And I liked it, I really did! But damn, it needed an intermission. We went to a 1:15 matinee and got out at 4. Movie trailers for half an hour, then a 2 hour and 38 minute epic movie, with no break. There was a stampede for the restrooms when it ended.
I had several friends tell me that they bawled throughout, so I was prepared: glasses instead of contacts, tissues in purse. But I remained basically dry-eyed. I am a hardass, of course - it takes a lot to make me cry, unless I'm under a lot of stress and then I'll lose my shit over spilled coffee. I did get misty-eyed when Anne Hathaway sang "I Dreamed a Dream" though, and that's saying something. She was amazing, just so raw and wrenching and runny-nosed, and the entire song is done in a tight close up of her stricken, blotchy, weeping face. I felt my normally cold, dry, cynical eyes welling in sympathy with that much raw grief. Just give her every damn award, already! She and Hugh Jackman were outstanding. I honestly did not recognize HJ at the start of the movie; his transformation was that incredible. They both deserve to sweep the awards this year.
I also have to come to the defense of Russell Crowe. I had read a lot of sniping and bitchery about his singing, and while it was easy to see that he wasn't in the same Broadway-caliber vocal class as the rest of the cast, he did not suck the way some snarky reviews described.
I had the biggest issue with Amanda Seyfried as Cosette. She's a pretty enough girl I guess, but not what I think of when I picture a girl that would make a guy fall in love at first sight. She's a bit pop-eyed and close up, a little odd looking - an offbeat and very contemporary sort of pretty, but not the sort of girl who would cause instant, heart-stopping passion in a handsome young man in that era. I thought Marius's instant infatuation was inexplicable, especially when Eponine was truly, classically beautiful and madly in love with him. (Samantha Barks also sang and acted circles around the bland, blonde, boring Cosette, and I'm truly horrified that they actually considered Taylor Swift for the role.) The tender moments between Cosette and Marius dragged the movie nearly to a standstill, to the point that I was grateful when the shooting started.
The movie takes full advantage of sweeping, panoramic scenery and is visually just amazing. I thought it dragged in some spots, mostly involving the young lovers, and a pee break halfway through would have been a nice touch. I am glad I saw it on the big screen. It's not a "wait for TV" movie, so if you want to see it, you really should see it in a theater with a great sound system.
I really think an intermission could have worked well - it was actually awkward for me when there wasn't the intermission at the end of act 1 (after "One Day More" for all of you who haven't seen the stage show - I've seen it three times, all before it was cut down from its original 3 hours and 15 minutes!) My brain really couldn't handle the lack of a break there - just too weird - I generally pause my recordings at that point for a bit too for whatever reason I just realized as well...
ReplyDeleteI cried, but only at one specific part - the fact that they added back in the part from the book where the bishop is who Valjean sees when he dies - the stage show has always had it be Fantine and Eponine, which I've always been a bit annoyed at - but no one had spoiled the fact that the bishop would be there, and I just lost it -especially with Colm Wilkinson being so fantastic as the bishop (though he IS Valjean and there is no getting around that fact - until recently he was the Valjean on every English language recording that was readily available except one - and that one had someone who was trying to sound like him!)
I'm a Les Miserables ignoramus - I read the Victor Hugo novel in a high school lit class a very long time ago, so I had a vague idea of the story but no clue about the musical, other than the famous songs. So I was seeing it cold, pretty much. I loved the way it looked. Hugh Jackman was fabulous. I loved Anne Hathaway's raw, gritty, painful to watch moving performance. After Fantine died it went downhill until the shooting started, IMHO. Eponine was way cooler all around than Cosette. All in all, I'm glad I saw it so I can say I saw it, but it's not something I'll get on DVD and watch over and over.
ReplyDeleteYeah, as much as I always wanted to play Cosette in my college days (being a higher soprano then) - Cosette really is the most "fluff" character - she's so necessary to the plot yet...she's just there...
DeleteI suspect the average movie goer will be in agreement with you regarding enjoying it but not wanting the DVD - I suspect the vast majority of those who will buy it on DVD also already own the 25th anniversary concert DVD, and the 10th anniversary concert DVD :) it's a big huge fantastic thing to those of us who are musical theatre freaks and al, but it's not the kind of thing one wants to see over and over if that's not your thing (and that doesn't offend at least this theatre geek! To each his own!)
I do like musical theater very much! Les Mis is a sort of cult thing, I think - a VERY, VERY BIG cult, of course, but if you don't get it, you just don't. It either touches you or it doesn't. I read the novel, I was familiar with most of the score, I knew the characters, I really did appreciate the movie's gorgeous visuals and admired the performances, but the story still leaves me cold. I couldn't identify with a single character, let alone shed a tear. Anne Hathaway's raw agony did touch me, but the back of my mind was impressed by what AH was doing. I wasn't lost in Fantine, or anybody else. I'm a Les Miz philistine.
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