Miserables, Les (2012)

Synopsis: Based on the long-running musical of the same name this is the classic Victor Hugo story of "les misérables", the wretched poor of Paris of the early 1800s. Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) has survived 17 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Upon his release, he breaks parole, eventually reinventing himself as a successful businessman. He adopts Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), daughter of Fantine (Ann Hathaway), who has died pitifully. But ever on his trail is the relentless Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), who believes that once a criminal, always a criminal.

I hardly expected to enjoy a quasi-operatic production in which all the dialogue is sung, but  it works, and I must confess immediately to having been quite swept away in the epic grandeur, the epic squalor, the wonderful music, and the raw emotion of the film. Much is due to the fact that, very unusually, the actors sing live, giving a vibrancy and immediacy to their performances. Jackman, as is expected, carries his part effortlessly, while Crowe’s voice rises to the occasion. However the real surprises in the vocals department are Hathaway and Seyfried, along with Eddie Redmayne who plays Cosette’s paramour Marius. When Hathaway sings the show-stopping “I Dreamed A Dream” there will be few dry eyes in the audience!

Director Hooper ensures that we sense the greater political and social issues of the time, as well as the personal issues of redemption and salvation for Valjean, which is the heart of Hugo’s ultimately spiritually uplifting story. Jackman (who underwent a massive weight loss for the convict scenes) invests his role with so much conviction that we feel his character’s pain along with his inner goodness.  Whilst much of the plot is dark and serious, comic relief comes in the form of local pickpockets and innkeepers, and in particular from the wickedly opportunistic foster parents to young Cosette, M & Mme Thenardier, played by Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen, the latter showing us what a versatile actor he can be. 

Naysayers of this film seem to either not enjoy that the dialogue is entirely sung or eschew the intense emotionality, finding it tear-jerking and melodramatic. Yes, it certainly works the emotions, but rather than this feeling like cheap manipulation, for me it demonstrated the power of a good film and a skilled director. Whilst with the exception of “I Dreamed A Dream”  there really are no melodic or memorable songs, the combination of an evocative production design and the top-shelf dramatic talents of all the actors makes Les Misérables a stirring cinematic experience.
 

 

 

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