So here we go with Les Miserables, a film that has had so much shouted about it, with the fuss about them singing live for the musical numbers, so I was interested to see how the film panned out myself.
Now I’m not one for musicals, but as I said earlier with all the mentions and the Oscar nominations that Les Miserables is getting, I went in the screen at the Apollo Cinema in Rhyl to review the 2h 37m film with an open mind.
Les Miserables – Review
Starring a stellar cast including Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe Les Miserables is based on the book by Victor Hugo and based in the 19th century, the story revolves around police officer Javert (Russell Crowe) hunting down Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) over several years after he breaks his parole.
After breaking his parole and then making a new life for himself, he promises to look after the daughter of a fired worker after her death.
Les Miserables is a very well produced film, the cast do very well in singing live instead of being dubbed over and this is noticeable during the film but it’s all nicely put together and performed very well.
I just loved the comedy side of Les Miserables with Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen in their brief roles, after the heavy going of the rest of the film, then certainly brought some light-hearted moments in their parts of the In-keeper and his wife.
Although it does take a bit of getting used to listening and watching a film where even the spoken word is sung, after a short while you do get used to it and the film is enjoyable to watch and listen to.
But at 2h 37m long, Les Miserables, does seem to drag at some points with the good overall production of the film and the sequences that wow you such as the beginning as the prisoners are up, long in a ship into a dry dock during a storm is very well done.
Hugh Jackman performs well with is usual Broadway style of sing in, Russell Crowe is a bit of a surprise with his gravelly voices, Anne Hathaway is another matter and with her performance of “I Had A Dream” is slightly over the top with the song being spoilt in my point of view with the constant sniveling and crying, broke the song up too much.
Overall Thoughts For Les Miserables
If you like the musical, then Les Miserables is going to be the perfect opportunity to see a brilliant production on the big screen and with its huge following it’s going to do extremely well, it’s up for Oscars.
Go and see this if you love musicals, give it a go if you’re inquisitive, but if you hate musicals then give it a miss.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
