I generally dislike musicals with a passion. They are usually over the top, cheesy and flashy with no substance. But the trailers, hype and widespread publicity became a black hole- dragging me into the local Cinemark. I went into the theater with low expectations, expecting a pretentious cesspool of garbage. To my astonishment, I enjoyed “Les Miserables” full heartedly from start to finish and would recommend it to any person who appreciates good movie making.
The movie opens with a grand overture of slaves pulling the remains of a shipwreck on a cold and dreary day. As they struggle to lift up the massive debris, they sing of their struggles and broken dreams. The introduction also presents the complex relationship between Jean Valjean (played by Hugh Jackman) and Inspector Javert (played by Russel Crowe).
Solo performances throughout the film enabled the major actors to shine and develop their character. Two in particular stood out from the rest, exemplifying the raw emotions and the tragedies humans inflict on each other.
Generally I’m not a sentimental person, but the film struck a chord with me emotionally, evoking strong feelings I don’t usually experience when watching movies. Jackman’s outstanding performance as the protagonist Jean Valjean portrayed a character with who I felt a powerful connection to. He portrays a man who became a victim of the times, and he eventually breaks free and finds the love he desperately yearns for. As the film progresses from beginning to end, Valjean transforms from a broken man into a respectable and decent man, proving society wrongly accused him of being rotten at the core. As the movie finished up, I could feel his pain and suffering, which took an extraordinary amount of work and talent from Jackman.
Anne Hathaway’s role as Fantaine brought out a deep and darker tone compared to the rest of the film. She portrays a woman who has lost everything, forced to live on the streets and to degrade herself just to get by. She embodies the poor, abandoned and the beaten down, something I’ve always had a soft spot for. Because her character lives through such a tragic life, it tugs on the audience’s’ heartstrings.
The soundtrack provided an eloquent and beautiful touch to piece. Not only does the soundtrack flesh out the tone of scenes, it reiterates the main theme of revolution and freedom. I felt invigorated listening to the soundtrack and full heartedly enjoyed the musical numbers. Every singer in “Les Miserables” had a strong voice, worthy of giving this movie a chance just for the music.
Director Tom Hooper’s rendition of “Les Miserables” presents a new generation with a beautiful retelling of the classic French novel. “Les Miserables” prevails in reaching out to various audiences with its universal themes of love, friendship and redemption. The film evokes heavy emotions from the audience, delivering refined acting, eloquent singing and grand fight scenes, all of which created an epic and unique experience.
The film gives valuable insight on the importance of love, and how even in the most dire of situations it can bring them back from despair. Despite being a musical, Hooper presented the story in way that made sense, changing my prejudiced views against musicals. But most of all, the film let me experience how powerful movies can evoke strong human emotion.
