Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried.
Director: Tom Hooper
When I was in high school, I had the great fortune to go and see the stage play of Les Miserables with our English class. I fell in love almost instantly with the pure power of not only the story but the music and the utter passion of this beautiful story. It was a love affair that has continued through my life.
Last year, I purchased the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables at the 02 in London. I spent most of the almost 3 hours sobbing and remembering how much I loved the music.
When I heard that it was being remade into a movie, and that it would be a musical, I was ecstatic.
The first trailers to arrive saw Anne Hathaway singing Ï Dreamed a Dream" and I was pretty impressed with her voice. I was incredibly sceptical upon hearing that Russell Crowe had been cast as Javert and was doubtful that he would pull it off.
How wrong I was.
From the opening titles, it was clear that this was going to be one powerful 2 hours and 41 minutes.
Hugh Jackman plays Jean Valjean, a prisoner in 19th century France who has served 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Hugh is almost unrecognisable as Valjean but gives a stunning performance as prisoner 24601.
Russell Crowe is passionate and imposing as Inspector Javert, the police inspector who vows to hunt down Jean Valjean when he skips parole and goes missing.
Valjean, upon obtaining his freedom, goes straight back to stealing but meets a priest, played by the original London Production Jean Valjean, who forces him to question his life and turn things around.
Year later we see him as the successful Mayor of a town and owner for a factory who employs the poor unfortunate Fontine, played by Anne Hathaway. Fontine is working to send money to the inn keepers who are looking after her infant daughter, Cosette.
Fontine falls on hard times and Valjean tries to save her, vowing to look after her daughter if anything should happen to her.
Meanwhile, Javert discovers the Mayors secret and tries to bring Valjean in for breaking parole but fails and the hunt begins again.
He escapes to the Inn where Cosette is living with the Thenardiers, played by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter..........these guys were brilliant. They drip evil and ooze shiftiness, the perfect pair to play such despicable characters.
Upon paying a large sum of money to take Cosette off their hands, they escape to Paris where they manage to evade Javert once more and begin a life as father and daughter for many years.
Cosette, now grown, (Amanda Seyfried), knows that her 'father' has something to hide, but doesn't know what, and then her world is turned upside down when she meets Marius, (Eddie Redmayne) and falls head over heels in love.
Another beautiful performance from one of the London Production cast by Samantha Barks, who plays the daughter of the Thenardiers, Eponine. This girl is gorgeous and has the most stunning voice to match her angelic face. I was in tears when she sings of her love for Marius, knowing he will never return her affections. It's heart wrenching.
Of course, the climax comes when Jean Valjean realises Çosette is in love and tries to help Marius at the blockades against the French soldiers to make sure he survives.
The face off between Javert and Valjean is fantastic and the final scene of the movie had most of the theatre sobbing, especially my friend and the lady at the end of the row.
This movie deserves to win every award it is put up for. It was incredibly well cast and very powerful. I can't wait to see it again.
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