away from Toulon.
The constant close-ups were not a good directing choice. I never wanted the opportunity to study all the actors' tonsils and tongues that closely. And I really wanted the camera to rather pull back many times and show me "the bigger picture". But I had been sufficiently warned, so it didn't distract or disappoint me *too* much.
Eponine was wonderfully played and sung.
My absolute pet peeve with this film was the Thenardiers. They're comic relief, OK, and in the musical it works well, but here IMO they seemed to be in a completely other movie than the rest of the cast. Gross charicatures, all the way, over-the-top buffonery and ditto costumes and make-up where otherwise there was an effort at realism. I honestly have no idea what the director was thinking - I guess Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are not the ones to be blamed. I disliked all and any scenes they were in as a consequence. Very disappointed at this. Who could ever imagine the sweet Fantine leaving her little child with these weird clownish nasties?
I...didn't mind Crowe's Javert as much as I had feared. He is no great singer, but he seemed to hold back on pushing himself in the big musical moments for fear of it becoming "too emotional" and "too unrealistic" rather than (just) because of his singing abilities. I do wish they'd rather gone with someone who could do "Stars" justice, but I wasn't too disappointed. And that's saying something because I dislike Crowe whether he sings or not.
So, the Oscar contenders, Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway? I... wasn't utterly bowled over by either, tbh. Both aquitted themselves well enough, but I thought Fantine's misery was played up too extremely with snot and tears and gaping mouth and quivering tongue and it became too much, almost. Though Fantine going with her first customer was completely heartwrenching all right. :( Jackman was solid, he just didn't manage to *move* me before the very last scene(s).
By and large I enjoyed the "second act" more than the first in this one - whenever I watch the musical it has been the other way around.
All in all, I did enjoy the film. I loved all the views we got of "the larger picture" and the big scenes that the musical format cannot provide. I have to digest it all a little more I guess, before I pass the final verdict. :)
This Les Mis nut signing out, for now! :)