We got to see Les Miserables this weekend. Let me tell you, as a fan of the stage version, I was very impressed with the movie. Yes, there were plenty of critics who could nitpick things about the movie (Russell Crowe, they were looking mostly at you), but I'm not one of those.
Granted, Russell Crowe is not a Broadway singer. He's a rock singer. And if you don't believe me, go look up his band, The Ordinary Fear of God (they're on iTunes). It wasn't that he was a bad singer, either, it was just a different type of voice than what most people consider the character to have based on performances over the past twenty-five years.
But that's been the beauty of the movie. There have been so many versions of the staged musical, in so many countries that it is open to interpretation. It's not going to be the same in English versus Japanese versus the original French. And that's what the movie was - a different interpretation.
From the opening scene of the movie and their depiction of the hard labor that Jean Valjean is subjected to, the movie pulls you into the story immediately. A foreshadowing of things to come and the freedom given to Valjean. It was almost easier to feel sorry for Valjean after he was paroled as he tried to live his life as a former criminal. There was a wonderful homage to the original London and Broadway versions of the stage musical as the original Jean Valjean, Colm Wilkinson, showed up as the Bishop that saves Valjean from his own despair.
I could go on and on about various portions of the film and the songs, but I won't. There is something else that I would like to touch on, though. Some people felt that the concept of "live singing" was not the best way to film this movie. That they should have simply lip synched to a track and done the singing in post production. However, I think that since this was based on a staged musical, the live singing was actually a better way to record it. It made the singing feel more natural instead of standard. It allowed the singers to take liberty with the songs and try to bring them to life in their own interpretation.
I will say that Anne Hathaway's performance as Fantine was deserving of the Best Supporting Actress nomination that she received. Even though she is only in the film for a short time, her portrayal of a woman that is simply trying to save her child from death is heart wrenching. I can tell you that there were no dry eyes in the theater as she was singing to a mirage of her daughter.
Though the songs were out of order slightly, it didn't ruin their impact on the story and, in fact, helped move the story along better because of other production decisions. There was also an added song, "Suddenly", that is sung by Jean Valjean after he rescues Cosette from the Thenardier's. It's beautiful and I think that the lyrics hold true (for the most part) to any first time parent. It's a song about discovering just how different life can be with a child. It is the only song that I purchased from the soundtrack because I already have the musical and didn't need another version. But this song is one that I definitely needed.
The story of Les Miserables, at its heart, is about redemption, hope and faith. Jean Valjean is only a criminal out of necessity. It is only when someone finds him and helps him find faith in God and hope for a better future, does he realize that he can be better than what prison had turned him into. In the end, Valjean is able to be at peace with the life that he lived and the life that he provided to the girl that was placed into his care.
For anyone that might have lost faith and hope, I suggest seeing this movie. I also suggest seeing the staged musical, if possible. It's amazing what visuals can be created on such a small stage.
Until next time.
