Les Miserables 2012

Les Miserables.

This is a film I have awaited for an entire year since I first made a close acquaintance cum deep friendship with the music and story of Les Miserables. I liked the project on Facebook and Pinterest. I tried not to watch too many of the t.v. spots and clips so that it wouldn't be spoiled for me.

The grand debut day came and someone thought to check PluggedIn--our usual first choice for Christian-based movie reviews. Now, it's no surprise to me that there would be some questionable characters in the film (i.e. prostitutes), but from what PluggedIn said, it seemed that the filmmakers might have gone a bit far. The good thing about PluggedIn is that they are full disclosure--nothing hidden. The bad thing is just that: nothing hidden. Things you might not notice while watching the film are brought to light and mentioned. I appreciate this--it's been really helpful in making judgments on many films over the years. BUT, I didn't have a good handle on what this meant for Les Miserables. How much of this was what you'd expect from the story of Les Miserables? How much was unnecessary? Was it concentrated in one place or sprinkled throughout? How much of this was just the fact that the reviewer wasn't too keen on the story anyhow? (Something I picked up after the first of three or four read-throughs of the review.) I wasn't certain.

This weekend we went to see Les Miserables in theaters. (So did my friend, Liza, by the way.)

I made the choice after active conversation with myself, my family, my parents, and the group of friends we were going with. I was very familiar with the plot and musical. Enough so to hazard a guess (and hope) that the questionable material would be harbored in one or two of the musical numbers: "Lovely Ladies" and "Master of the House." The former I had already been planning to tune out, as I don't make a habit of watching that song even in the concert version. For those of you who are in the dark, "Lovely Ladies" is the song that the prostitutes down at the wharf sing to Fantine about their trade.
We decided to go, armed with this knowledge and experience with sifting through PluggedIn recommendations. Going in to the movie, I was a little apprehensive. I wanted to be able to review the film for you all, knowing that several of my friends were waiting for my review to choose whether they are going to see it or not. But most of all I wanted to enjoy the film, because the story and music of Les Miserables have entwined themselves deep in my heart, and this was the moment I'd been waiting for.

We got our seats...

I distributed tissues...

 The lights dimmed...

and the first strains of the Chain-Gang songs thrummed through the theater. From the moment I first saw Inspector Javert (Russel Crowe) overseeings the lines of straining, groaning convicts and watched him bark at convict Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) my heart settled cockly-warm in my chest. It was not going to disappoint. I just knew it. Now, whether I would cry remained to be seen, but I knew all was going to be okay with the film.

OKAY? 

It was amazing. Overwhelming. "Utterly." *said in my very best Dr. Harrison voice*

(Spoilers may follow, so enter at your own risk. I'll try to be careful, but you never know.)

I have never cried as much in any one film as I did in Les Miserables. Every time I thought it couldn't get any better, any intenser, any deeper, Tom Hooper's directing proved me wrong. This film is raw and deep and pithy. It's not for the faint of heart. I left the theater emotionally exhausted, still damp, heart throbbing. If you like movies that don't leave a mark on your heart and don't rip you in two and don't effect you in any way, Les Miserables is not the movie for you.

Anne Hathaway's part as the poor, pitiable Fantine is relatively brief and a good third of it I spent not-looking, as it was the "Lovely Ladies song. (Generally, folks, just get your popcorn now. Fantine goes down to the wharf, and you have about five or six minutes to be gone before hurrying back so your heart can break.) Handy Dandy Cue-Card Time: When you see Fantine go to the wharf, go ahead and close your eyes. Open when she begins singing "I Dreamed a Dream", but not before. Despite the brevity of her screentime, Hathaway brings you in beginning with "At the End of the Day" and stringing you right along till she breaks you with her heart-rending version of "I Dreamed a Dream."

That's where my tears started. I wept as Fantine wept, understanding for the very first time her misery and anguish and shame. Anne Hathaway--former Princess Mia of Princess Diaries fame--has upped the ante for all future roles of Fantine. She was perfect.

Jean Valjean, as portrayed by Hugh Jackman, was wonderful. A couple times I thought the songs were a little out of his range and prevented proper "belting," but the soul and life he threw into the part far outweighed any faint flaws in his voice. All in all, I thought he fit the part and the part fit him very very well. His relationship with young Cosette was one of the things that most delighted me about the film. It was precious, I tell you.

I am partial to Russell Crowe as an actor, so I give him grace for the fact that he's an actor, not a singer, and his part was a little high for him. I admit I was was worried about "Stars", but he did well, dear chap, and though he couldn't belt it, he inspired enough cold passion and hardness into his portrayal that you give him a nod as a decent fellow who did his part dutifully. 

And really, what more would you want from Javert? He is all rote. All black and white and nothing else. He's not a fanatic. He's a legalist.

The Thenardiers.

Great glory above. What to  say about them? You hated them. Absolutely horrid. And yet Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter played their parts fabulously. Handy Dandy Cue-Card Time:  Again, as a recommendation, I would just listen to this song rather than watch it. When Cosette leaves the inn to get water, look away. You can return to enjoying the film after "Master of the House" is finished. That's what I did, and I didn't miss anything. This couple deserves the name of villain, and I honestly think I'll never see the Red Queen the same way again when I watch Alice in Wonderland.  *Shudder.* I hate this couple. And that isn't too strong a term. Believe me.

Eponine! Samantha Barks as Eponine was just what I could have hoped it to be. 

She's always been my favorite stage Eponine so when I heard she was going to be in the film as well, I couldn't wait to see her. "On my Own" was great, of course, but my favorite was "A Little Fall of Rain." The way she and Eddie Redmayne sang it was so novel and yet fitting and beautiful that I didn't even cry...I just sat there listening and loving.

Eddie Redmayne as Marius was a person who surprised me. I have long preened myself on being a Marius-downer. I don't like his character in the book.

 But Eddie Redmayne's portrayal endeared him to me quickly, and caused me to weep unashamedly as a baby during "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables." He's such a boy. There is one particular moment in the film after the barricade has dropped and it's all over and finished that had me shaking and crying. I won't tell you where, but you'll know. It involves all that valiant company and Javert and little Gavroche.

Dear Gavroche.

Daniel Huttleston's portrayal of this little Paris garmin stole the show in his very fleeting moments. His saucy "Little People" song and the sad fate that befalls him totally made me cry. (AGAIN!)

There were so many other characters I loved.

 Enjolras (Aaron Tveit) was amazing, though not Red-Vest-Of-Power-Ramin-Karimloo. He was a believable, passionate, desperate patriot and played his part well. He is also in possession of a very nice pair of lungs so he didn't disappoint in his "Red and Black" song. That made me get chills.

 I loved Grantaire (George Blagden). Seriously, he ended up one of my favorite side-characters. The barricade was impressive. And not in the way you'd think.

Cosette as played by Amanda Seyfried was very sweet and pure looking. I had a little issue inside over Cosette, as I happened to flip through a magazine at the grocery store that claimed to be interviewing her about her part in Les Miz which instead turned out to be a publicity opportunity for her new and HORRIBLE movie. So there. I couldn't believe her in the role of Cosette knowing that. But you know, her voice was very girlish and piping, she looked the part, and she acted sweetly so I think we can forgive her in the interest of the rest of you.

I won't even tell you about the ending because I am desperate not to spoil this for you, if I spoil anything else. I'm just saying, there was not a single person not crying in that theater.

Les Miserables. A film that so clearly portrays the depravity of humanity, the struggle to redeem ourselves, "I am reaching but I fall and the stars are black and cold..." the realization that we cannot win salvation--that is a gift--, the price and value of love, "To love another person is to see the face of God,"and the overwhelming knowledge of Jesus' grace. These themes are so strongly, strongly, strongly developed in the movie that I would like to personally thank Tom Hooper for keeping them so crystal clear. Ah. I am about to cry again thinking about it.

Les Miserables is a heavy movie. It's emotionally involved, it's gritty, and it's ugly in parts. But it is a good movie--I could even argue a great movie. One I think we could all stand to watch and learn from. I would not recommend it for young viewers, but keeping in mind my handy-dandy cue-cards, I say go for it. ;) You won't regret your choice.

Do you hear the people sing
Lost in the valley of the night?
It is the music of a people
who are climbing to the light.

For the wretched of the earth

there is a flame that never dies.

Even the darkest night will end

and the sun will rise.

They will live again in freedom

in the garden of the Lord.

They will walk behind the ploughshare;

they will put away the sword.

The chain will be broken

and all men will have their reward.

Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade

is there a world you long to see?

Do you hear the people sing?

Say, do you hear the distant drums?

It is the future that they bring

when tomorrow comes!