I am not part of the Les Mis cult. You know the people I am talking about. They clutch their chest with devotion when they talk about the book/show/music. I am however insanely attracted to Eddie Redmayne.
We arrived at 12:40pm for the 1:00pm show at the Capitol Theater in Arlington. There was a line about 20 people deep out front. Apparently the box office didn't have anyone sitting in it. Everyone in line was waiting for Les Mis and getting more and more nervous with each passing minute that we'd miss a moment of the musical.
We eventually all got in and took our seats and thankfully they only showed on preview before starting the movie. If you haven't been to the Capitol Theater, it is beautiful. It feels more like a true performance theater than a movie theater. They also have an ice cream shop in the lobby. Winning.
The movie began and I have to say, I never quite understood why people love Hugh Jackman and within 15 minutes of this film, I totally got it. Hugh was convincing as the broken and beaten prisoner of 19 years, Jean Valjean.
He was equally convincing as the town savior, the man who looks out for the poor and the weak. He also has a great singing voice. I think he had the most numbers and he sang each one like a pro.
Hugh clearly has tremendous commitment to his roles. From filming soaking wet for the opening number, to wading through sewers covered in filth, he does whatever it takes for the good of the part.Hugh played opposite Russell Crowe as Javert. Russell, don't quit your day job, signing is not for you. While Crowe certainly played a nasty villain, I actually thought his best scene was the one where he leapt to his death. Did you hear the loud crack when his body hit the wall in the water? That was some major sound editing right there.
Along with Hugh Jackman, the star of the first 30 minutes of the film is Anne Hathaway. I know many people hate her and find her irritating, but you cannot deny her talent in this role. As Fantine she is fiercely focused on protecting her daughter, no matter the cost. She loses her job, sells her hair, her teeth and eventually her body, all to send money to her daughter.
When she sang "I dreamed a dream" I was nervous I wouldn't be into it because it's the song in the trailer and I've seen that over 20 times. But in the moment, while she was singing, I was totally mesmerized. That number is going to win her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. I'm calling it right now.
I read a great interview in Vogue with Anne Hathaway talking about her physical transformation for this part. The reporter describes:"Hathaway had already gotten in kickass shape for her role in 'The Dark Knight Rises' - she became a vegan and spent ten months lifting weights, learning martial arts, and practicing yoga. For her role in Les Mis, she had to look simultaneously emaciated and radiant. Before the start of shooting, she went on a strict cleanse and lost ten pounds, which in the early scenes of the film gives her a gossamer quality. She then took two weeks off and lost another fifteen pounds by following a near-starvation diet, consisting of two thin squares of dried oatmeal paste a day. 'I had to be obsessive about it - the idea was to look near death,' she recalls. 'Looking back on the whole experience - and I don't judge it in any way - it was definitely a little nuts. It was definitely a break with reality, but I think that's who Fantine is anyway."
Anne was joined by other talented ladies in the ensemble including Amanda Seyfried. Amanda is a living doll. Her skin, her eyes, her lips, her hair - she's stunning. I knew from "Mama Mia" that the girl could sing.
The actress who plays the young Cosette also had a beautiful voice. The two as a pair were cast perfectly.
I was super impressed by Samantha Barks who plays Eponine, the daughter of the inn keepers (more on that in a minute). I didn't recognize her from any other movies or TV shows, but she blew me away with her voice. Her character is hopelessly in love with a man who only has eyes for another. You feel her heart break in every song. I think we'll be seeing a lot more of this actress.
Eponine is the daughter of the town inn keepers played by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter. Perhaps only actors with three names were eligible for these roles? These two off beat personalities were the best choices to play the Thenardiers. Their scenes were comical, kooky and all slightly uncomfortable. I can't wait to see what Sacha does on the red carpet this year (remember last year he dumped an urn full of flour on Ryan Seacrest?).
A major shout out to Aaron Tveit who plays Enjolras, the leader of the French revolution rebels. I first watched him as Trip van der Bilt on "Gossip Girl" but his roots are in musical theater. He has starred on Broadway in Catch Me if You Can, Wicked, Hairspray and more. He has one of the strongest voices in the cast and he gets the chance to really show it off. Too bad they stuck him with that awful wig.
Now, I've saved the best for last, my crush Eddie. I first fell in love with Eddie when he played opposite Michelle Williams in "My Week with Marilyn." Since then I swoon over each and every one of his ads for Burberry. Here, in the role of Marius, Eddie plays a boy whose world is turned upside when he falls in love at first sight. I have to admit, Eddie is not the best singer. He definitely over did it and he moves his mouth and head way too much while singing. It just looked unnatural. But he did totally nail his scenes with Cosette.
At the close of the movie, in the scene where Jean Valjean is dying, the entire theater was crying. All around me I could hear the sniffles and see the movement of people wiping their eyes and reaching for tissues. They really get you there at the end!Les Mis clocks in at 2 hours and 38 minutes and you are glued to the screen the entire time. In fact, when the credits started rolling our theater audience clapped!
Leaving the theater I felt energized for awards season as I think Les Mis is really going to give "Lincoln" a run for the money!
*Images courtesy of Les Miserables.
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