Les Miserables [Blu-ray] [2012]

Sad, but overall the directing and acting were pretty good

Well crafted and for the most part well acted and sung. Hugh Jackman is wonderful in the impossible role of Valejean. Anne Hathaway is heartbreaking as Fantine although I agree with some of the criticism that her fall into hell is much too quick and fails to really create any pathos. However, that is the failing of the filmmakers. Her performance is breathtaking and the pathos is in full flower in the magnificent "I Dreamed A Dream." Eddie Redmayne and Samantha Barks are both excellent. Sasha Baron Cohen failed to impress me in "Master of the House" although he won me over in his later scenes showing more menace. Helena Bonham Carter rehashed Mrs. Lovett, it seems to me, and didn't really seem to relish her role. And, alas, Russell Crowe is the sow's ear in the piece. Looking GREAT as Javert and certainly possessed of the menace and acting chops required for the role, he lost all believability the minute he opened voice. His singing, while on key, lacks any color or conviction. Pedestrian at best in a role that needed power and conviction. How sad. Still, Crowe aside, the decision to sing live paid off well in most cases bringing an immediacy and rawness that helped bring the viewer in. Overall, this is a stunning success, in my opinion. They made, if not a great film, a really really good one.

I must admit I had quite a bit of trepidation when I heard they were making another Les Misérables for the big screen. When I heard they were making a musical I had more reason to be hesitant. I am a huge fan of the novel and the movie did a great job of bringing characters I had only read about to life. The sadness of Fantine, the transformation of Jean Valjean's character from angry ex-convict to a loving father figure for Cosette, the lowlifes that were the Thenardiers and the mischievous Gavroche. For anyone who is a fan of the musical on stage or musicals period, I would recommend this movie. I truly enjoyed it and I went in not wanting to like this movie because I felt no.adaptation would do the novel justice.

I have always LOVED the hit Broadway musical, Les Miserables! There have been other movie adaptions that were misses, but last year's adaption was a hit! Beautifully done, wonderfully cast. A treat for the eyes and ears! Anne Hathaway (Fantine), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), Sasha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter (Monsieur and Madame Thénardier) were perfect in this adaption! While I've seen better Jean Valjeans, but Hugh Jackman was a pleasant surprise! He did a good job! If you haven't seen it, see it! If you haven't bought it yet, buy it!

The only way to review this musical version of Les Misarables is to compare it to the Hugo book, the stage musical, or the 1998 non-musical film starring Liam Neeson. I choose to compare it ot the latter. I would love to give this one 5 stars, but it has two fairly graphic sexual instances. Both are quick, but neither is necessary, and both kind of ruin the moment. I prefer the opening scene in the Liam Neeson film over this one, but this one's ending scene, which I refer to as "The great cloud of witnesses", is moving and powerful. Russell Crowe is serviceable in his role, but he isn't Geoffrey Rush.

A film that could have been a disaster (Russell Crowe singing? Please...) instead turns out to be a faithful, moving adaptation of a- lets be honest here- mediocre Broadway (actually, West End) musical. Too many close ups? Yes, in the theatre. But on a home-size screen those same close-ups help amplify the impact of the actors' work, and are not nearly as obvious/obtrusive as they were in the theatre. And while individual scenes and songs may be somewhat facile and cliched the cumulative effect is powerful, emotional, and ultimately overwhelming. A great musical? Not really. A great film musical? Quite possibly.

The stage play is fantastic and the filmmakers really did make quite a fantastic effort in translating it from stage to screen. It has all the elements of the story without the over exaggeration (as required when you're on stage). the close ups, the songs, the choreography was all very very well done. It really shows how much effort is put into this movie. Sorry Russell Crowe, you are a great actor, but your singing voice is pretty harsh. (not that mine is even close to be at Russell Crowe's level). The acting part is obviously as good as Russell Crowe always is. Just not the singing.

This 2012 film version is a musical/romance adaptation of the 1862 French novel by Victor Hugo. Starring a great cast, with Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway, who sing all their own songs, this classic story of a prisoner who finally receives parole after 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread, but is still dogged relentlessly by a ruthless police man. Justice and mercy are the plot points in this character drama of 19th century life, love, loss and redemption.