This shouldn't be a review for Les Mis the film, this should be a review for the No. 17 mascara I got for free when I spent over £5 in Boots for surviving the whole three hours.
Incredible is not the word for this film. I have seen the stage version once and listen to the soundtrack regularly. I find it emotional, compelling and beautifully written.
But after seeing the film I realise that I did not fully understand the show. What seeing it on the screen gives is not only a sense of the the scenery and space the story takes place over, but the intricacies and nuances of the lyrics and emotions that even a front row audience member would miss out on. Seeing the characters faces in 20ft of high definition is not only pleasing when Hugh Jackman or Eddie Redmayne take centre stage, but it means you see, hear and feel every syllable of what they are singing, and this is what makes the story come alive. Now I can see the true change that Jean Valjean went through, his ability to forgive over and over again, his fear when Javert turns up time and time again - Javert's confusion as he is faced with someone so forgiving when he, himself, is driven crazy by a grudge from one prisoner so many years before. How quickly Fantine's life is ruined and how cruelly she is treated for simply wanting to look after her child. How outnumbered the men at the barricade were but how united and brave they were.
All performances were fantastic. The critics have genuinely been too harsh on Russell Crowe. He gave a compelling performance, and no he clearly has not had the same singing training as others, he lacked support and parts of Javert's songs are too high for his range but he did a cracking job, and Stars was just beautiful. Amanda Seyfried is slightly annoying, but Cosette is an awful character. All musicals need a dumb blonde who just floats through life on beautiful soprano tunes. No darling, it is not appropriate to talk about how lucky Marius is to have you forever when ALL HIS FRIENDS HAVE JUST DIED. But this isn't her fault. The one bit of emotion Cosette does express, when Jean Valjean dies was really convincing and did make me empathise with her a lot, so well done Amanda.
Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter were also fantastic, light relief in what could have been a three hour sob fest, definitely brilliant casting there.
I don't think there's much need to speak about Anne Hathaway or Hugh Jackman. Minus strange Scottish/Irish twinges to his voice at the beginning, Hugh Jackman was incredible throughout, and so was Anne Hathaway. Singing I dreamed a dream that close up was incredible. You've heard the song a million times but in a straight shot just with her on screen, even Susan Boyle would struggle to suprise an audience more.
Samantha Barks, whoever she is, is also absolutely stunning and gave a brilliant performance as Eponine. Little Fall of Rain is probably the most emotional song in the show and it did not fail to deliver. I just wish Cosette had died so Marius and Eponine could live happily ever after.
So back to the mascara. I had a little wobble in I Dreamed a Dream, when Cosette asked Jean Valjean if he would be Papa, but the real mascara challenge came from One Day More. Admittedly the song, and the fact lots of people are singing lots of things at the same time makes me excited and emotional anyway, but my gosh I was not expecting that. The cut away shots between each character means you can really appreciate everything that's happening at once, and it reducing me to a bubbling pile of snot and tears. From this point on I couldn't breathe through nose for fear of the noise my tears would make. My chin was wobbling, tears streaming down my front. I haven't cried that much in a film since Green Mile, and that's saying something. Red and Black, Gavroche's death and Empty Chairs at Empty Tables rendered me pretty much useless, but as I left my make up was still full in tact. Well Done No.17, I shall be buying again.
The finale was just epic. In all honestly it could have finished with Eddie Redmayne and Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, but as it does, it plodded on just that little bit further, and for good reason. As Jean Valjean and Fantine's ghosts look out over the city of Paris where thousands of people sing Red and Black one last time, I had shivers down my spine and just the sheer volume of the singing was what made me cry.
Overall, I think the continuous shots, the close ups and the live singing are what made this film incredible. Even the weak parts are anything but and I really think they have done the stage version proud, and given new, deeper meaning to so many parts of the story.
Ten billion stars. Would see again.
No comments:
Post a Comment