INSOMNIAC SONG

MUSICAL

Les Miserables (2012)

 

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway

Directed by: Tom Hooper
Rating: PG-13
Run time: 158 minutes

Synopsis: In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory worker's daughter. The decision changes their lives forever.

 

There are lots of people who will tell you that this is the best adaptation of a musical in recent years. I’m not someone who agrees with them. There were several things that I didn’t like about the film. The endless close-ups of the actors was one of the biggest problems for me. Why waste time building all the sets only to hide them during these painful tight shots? I don’t mind having people who are known as actors sing in films usually. There have been cases where this has worked well. There is a limit to that though. Whatever casting agent was convinced that Russell Crowe was a good singer must have been tone deaf. The character is meant to be strict and stuffy, but there still needs to be some true vocal ability to carry off a musical. Some of the others weren’t nearly as bad. The true standout was Samantha Barks as Eponine. That shouldn’t come as a big surprise considering she’d played the character on stage. Note to Hollywood: Try to get some trained Broadway performers. They’re capable of acting on film too.

 

Rating: 2/5