Les Miserables-Review

After seeing this film I found it very difficult to hold back any kind of strong emotion that would make me look like less of a man, but this was too difficult to do as Les Miserables destroyed any cold-hearted side of me and made me weep like hell. This film is the sheer pinnacle of the musical genre because it entwines raw emotion with beautiful music numbers. The sets were amazing and the acting was astounding.

   The film starts off with the main character, Jean Val Jean, played by Hugh Jackman, who looks amazing in this scene as he went on an insane diet for this. Already the audience gets the idea of the kind of world the film is set in: dark and enslaved. We are also introduced to the films villain, Javert, played by Russell Crowe who proves that he can sing! The introduction of this rivalry between the two characters is the corner-stone for this entire film since it shows these two different philosophies of life fight against one-another and marks the beginning of how the hunt for Jean Val Jean slowly turns into an obsession for Javert.

   Jackman and Crowe are brilliant in their roles, along side the equally talented Anne Hathaway giving the performance of her life with the tragic character Fantine, forced to go to extreme measures to support her child, Cosette. But the person who steals the stage entirely, no matter how short her screen time is, is Samantha barks with her portrayal as Eponine, the girl who sacrifices herself for her unrequited lover Marius. Barks' song "on my own" is so heart-breaking and awe-inspiring. Even the men will want to give her a comforting hug.

The sets were amazing and gritty, as is expected in this kind of story. From the grand texture of the churches to the gritty underbelly of France like the docks and the factories. Tom Hooper seriously engages you in the story line with these beautiful sets and makes you actually believe that this is 19th century France. However, there are some scenes that the set works against the film such as some scenes in Paris where it feels like more of a stage performance than a film, although the film is based on the musical this can take the viewer out of the film and make them less engaged.

Overall this was an amazing film that will captivate and enlighten you. I hope you enjoy this film as much as I have :)