Review: Les Miserables

Release Date:  December 25, 2012

Running Time: 157 minutes
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Borat, Helena Bonham Carter

Who to see it with: Someone who likes musicals and is very forgiving

David: 

I only started playing sports 8 or 9 years ago.  I really wanted to be great and put a ton of effort into training, practicing, eating right, and getting better.  I definitely improved and became faster and more coordinated.  But, as hard as I tried and wanted it, I was only ever a reserve player.  Try as I might, I was never going to be very good.  That's how I feel about the singing in Les Mis.  The acting and sets are phenomenal.  The cinematography is great.  The actors do an admirable job and I imagine they put in a lot of time and effort into this movie.  But this is a musical, and in a musical the singing should be amazing.  It should take your breath away and be so big that it fills the theater.  There was never a moment in Les Mis where that happened for me.  Anne Hathaway came very close with her rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream," but again, the acting was superb but the singing wasn't. 

Don't see it.  Go see the musical. 

Liz: 

I haven't cried so much since I saw Evita in 9th grade. Apparently I'm a sucker for musicals. That being said, part of my crying was due to Hugh Jackman nearly ruining one of my favorite characters and Russell Crowe running a close second in that race. When those two weren't trying to ruin everything, I absolutely loved the movie.  Anne Hathaway stole the show with her portrayal of Fantine- which is not something I was expecting. I'm not sure if this movie just made me nostalgic for the times I've seen Les Miserables the play but it definitely has me wanting to see it again.

See it. See the musical. Don't let Susan Boyle be your point of reference for this amazing musical.