Sunday, January 20, 2013

Review: Les Misérables

It's is not since I was a kid that I read the story of Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, and I have not seen any movie or stage versions since. Last evening Roma and I went to see the latest movie starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe. Of course many of the songs are very familiar, and the music is the best part of the movie. However, overall I found it very boring.

I found "Les Mis" to be quite a depressing movie in parts, and a lot of the sung dialogue felt forced to me. There are some super performances from Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter, with Hugh Jackman being by far the star of the show. Russell Crowe tried hard, but was not quite convincing to me - his sung dialogue seemed the most forced of all. As for Anne Hathaway? While she does misery very well, all I wanted was to hear Susan Boyle sing "I Dreamed a Dream" instead.

At 2 hours and 38 minutes it is far too long, and there were times I would happily have left the cinema. I'm glad I didn't because the most iconic song of the lot, "Bring Him Home" sung by Jackman, was worth waiting for, not to mention a bit of action at last at the barricades. I'll not be too bothered to see the movie again, but if it comes to Dublin on stage I think I'll still check it out. Good to see our own Colm Wilkinson get in on the act with his role as the Bishop of Digne.


1 comment:

  1. I agree. It bored me. Story was bunk. Would not see it on stage after the film now!

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