Finally, FINALLY got to see this. It was so amazing and incredible and tear-jerking and *splodes*
But before I continue, a disclaimer: what follows is my own personal opinion drawn from one viewing of this particular version and countless viewings/readings/listenings of other movies, the Brick, and cast recordings. I don't claim to be an expert critic, nor should this be taken as an expert's view. Thank you, and more after the break.
The moment the music started, though, I was HOOKED. Gah.
Prologue/The Bishop
The galleys are literal galleys, people. HUGE STINKING GALLEYS. I loved how the opening scene swoops down over a ship that's being hauled in to port (for repairs, I assume) and down onto the faces of the prisoners hauling it in. Hugh Jackman is spot-on as Valjean (I wasn't too worried about him, to be honest, because I know he can act and sing), though maybe a tad too much vibratto. Picky on my part, but whatever.
Russel Crowe as Javert....hm. He wasn't bad, but he didn't blow me away either. He sounded the least confident in singing as compared to everyone else (and that silly goatee--HE'S SUPPOSED TO HAVE SIDEBURNS, PEOPLE), but he wasn't bad. And I enjoyed watching him be Javert, even if he didn't have the singing quite down pat. SoI didn't miss Quast too much. XD
When Valjean is released, there are some gorgeous scenes of him walking across mountain ranges and checking into towns with his yellow slip. There are a few speaking lines, but they're tastefully placed and do a little exposition without sounding silly. I liked how they showed that Valjean would have to check in to the police at every town he entered, and his becoming more and more bitter and hunted-looking the longer he walks and the more people harass and persecute him.
The bishop--Colm Wilkinson, who played Valjean in the 10th Anniversary Concert, comes back as the bishop and he's so CUTE in his little bishop costume and I was gleeking out all over the place. I love that touch of having him come back, even as a (relatively) minor role. Yee.
The bit where Valjean sings in the stage production about 'took the silver/took my FLIIIIIIIGHT' isn't in the movie, but they show it all and it's not really necessary in context. And Valjean getting dragged back to Bishop Colm's house and getting the silver--gah. It gets me every time. Especially the bishop saying 'I have saved your soul for God'.
Valjean's Soliloquy
The solos are done a little differently. The camera is right in their faces, so every emotion, every quiver and flicker and twitch, is visible. On the one hand this could look kind of odd and intrusive...but it's pulled off with a feeling of being on hand without being crazy intrusive (though for some songs it's like 'okay, time to pull back a little, too close for comfort'). Another plus is the fact that they really had to be able to act, because any breaking in character would be instantly noticed.
Anyway--the soliloquy. Crazy emotional--I didn't cry, but it made my throat tight to see the struggle. And at the end he stalks out into the church graveyard, rips up his ticket, and throws it over a cliff. One little slip of paper is followed, and it slams into the next song....
At the End of the Day
So. Good. Of course, this is mainly exposition and such, but it was still good. There are some nice scenes of Russel Crowe pwning on a horse, so that made me happy. And then we're introduced to Fantine!
I'll be honest--I wasn't too enthusiastic about Anne Hathaway as Fantine. I thought she wouldn't be that great...but this is a case where I have to eat my words. She did an amazing job, and I take back anything bad that I might have said about her.
I also liked how Valjean's leaving the mess in the factory between Fantine and the workers was because he sees Javert in his office and kind of freaks out. There's a little scene where Javert reports in (my mind is a bit vague, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't in the stage version), and the scene with Fauchlevent and the cart is immediately afterwards. (I think it's at this part that Valjean gives Javert a rosary, for some reason. It never crops up again in the film, but I think it would have been very nice for it to have been a recurring theme for Javert to carry it around and look at it occasionally. Oh well.)**
I also liked how Valjean's leaving the mess in the factory between Fantine and the workers was because he sees Javert in his office and kind of freaks out. There's a little scene where Javert reports in (my mind is a bit vague, but I'm pretty sure that wasn't in the stage version), and the scene with Fauchlevent and the cart is immediately afterwards. (I think it's at this part that Valjean gives Javert a rosary, for some reason. It never crops up again in the film, but I think it would have been very nice for it to have been a recurring theme for Javert to carry it around and look at it occasionally. Oh well.)**
Lovely Ladies
I heard that some people were going 'ohh, but there's prostitutes and sexual things going on', so I would like to set the record straight. Yes, there are prostitutes, but to think that there is anything arousing or potentially tempting about those scenes is incredibly wrong. (And read the book--please and thank you.) There was nothing but revulsion and pity and disgust for the depths to which people will fall when they're desperate and have nowhere else to go. During that time period, a single woman with no family or employment literally had no where else to go. There were no safety nets at that time. Fantine's spiral into despair and her ensuing devolving into a 'woman of the night' has nothing arousing about it.
The 'lovely ladies' are heavily made up with garish makeup, dressed in tattered dresses, and have absolutely no hope about them. And by the end, Fantine is the same way. She sells her teeth (they take 'the back ones', which in accuracy to the book is off, but considering they used all the teeth for dentures and such it's probably not too inaccurate) and her jewelry. When she gets her hair cut, something seems to break and she just doesn't care anymore. You can see the change from desperate but still innocent, to desperate and dead in all but her pulse.
I Dreamed a Dream
The tight camera angle is used again, and holy cow. Talk about emotional. She sings, but chokes and sobs and sniffles all at the same time and GAH. Again, I take back anything bad I might have said about her performance.
Fantine's Arrest
Ah, Bamatabois, you rat. Fantine gets him good here--his face is all scratched up and bloody, and it's fantastic. XD Javert is his merciless self, of course, and Valjean comes in right in the nick of time. What I loved about this scene is how Fantine is in her absolute depths--she's furious, but weak and spent and can hardly get herself to do anything about her fury. When Valjean picks her up and hauls her away with the intent to help and not condemn, she can't believe it and is totally disarmed. I got goosebumps. :3
Javert's Inquiry/Who Am I
I call it 'Javert's Inquiry', but I don't know what the song is called...basically, Javert turns himself in to Valjean (Brick!moment! Aaaaahh!) because he had written to his superiors in Paris to say that he thought he had found Valjean, but they write back and tell him he's wrong because they've already found Valjean somewhere else. Obviously it's the wrong dude, but Javert doesn't know that, and asks to be dishonorably discharged for accusing the real Valjean ('Mayor Madelaine') behind his back. *deep breath* Javert's an odd duck.
'Who Am I' is great too, mostly because duh, it's Valjean and he's having another existential crisis. (He gets those quite a bit throughout the story.) I liked how when he says "I'm 24601!!!" in the courtroom the judge says 'you're not well, M'sieur Madeleine' and as Valjean leaves you get a glimpse of his convict ex-buddies. In the book (and a few film versions) he proves his identity to the convicts in order to convince the judge and jury that he IS 24601 and not to put the other guy in prison.
Fantine's Death
Gulp. Another tear-jerker, man...especially with Fantine 'seeing' Cosette off in the distance and Valjean promising to look after her...urgh. SO MANY PEOPLE DIE!!!
The Confrontation
Javert, you buzzkill. Anyway. This part was really fantastic--I love this song anyway, with its counterpoint and the little duel between J and JVJ, and after Fantine's death it made me jump to see Javert enter so epically. Gah.
Castle on a Cloud
Whoever they got to play little!Cosette was spot. on. (She's in the poster up top.) The look was perfect, and in the line 'She's nice to see and she's soft to touch/She says, 'Cosette, I love you very much' she whispers it to a little rag doll and GAH.
Master of the House
Eh. Master of the House has never been my favorite song (I usually skip it when listening to the soundtrack). I never understood making the Thenardier's humorous for humor's sake, especially when they're supposed to be the villains, but whatever. Let's just say that they did a really good job, as with every song, but it will never be one of my favorites. (Plus there was some stuff that I could have gone without seeing...)
The Woods/Waltz of Treachery
Valjean finds Cosette in the woods, takes her back to the inn, is greeted by the Thenardier's, etc. M. T keeps calling Cosette 'Colette', which turns into a running gag throughout the rest of the movie. After Valjean finally gets away there's a little scene where he and Cosette are driving away in a carriage (coach? Hansom? I don't know for certain) and he sings about the new fatherly feelings he has towards her. Bad description, but it IS pretty sweet.
There's also a bit where Javert chases them through Paris (long story short) and they have to climb over the wall into the convent and meet Fauchelevent...Brick!Points to you, movie! Of course there's no daring coffin escape, but you win some, you lose some.
Stars
Javert's solo is moved around a bit, but I actually like this placement as opposed to after 'Look Down' and the robbery.
Look Down (takes place ten years later)
Gavroche is introduced coming out of the elephant statue! More Brick!points!
Marius and Enjolras get introduced as well--I'll be honest, I thought Marius looked a bit too derpy for the part. And I wasn't too crazy about his voice initially from hearing a clip online. But he's the type that grows on ya (and he really doesn't look that derpy, it's just the initial impression of the long face and crazy amount of freckles). Enjolras sounded great--Enjy isn't my absolute favorite character, but he's still a pretty good one. Misguided, but good.
Eponine is introduced here as well (played by Samantha Barks). Everyone who has seen the film says that she looks like me...I'll let you be the judge of that.
vs
(only picture I could find with long hair and from the same general angle--it's from a couple of years ago)
But anyway. Back to the review.
The Robbery/Javert's Intervention
Another one of my favorite parts (yes, yes, I have a soft spot for Javert. Now shush). The Thenardier's come back full force, and Marius falls in love with Cosette (who is now an adult played by Amanda Seyfried), and Javert breaks up the T's robbery attempt.
I'mma gloss over the next few bits, because this review is getting VERY long and I haven't even gotten to the second act.
I was rather disappointed that the Amis (the barricade boys) got a lot of their lines cut. Maybe the directors were just pressed for time, but a LOT of the lines were missing. I guess it didn't detract that much from the story, but...but...*sigh*
Eponine was good. She used to be one of my favorite characters, but she's such a popular character that I've backed off. There's more than enough Eppy-boppers to go around...anyway. I think they illustrated pretty well here that her misery as a character is not all-contingent on Marius' indifference towards her, but rather her extreme poverty and horrible family life. Hugo makes it a point in the Brick, but a lot of people seem to think she's all about unrequited love. She's a bit deeper than that, thank you very much. (And insane, if you read the Brick. But that's another facet for another day.)
In My Life/A Heart Full of Love
I think Valjean comes across a bit as an overprotective father...I mean, even more so than in previous versions. Or perhaps I just need to refresh my memory. Cosette has a nice voice, and so does Marius--enough to make the songs enjoyable. They rank pretty low on my list of favorite songs, but I don't mind them too much.
One Day More
I was screaming quietly for almost the whole song. Talk about freaking out...SO well-done, and I loved how the voiced were blended. In most recordings bits from each person can be heard, but not all of the lines--here, all of the lines could be heard equally well, and it was just fantastic. Gah. :3
Act 2
The Barricades
Like I said earlier, a lot of the songs and lines for the Amis were cut (probably for time, or because they couldn't introduce all the characters in a satisfactory manner). Javert infiltrates the barricades and gets ratted out by Gavroche, Eponine and Gavroche die, Valjean goes to the barricades to save Marius and lets Javert go, a LOT happens in these scenes. Basically, everyone except Valjean, Marius, and Javert die. It's very sad. >.<
Marius gets wounded and Valjean drags him off down through the sewers--the sewer scene was disgusting. I've always wondered how they got through that without coming down with some horrible infection or going septic...plot convenience, I suppose.
Javert goes back to the barricades and while searching through the bodies comes across Gavroche. He pins a little medal on Gavroche's shirt, which I thought was a really nice touch. I think he might have identified a bit with Gavroche, because if Javert knew someone was an informer he'd be the first one to call him out--plus, J was a little street gamin at one time too. I just thought it was a great little nod to making Javert seem more human.
Javert's Suicide
I think...hm. This could have been done better, but only because I don't think he looked disturbed enough to commit suicide. His life principles are crashing down around him, and he doesn't seem too upset about it until he topples off the bridge. Meh.
(**The rosary from earlier would have been a really nice touch--like if he had pulled it out, looked at it while standing on the parapet over the Seine, and let it fall during the last verse of the song. Now THAT would have been really powerful...alas, no one thought to do that. Sigh.)
The last few songs flitted by rather quickly. I'll tell you what, though, the very last song made me completely lose it. I was very proud of myself for not crying throughout the film (tearing up a few times, yes, but not actually crying), but when Valjean dies and he's met by Fantine and the Bishop, I completely lost it. Everyone did--there was sniffling and sobbing throughout the theater (especially one lady who was gasping and shaking in front of us), and I had a massive headache the next day from crying so hard. Sigh. BUT IT WAS SO GOOD....and I have so many Les Mis feels now. Sigh. I need to re-read the Brick. I'll be seeing the movie again on Tuesday, just to wallow a bit more in the misery of it all. XD
Overall: I was surprised and completely blown away by everyone's performances. It was beyond amazing, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again. It is very long, so it's not something I'd see all the time, but for once a year or so it's definitely worth seeing.
Javert's Inquiry/Who Am I
I call it 'Javert's Inquiry', but I don't know what the song is called...basically, Javert turns himself in to Valjean (Brick!moment! Aaaaahh!) because he had written to his superiors in Paris to say that he thought he had found Valjean, but they write back and tell him he's wrong because they've already found Valjean somewhere else. Obviously it's the wrong dude, but Javert doesn't know that, and asks to be dishonorably discharged for accusing the real Valjean ('Mayor Madelaine') behind his back. *deep breath* Javert's an odd duck.
'Who Am I' is great too, mostly because duh, it's Valjean and he's having another existential crisis. (He gets those quite a bit throughout the story.) I liked how when he says "I'm 24601!!!" in the courtroom the judge says 'you're not well, M'sieur Madeleine' and as Valjean leaves you get a glimpse of his convict ex-buddies. In the book (and a few film versions) he proves his identity to the convicts in order to convince the judge and jury that he IS 24601 and not to put the other guy in prison.
Fantine's Death
Gulp. Another tear-jerker, man...especially with Fantine 'seeing' Cosette off in the distance and Valjean promising to look after her...urgh. SO MANY PEOPLE DIE!!!
The Confrontation
Javert, you buzzkill. Anyway. This part was really fantastic--I love this song anyway, with its counterpoint and the little duel between J and JVJ, and after Fantine's death it made me jump to see Javert enter so epically. Gah.
Castle on a Cloud
Whoever they got to play little!Cosette was spot. on. (She's in the poster up top.) The look was perfect, and in the line 'She's nice to see and she's soft to touch/She says, 'Cosette, I love you very much' she whispers it to a little rag doll and GAH.
Master of the House
Eh. Master of the House has never been my favorite song (I usually skip it when listening to the soundtrack). I never understood making the Thenardier's humorous for humor's sake, especially when they're supposed to be the villains, but whatever. Let's just say that they did a really good job, as with every song, but it will never be one of my favorites. (Plus there was some stuff that I could have gone without seeing...)
The Woods/Waltz of Treachery
Valjean finds Cosette in the woods, takes her back to the inn, is greeted by the Thenardier's, etc. M. T keeps calling Cosette 'Colette', which turns into a running gag throughout the rest of the movie. After Valjean finally gets away there's a little scene where he and Cosette are driving away in a carriage (coach? Hansom? I don't know for certain) and he sings about the new fatherly feelings he has towards her. Bad description, but it IS pretty sweet.
There's also a bit where Javert chases them through Paris (long story short) and they have to climb over the wall into the convent and meet Fauchelevent...Brick!Points to you, movie! Of course there's no daring coffin escape, but you win some, you lose some.
Stars
Javert's solo is moved around a bit, but I actually like this placement as opposed to after 'Look Down' and the robbery.
Look Down (takes place ten years later)
Gavroche is introduced coming out of the elephant statue! More Brick!points!
Marius and Enjolras get introduced as well--I'll be honest, I thought Marius looked a bit too derpy for the part. And I wasn't too crazy about his voice initially from hearing a clip online. But he's the type that grows on ya (and he really doesn't look that derpy, it's just the initial impression of the long face and crazy amount of freckles). Enjolras sounded great--Enjy isn't my absolute favorite character, but he's still a pretty good one. Misguided, but good.
Eponine is introduced here as well (played by Samantha Barks). Everyone who has seen the film says that she looks like me...I'll let you be the judge of that.
(only picture I could find with long hair and from the same general angle--it's from a couple of years ago)
But anyway. Back to the review.
The Robbery/Javert's Intervention
Another one of my favorite parts (yes, yes, I have a soft spot for Javert. Now shush). The Thenardier's come back full force, and Marius falls in love with Cosette (who is now an adult played by Amanda Seyfried), and Javert breaks up the T's robbery attempt.
I'mma gloss over the next few bits, because this review is getting VERY long and I haven't even gotten to the second act.
I was rather disappointed that the Amis (the barricade boys) got a lot of their lines cut. Maybe the directors were just pressed for time, but a LOT of the lines were missing. I guess it didn't detract that much from the story, but...but...*sigh*
Eponine was good. She used to be one of my favorite characters, but she's such a popular character that I've backed off. There's more than enough Eppy-boppers to go around...anyway. I think they illustrated pretty well here that her misery as a character is not all-contingent on Marius' indifference towards her, but rather her extreme poverty and horrible family life. Hugo makes it a point in the Brick, but a lot of people seem to think she's all about unrequited love. She's a bit deeper than that, thank you very much. (And insane, if you read the Brick. But that's another facet for another day.)
In My Life/A Heart Full of Love
I think Valjean comes across a bit as an overprotective father...I mean, even more so than in previous versions. Or perhaps I just need to refresh my memory. Cosette has a nice voice, and so does Marius--enough to make the songs enjoyable. They rank pretty low on my list of favorite songs, but I don't mind them too much.
One Day More
I was screaming quietly for almost the whole song. Talk about freaking out...SO well-done, and I loved how the voiced were blended. In most recordings bits from each person can be heard, but not all of the lines--here, all of the lines could be heard equally well, and it was just fantastic. Gah. :3
Act 2
The Barricades
Like I said earlier, a lot of the songs and lines for the Amis were cut (probably for time, or because they couldn't introduce all the characters in a satisfactory manner). Javert infiltrates the barricades and gets ratted out by Gavroche, Eponine and Gavroche die, Valjean goes to the barricades to save Marius and lets Javert go, a LOT happens in these scenes. Basically, everyone except Valjean, Marius, and Javert die. It's very sad. >.<
Marius gets wounded and Valjean drags him off down through the sewers--the sewer scene was disgusting. I've always wondered how they got through that without coming down with some horrible infection or going septic...plot convenience, I suppose.
Javert goes back to the barricades and while searching through the bodies comes across Gavroche. He pins a little medal on Gavroche's shirt, which I thought was a really nice touch. I think he might have identified a bit with Gavroche, because if Javert knew someone was an informer he'd be the first one to call him out--plus, J was a little street gamin at one time too. I just thought it was a great little nod to making Javert seem more human.
Javert's Suicide
I think...hm. This could have been done better, but only because I don't think he looked disturbed enough to commit suicide. His life principles are crashing down around him, and he doesn't seem too upset about it until he topples off the bridge. Meh.
(**The rosary from earlier would have been a really nice touch--like if he had pulled it out, looked at it while standing on the parapet over the Seine, and let it fall during the last verse of the song. Now THAT would have been really powerful...alas, no one thought to do that. Sigh.)
The last few songs flitted by rather quickly. I'll tell you what, though, the very last song made me completely lose it. I was very proud of myself for not crying throughout the film (tearing up a few times, yes, but not actually crying), but when Valjean dies and he's met by Fantine and the Bishop, I completely lost it. Everyone did--there was sniffling and sobbing throughout the theater (especially one lady who was gasping and shaking in front of us), and I had a massive headache the next day from crying so hard. Sigh. BUT IT WAS SO GOOD....and I have so many Les Mis feels now. Sigh. I need to re-read the Brick. I'll be seeing the movie again on Tuesday, just to wallow a bit more in the misery of it all. XD
Overall: I was surprised and completely blown away by everyone's performances. It was beyond amazing, and I'm looking forward to seeing it again. It is very long, so it's not something I'd see all the time, but for once a year or so it's definitely worth seeing.
Good review! I have the book i need to read it and the movie was AMAZING! When i saw Eponine i said "Hey! I didnt know they got Molly to play her!" :D
ReplyDeleteAhaha! I've heard the same thing from several people...alas, my waist will never be that tiny. XD But I'm okay with that. Yes! Read the book if you get the chance! It's so long, but it's seriously one of my favorites in the world (next to Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and my Wodehouse omnibus).
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