The Film
Since Victor Hugo's novel first debuted in 1862, Les Misérables has been done on the stage and screen countless times. However, it's never been such a grand affair as what director Tom Hooper (The King's Speech) has delivered here.
Hooper definitely knows how to assemble a cast. Oh sure, Anne Hathaway was the one to snag the hearts, the headlines and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. However, this film is an all-star extravaganza with an impressive cast of A-listers, all of which actually have singing chops -- well, most of them.
Hugh Jackman has the largest presence in Les Misérables. He scored his own Oscar nomination, but not nearly enough accolades, really. He plays Jean Valjean, a convict turned businessman, who claws his way to a normal life. His previous position in society has also shown him how to take pity on the less fortunate -- specifically, the young, poor Fantine (Hathaway) and her daughter Cosette (played by Isabelle Allen, then Amanda Seyfried).
Without spoiling too much, know that Les Misérables has a ton of characters, time periods, and tragedies. If you blink, you just might miss some of them. That's because the movie has very few spoken words, making it difficult to keep up with at times.
Otherwise, the entire production is conveyed through song, which may be difficult for some to stomach. Speaking of which, I would love to corner Hooper at a cocktail party and ask what he was thinking when Russell Crowe was cast. He's certainly easy on the eyes, but the ears are another story. I hate to be one of the many people to pile on Crowe's singing abilities, but Gladiator can't project a decent note. It would have been forgiveable (maybe) if Crowe had a smaller part, but it's pretty major, making it confusing as to why he was cast. He's a wonderful actor for sure, but borderline ruins the film. Realize that I said "borderline." There's just too much other amazing talent here to get hung up and confused about Crowe's role.
Which brings us to another underrated performance -- two of them, actually. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter are wonderful as the Thénardiers. The two have sung on-screen before, in Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd. They work extremely well off one another and manage to lighten the overwhelmingly somber mood whenever they appear here.
That's something to remember: Les Misérables is sort of a bummer. And if you're not a fan of musicals, it may be tough to get through, especially given the film's 158-minute runtime. For the rest, this is a beautiful film. It's not quite perfect, but it's darn close, thanks to a wonderful crop of actors whose talents go well beyond the spoken word.
Looking for an encore? Check out Tom Fugalli's theatrical review of Les Misérables.
The Picture
Never has dark, dim and dirty been so gorgeous. Universal's 1.85:1 transfer looks wonderfully detailed and fans of the movie and Blu-ray in general should be very pleased. The film lightens up as it progesses and the occasional bright colors pop quite nicely. The red flags and jackets, as well as the dresses in the factory offer a few of the more colorful moments in the film. However, the darker imagery conveys the film's tone quite well. That said, even in its darkest moments, you'll never miss a minute of the action, thanks to this image. Most notable are the film's many close-ups, which show wonderful skintones and all sorts of (intentional) imperfections on the varied faces presented here.
The Sound
Without the music, there isn't much of a movie here. That's not a knock. I'm just saying that this is the type of movie where you can't mess up the audio; it just won't fly. Thankfully, Universal went all out and gave Les Misérables a DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 track, which it uses quite well. From the crashing waves in the opening to the chatter in the city streets, there is always something for the surrounds to display here. Obviously, the music is most important and it comes through quite nicely. Vocals are always clear, easy to follow, and quite breathy, really. It's a wonderfully immersive, entertaining track.
The Extras
There's a surprisingly short crop of special features included with this release. However, Universal has certainly opted for quality over quantity. Tom Hooper goes solo for the release's audio commentary and there's 11 minutes about Victor Hugo's novel. The best of the bunch is certainly "Les Misérables: A Revolutionary Approach," a 1-hour peek that shows off Hugh Jackman working out with giant chains wrapped around his neck! OK, that's a blip, but that's what the pause button is for, people. Otherwise, the featurette talks about casting, the singing, the locations, and other parts of the production.
Final Thoughts
Les Misérables may be a tough pill to swallow if you aren't in the mood for a dramatic musical. However, it may also surprise you. It's a wonderful film oozing with talent, with an audio and video package that's well suited for such a grand affair.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
