I just watched Les Miserables earlier today on DVD and wow! it was really good.Very amazing in fact.Anyway,those words I typed above is the film's tagline and It gave me more meaning and significance when I saw this wonderful,stunning film.Les Miserables is the film adaptation of the ever-famous broadway musical of the same title and is directed by Academy Award Winning director Tom Hooper (The King's Speech) and stars Hugh Jackman (The Prestige),Russell Crowe (Gladiator/A Beautiful Mind),Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises),Amanda Seyfried (Mama Mia!),Eddie Redmayne,Sacha Baron Cohen (Hugo) and Helena Bonham Carter (The King's Speech).The film is set in 19th Century France and follows Jean Valjean (Played by Hugh Jackman),who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert (Played by Russell Crowe) after he breaks parole and agrees to take care of factory worker Fantine's (Played by Anne Hathaway) daughter,Cosette.The fateful decision changes their lives forever.
Les Miserables' plot is briefly told in its iconic tagline and it is very powerful to me given the sense that it focuses on rising up/revolution,dreaming for a better life,hoping for a better future and loving a special person to one another.The storytelling is compelling,heartbreaking and touching because it executed those said themes very effectively,properly and beautifully.Seeing the stories of these person's lives and what they have gone through is what made this movie really good.After watching the film,I noticed that each character in this movie corresponds to that tagline."Fight" signifies Marius' and the students' revolution against the French Monarchy,"Dream" represents Fantine's character arc with her dreams of having a better life,"Hope" signifies Jean Valjean's desire in fulfilling a better future and Love represents Cosette and Marius' fruitful love with one another.Something like that.Once I saw Les Miserables,I understood the tagline better 'cause it tells a story underneath it.And that powerful,rousing story is told beautifully in the film.
The performances in Les Miserables was brilliant thanks to its talented well-chosen cast.Hugh Jackman was outstanding in his portrayal of the lead role,Jean Valjean because of the way he adds grit to the character and also,because of the way he belts his heart out during his musical numbers.It was just outstanding.Anne Hathaway was breathtaking in her role of Fantine specifically because of her very breathtaking and emotional musical performance in "I Dreamed A Dream".It's just no wonder she won an Oscar for that.She definitely deserved it.If you don't believe me,go check it out for yourself.It will move you away,spiritually.Russell Crowe was strong in representing the role of Javert and his ruthless traits.He was a well-crafted villain for the film and his musical performance in the film was good too.Outstanding also,in fact.Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne were both great in playing the roles of Cosette and Marius.Because both of them sang really well,both were great in giving life to the characters and also because I liked the romantic chemistry between the two.The two supporting actor/actresses Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were ever-spectacular since both of them play physically weird characters and that's the main thing they're both good at.Also,I liked both of their performances for they served as the film's comic relief.Their whimsical musical number was just a delight.Hell,even the background characters were great too,in terms of musical performance.They all did well.Actually,I was amazed,glad and dazzled with the cast.I really didn't have a clue that all of them could sing until I saw and heard them sing in this film.Bravo to them.
Les Miserables is a period piece film due to the fact that the story is set in 19th Century France,so of course they have to build up a set that looks exactly like that place in that era and Les Miserables didn't fail to do so.The set pieces of 19th Century France were just so gorgeous and dazzling.Specially the set piece during the revolution and the opening scene with the slaves pulling a big ship.It was just fantastic and well-built.They really must've done a lot of research and they did a good job at it.The cinematography of Les Miserables is one of the best and most beautiful I've ever seen in a film.The shots of France in the 19th Century were just so stunning and the film itself is really well-shot,specially the opening scene.Very attracting and pleasing to the eye.Kudos to Director of Photography,Danny Cohen for shooting the film so well and passionately.The music of Les Miserables is phenomenal and emotional,at times.Some of the songs are upbeat and jolly like The Thenardiers' Master of the House.Some are revolting like Look Down and Do You Hear The People Sing (Which is partly upbeat in terms of symphony,but still revolting) and most are downbeat,sad and heartbreaking.Perfect examples of that is "I Dreamed A Dream".Particularly,Anne Hathaway's rendition.During that song came on in the film,I actually really wanted to cry,but I forced myself not to due to the fact that I'm not the only one watching.I don't want other people to see me cry for a movie.But this movie was really worth crying for.Particularly the solemn,touching music.This is the first film I have seen from director Tom Hooper who previously worked on the Academy Award Winning film The King's Speech,and I must say he really did a great job in directing Les Miserables.I just really don't know why a lot of people are bashing on this film.It was well made and well-crafted actually,so I really wonder why it got so much hate.Well,everyone's a critic...
Les Miserables is a powerful film that will spiritually move you with its touching heartbreaking music,stellar performances from a star-powered talented cast,a beautiful moving plot and a powerful message that it sends to its' audiences.Truly wonderful.If you love spiritually moving films,then this comes in highly recommended.I just don't know if your spirit won't be touched by this.Les Miserables is a movie that everyone needs to see.Also,the film will make you shed a tear or two.
Les Miserables gets 8.6 stars over 10.I originally gave this film a rating of 8.1 but I decided to change it since I loved and enjoyed the movie so much.
*Tom Hooper's wonderful musical Les Miserables is available on DVD & Blu-Ray distributed by Magnavision Home Video.
Check out this ultimate musical trailer for the film in the meantime:
*Video courtesy of Movieclips.com
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