Les Miserables

[Jondalar]

I just saw this movie. I liked it. Has anyone else seen it yet? I thought some of the cast were better than others. (Russell Crow sucked.) My favorite was Amanda Seyfried because she was the most natural.But I also liked Samantha Banks and Anne Hathaway did a great job singing I Dreamed A Dream.

Curious what others thought of it....

[WildHearted]

I saw it the day after Christmas, and I thought the movie was nearly flawless. Actually, it was one of the best movies I've seen in a LONG time. I can't very well describe how much and how heavily I cried, lol. Just know that it would have been embarrassing for most people.

I thought all of the cast did a really good job. Russel Crowe was fine acting wise to me, but his singing was not the best. However, everyone really put on a wonderful performance. I left the theater having felt every character's pain.

I Dreamed a Dream and the ending in particular killed me. I'm still recovering from this film.

[Nico]

I just saw it and it blew me away. I loved the fact that the singing was filmed live. There was something so authentic to that. And I really enjoyed Anne Hathaway's performance of "I Dreamed A Dream" because of the close-ups. They were not pretty, but that is what made her song so much more powerful.

My favorite thing about the film, though, was hands-down Hugh Jackman. He deserves an Oscar. I can not say enough good things about his astonishing performance. It made me a massive fan, whereas before I was just a regular one.

Also: Samantha was great, Sacha and Helena were funny, Amanda was sweet...I don't know if she was the most natural, but she was sweet. I liked Eddie as well, though some of the close-ups on him were jarring.

Russell Crowe looked really good in the film and I think he's a great actor, but his singing was definitely the most mediocre of all of them. JMO.

[CADreaming]

I just saw this last night and it was probably the single best cinematic experience I have ever been privileged to view.

I cannot even put into words how moved, touched and overwhelmed by this film. I didn't really know anything about the story going into it so I was able to watch it without any preconceived ideas. I knew the song, "I Dreamed a Dream" but not in context with the story, so to hear it in that setting was amazing. Also, I have to point out the cinematography was so vivid and beautiful - a true piece of art.

I thought everyone did an outstanding job in their roles and the singing was also fantastic - even if not totally perfect at times - it was so heartfelt in character that it is easily overlooked in favor of the scene(s).

This movie should win all kinds of awards.

[Jondalar]

The soundtrack is on itunes but not all the songs from the movie are on it. Notably missing is Little Fall of Rain and Lovely Ladies.

[Brad]

I thought it was great, too. I really appreciate that they included some things from the book that were left out of the musical (e.g., Fantine and the "dentist," Valjean and Cosette living in the convent, Marius' grandfather) since it helps explain things better. I'd highly recommend it even to people who never saw the musical or read the book.

[TrueFaith77]

Jondolar, what is Amanda Seyfried's song? That wasn't on the soundtrack!! I want my money back

I have problems with the inept mise-en-scene, but ultimately they do not matter. For better or for worse, Tom Hooper clearly cares about the material, understands it, and elicited magnificent performances. Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne seem to be playing the roles they were born to play; imbuing ideals with overwhelming feeling and humanity! Superb!

I cried from beginning to end.

The book was my favorite when I was in high school (and I loved the 1995 French film modernization), but I was totally unfamiliar with the musical. I am so astonished at how well the music interprets the book and expresses the complexity of the characters.

It's not my favorite movie of the year (Unforgivable, Sacrifice, The Deep Blue Sea are the works of masters), but it will be a sign of hope for the culture if Les Miz sweeps the Oscars and finds the BIG audience it deserves.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

Jondolar, what is Amanda Seyfried's song? That wasn't on the soundtrack!! I want my money back

I have problems with the inept mise-en-scene, but ultimately they do not matter. For better or for worse, Tom Hooper clearly cares about the material, understands it, and elicited magnificent performances. Hugh Jackman, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne seem to be playing the roles they were born to play; imbuing ideals with overwhelming feeling and humanity! Superb!

I cried from beginning to end.

The book was my favorite when I was in high school (and I loved the 1995 French film modernization), but I was totally unfamiliar with the musical. I am so astonished at how well the music interprets the book and expresses the complexity of the characters.

It's not my favorite movie of the year (Unforgivable, Sacrifice, The Deep Blue Sea are the works of masters), but it will be a sign of hope for the culture if Les Miz sweeps the Oscars and finds the BIG audience it deserves.

In My Life/Heart Full of Love were some Amanda songs. She was also in a bunch of casts songs like the Epilogue. I just thought she had the best voice and could hit the high notes. But all them were really good except Russell Crow in my opinion.

I did not love the movie. I fealt the closeups were too claustrophobic. I thought the director used too many closeups. You could practically see their tonsils. However, I liked the movie and I thought it was something different for Hollywood.

P.S. When the movie ended, the audience clapped in a good way. That was different.

[TrueFaith77]

I believe Cosette's number is "In My Life"... but it's only the duet version on the soundtrack not the solo.

[Jondalar]

This movie did cause me to research my ancestry more. I'm glad I did not live back in that time.

[Nico]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

In My Life/Heart Full of Love were some Amanda songs. She was also in a bunch of casts songs like the Epilogue. I just thought she had the best voice and could hit the high notes. But all them were really good except Russell Crow in my opinion.

I did not love the movie. I fealt the closeups were too claustrophobic. I thought the director used too many closeups. You could practically see their tonsils. However, I liked the movie and I thought it was something different for Hollywood.

P.S. When the movie ended, the audience clapped in a good way. That was different.

Hmm...I don't agree that Amanda had the best voice. It's cool that you love her performance and singing, but personally I thought she was just 'good' whereas I think Samantha Barks had the most powerful of all the female voices in main cast.

I agree with you on the close-ups. But they worked for me when it came to Hugh and Anne's in particular. I got a little uncomfortable with Eddie's, but really that is a triviality because the acting all around was ON POINT- especially Jackman's. He needs to be nominated at the very least.

[TrueFaith77]

Originally Posted by Nico

Hmm...I don't agree that Amanda had the best voice. It's cool that you love her performance and singing, but personally I thought she was just 'good' whereas I think Samantha Barks had the most powerful of all the female voices in main cast.

I agree with you on the close-ups. But they worked for me when it came to Hugh and Anne's in particular. I got a little uncomfortable with Eddie's, but really that is a triviality because the acting all around was ON POINT- especially Jackman's. He needs to be nominated at the very least.

Funny how different people respond. Anne's close ups were way too much for me. Whereas the Redmayne close-ups were completely not off-putting. Wow! Such feeling!! He was like a young O'Toole! Harris! somebody stop me!

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

Funny how different people respond. Anne's close ups were way too much for me. Whereas the Redmayne close-ups were completely not off-putting. Wow! Such feeling!! He was like a young O'Toole! Harris! somebody stop me!

That is great comparison.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by Nico

Hmm...I don't agree that Amanda had the best voice. It's cool that you love her performance and singing, but personally I thought she was just 'good' whereas I think Samantha Barks had the most powerful of all the female voices in main cast.

I agree with you on the close-ups. But they worked for me when it came to Hugh and Anne's in particular. I got a little uncomfortable with Eddie's, but really that is a triviality because the acting all around was ON POINT- especially Jackman's. He needs to be nominated at the very least.

All the women had really good voices. The only disappointment in the movie was Russell Crow and I think he is a singer in a rock band. Go figure.

[Nico]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

The only disappointment in the movie was Russell Crow and I think he is a singer in a rock band. Go figure.

Definitely. He's a wonderful actor, but his singing was far from wonderful and he had very little power/passion in any of his vocals.