For me, Les Miserables always brings me back to middle school- when I was in our chorus group (yea, their ‘bar’ was LOW), and “Castle On A Cloud” from Les Miserables was “the” song to sing. The teacher played the soundtrack version for us, and I was hooked. I spent years after that listening to the Les Miserables soundtrack before I actually saw it performed on Broadaway.
When they announced it would be made into a movie- I wondered how it would translate to the big screen but wasn’t sure I’d get to see it because none of my local friends share my love for musicals. Yesterday however, I somehow talked James into seeing it with me! (That’s love right there, my friends)
The movie was AMAZING.
Well, to me anyway. James is not much of a musical fan and was a bit lost with the story line. I on the other hand, felt there were parts I didn’t fully “get” on the stage and understood better in the movie because the movie allowed more focus. Oddly, I found the numbers that weren’t my favorite on stage were some of my favorite scenes in the movie.
I’m not the “watch movies over and over” type, but as I sit here, I am thinking about how I need to see it again… and so if you are still on the fence on whether to see it or not to see it, I made a handy dandy list of reasons its a MUST SEE.
– Finally “Get” The Hugh Jackman Thing.
For years, I’ve heard swoons over Hugh Jackman … and, while theres no doubt he’s attractive, I never really “Got It”. Now I do.
In Les Miserables, Hugh’s performance of “Bring Him Home” was filled with emotion and just incredible.
– Eddie Redmayne “Empty Chairs At Empty Tables”
Not sure if this sounds weird, but as much as I “get” the Hugh Jackman thing, I think I have developed a crush on Eddie Redmayne. Empty Chairs and Empty Tables was always kinda – Meh. – to me…. but when Eddie Reydman performed it? WOAH.
– Gorgeous sets and on-camera recorded singing
The sets were the perfect mix of beautiful and not over done. There is so much more “room to fill” on the big screen. When a story is taken from a stage to the movies- some times there seems to be “too much” going on (a la’ RENT), but somehow Les Mis struck the perfect balance.
Also- Les Miserables was the first movie-musical that was recorded as it was being filmed vs. recording the soundtrack and lipsyncing during filming.
– Samantha Barks “A Little Fall Of Rain”
I loved “On My Own” in the movie just as much as I did on the stage, but the Eponine moment that really moved me in the movie version was when Marius is holding her by the barricades. The movie allowed you to see the facial expression during that very emotional scene and made the performance of “A Little Fall Of Rain” even better than on the stage.
– Anne Hathaway’s On Camera Haircut
You’ve probably heard the buzz… and it is all true.
She is ridiculously talented. Did you know she actually had her hair cut live on camera during this scene?
You do not want to miss her playing the role of Fontine.
