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This is the movie version of the beloved stage musical that has moved the heart of live performance goers for decades. It is based on the story of the French Revolution by Victor Hugo. There have also been movies based on this story, the most recent with Liam Neeson starring. The world has waited for this ever since Phantom, Evita, and Rent were brought to new life via cinema. Entertainment Weekly panned this movie and even besmirsched  Rent and Evita in the review. A pox on the reviewer.

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, “Les Misérables” (translated most accurately as “The Miserable Ones”) tells the tale of a released prisoner named Jean Valjean, who was imprisoned for nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving family. Given his new-found freedom, he violates his parole. His life is changed forever through the generosity and grace shown to him by a priest; as he learns he must redeem himself in the eyes of God. Despite becoming a respectable mayor, he is chased by Javert, a police inspector who believes solely in atonement through the Law. The law leads to frustration and death, but grace leads to a life of selflessness and hope. This game of cat vs. mouse is the spine to the epic story of Les Misérables, as Valjean encounters many impoverished characters who help him seek redemption for his sins along the way.

This proved to be a very interesting and moving cinema experience. First of all, this was a first of a kind where the musical soundtrack was taken directly from the filming and not done in a sound studio. For that reason, you could certainly see the vocal strain on the actors trying to match the vocals of a true singers. The opening moved slow compared to the stage play. It was very realistic for the times with the dirt and filth of the people, almost to the point of nauseation of the audience. Also, Crowe and Jackman added too much recicitive dialog to the lyric parts of the opening numbers. That dulled it a bit and I almost gave up on any future emotional attachment to the movie. Also, in some of the pieces, it was obvious Jackman was straining for the high notes which was a bit painful to watch since they were doing facial close-up. They should have rescored the music down a step for him and Crowe as well.

Suprisingly, after a slow opening, the movie picked up the pace. All the other actors were great and their singing was fantastic, except for Anne Hathaway whose death throes pre-empted the lyrics of her death song. The actors playing young Cozette and Gavroche were by far, show stealers. Amanda Seyfried has found her niche and she didn’t look so bug-eyed as she usually does. Eddie Redmayne played a great Marius and suprisingly he handled the vocals like he came off broadway. From a cinematic standpoint, Aaron Tveit, as Enjorlas, had the looks of what you would more expect of a Marius and an excellent voice.

The barricade scenes were fabulous. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helen Bonnam Carter were the epitome of the Thenardiers.

The movie evoked the same emotions as the theater performance, and likewise, there were a few macaroons in the audience that had no clue about what they had just seen in the 2 hr and 38 minute epic movie. This one’s a real keeper and should be seen on the big screen.

Rating: 4.9 out of 5.