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Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, the greatest novel<br />
of all time! Set in the early 19th century, the story<br />
Les Misérables followed the lives of many<br />
characters, it focuses primarily on the ex-convict<br />
Jean Valjean and his experience of redemption<br />
having been released from prison after serving 19<br />
years for stealing a loaf of bread. Valjean breaks<br />
his parole and is pursued for years by the<br />
relentless police Inspector Javert. The book<br />
details the history of France in particular the 1832<br />
rebellion in Paris and themes of love, romance,<br />
struggle and justice run deep through the book.<br />
Many of you may know Les Misérables as the<br />
Broadway musical produced by Cameron<br />
Mackintosh and directed by Trevor Nunn. It was<br />
the first production of this musical in English. The<br />
musical is a box office hit worldwide. I sat in the<br />
Point theatre Dublin 20 years ago to watch it and I<br />
have to say nothing I have attended since has<br />
surpassed it. The story, the acting, the music and<br />
the passion were amazing and uplifting. Broadway<br />
musicals are not something I get to see very often,<br />
both because they are expensive and I don’t live<br />
on the doorstep of the West End! So twenty years<br />
have passed and I have missed Les<br />
Misérables and yearned to go back. Recently I<br />
got the opportunity to take a night off from the kids<br />
and head out with a friend to see the newly<br />
released movie of Les Misérables the musical,<br />
directed by Tom Hooper. Could it be as good, not<br />
possible, there is no way I thought, but sure its<br />
worth a look! Off I went with my friend, taking<br />
some Ferrero Rocher with me, I thought I may as<br />
well share the calories with her (both of us<br />
breaking the New year’s diet resolution we<br />
promised).<br />
So the movie..could they really put the most<br />
popular musical of all time on the big screen and<br />
have the same effect? Star studded cast, Hugh<br />
Jackman (Jean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert),<br />
Anne Hathaway(Fantine), Amanda Seyfried<br />
(Cosette), Sacha Baron Cohen (Thenardier) and<br />
Les Miserables<br />
the movie, unforgettable!<br />
Helen Bonham Carter (Madame Thenardier). The<br />
movie has been getting good reviews, critics are<br />
suggesting that it may well get nominated for a<br />
few Oscars and it recently won three golden globe<br />
awards. The acting was superb, it had all the<br />
passion of the broadway production and more,<br />
because its big screen there is probably more of<br />
an expectation for high quality acting. It is difficult<br />
to achieve both high quality music/singing and<br />
acting and especially by the same actors. I can’t<br />
say that it was like the musical because of course,<br />
a movie is completely different. It was though, one<br />
of the best movies that I have seen in a long time,<br />
I loved it! The actors delivered not only great<br />
acting but fantastic singing, every conversation is<br />
sung. Russell Crowe’s portrayal of Javert and his<br />
relentless pursuit of Jean Valjean is brilliant and<br />
passionate. Jackman truly does ensure that we<br />
feel Jean Valjean’s pain and redemption. The<br />
close up camera work allowed us to see every<br />
expression in detail. ‘Fantine and Cosette’, we felt<br />
so sorry for them, we were heartbroken for them,<br />
nearly in tears living it with them. Sacha Baron<br />
Cohen is probably the last actor I would have<br />
thought would be in Les Miserables. He did<br />
though, provide light relief and humour in the role<br />
of the Inn Keeper Thenardier. We laughed at his<br />
antics and those of Madame Thenardier ( Helen<br />
Bonham Carter) and so do the rest of the<br />
audience.<br />
All in all I have to say the movie is amazing, an<br />
emotional rollercoaster, the audience feeling every<br />
emotion, Valjean’s redemption and even the<br />
passion of the 1832 rebellion. My friend said she<br />
loved it and is going back for a second viewing<br />
and I am definitely buying the DVD when its<br />
released. If you get a chance do go see it, you<br />
don’t need to have read the book or speak french,<br />
just dig out some Ferrero Rocher and of course<br />
buy some popcorn, be prepared for an emotional<br />
evening though!<br />
reviewed by Meg