Les Miserables

Originally a novel written by Victor Hugo and published in 1862, Les Miserables is definitely part of mainstream culture.  Even though the novel was commercially successful when it was released, the musical adaptation in the 1980’s further catapulted the work to huge popularity.  Over the years there have been many adaptations to film but 2012’s Les Miserables has always seemed to hold more promise.  The most striking difference is that all of the older films were based on the novel and this is the first one to be based on the musical.  There has been talk of a musical adaptation for decades, but the ball really only started rolling a few years ago.  In the preceding months it has become very apparent through the casting and overall production quality that this film had much higher ambitions than previous efforts.

Les Miserables is directed by Tom Hooper and is set in France during the tumultuous early 19th century.  Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman, is a common and poor citizen who spends many years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread.  After his release he tries to make a new life for himself by covering up his past and he eventually becomes a prominent member of society.  Javert, played by Russell Crowe, is a police inspector who oversaw Jean Valjean while he was incarcerated.  As an ex-con, Jean Valjean is supposed to be continually monitored after his release.  When he goes missing, Javert makes finding Valjean a personal mission.  Fantine, a woman struggling to support her illegitimate child, is played by Anne Hathaway. This child, Cosette, is mostly played by Amanda Seyfried.  The plot largely centers on the relationships of these characters and Javert’s hunt for Jean Valjean.

As an adaptation of the musical, the film is a striking success.  The biggest strength is the casting.  Everyone knows that Hugh Jackman is very talented and has spent quite a bit of time on Broadway.  He brings Jean Valjean to life with an incredibly emotional and dynamic display.  The stern nature of Javert is supposed to provide a stark contrast to Jean Valjean.  As such, Crowe fit the bill perfectly.  Anne Hathaway’s performance of Fantine was phenomenal.  She continues to prove herself as an incredibly versatile actress and it’s hard to imagine her as the same person from The Princess Diaries.  Amanda Seyfried does a good enough job as Cosette but her character has always been much more important as a plot piece than as an actual character.

One of the film’s minor problems has to do with syncing up the audio and video feeds.  During solo performances this was done impeccably but there were some occurrences during large ensemble pieces where mouths weren’t lining up with the music.  For the sake of the film, some parts could have been condensed somewhat.  A good place where cuts could have been made is towards the end where a lot of time is spent on matters related to the revolution and a lot of the focus is on less important characters.

Repeatedly remaking films is normally a good indication that success remains elusive.  The previous hundred years have brought us many Les Miserables films but I believe that pattern will now change.  2012’s Les Miserables is thoroughly enjoyable and there likely won’t be another adaptation made for many years.  Even if Les Miserables doesn’t fit your normal viewing tastes, you will still appreciate the compelling story and strong production quality.  It’s that good.