Film: Les Misérables

With many musicals songs are used as an expression of joy, the stories being sweet fairytales. The world of Les Mis is harsh and brutal, its songs being the roar of an oppressed and tortured people. The tale of Jean Valjean, Hugh Jackman, a man convicted for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving sister’s family, the story follows his transformation in to a respectable man who is hunted by his former jailer, Russell Crowe’s Javert. 

Jackman carries the film, even if his story has a few too many changes. One minute he’s a prisoner, next a business man, then he’s a soldier; it’s all a little convoluted. Throughout he portrays a man full of fury, but bound by a sense of virtue; a parallel to Javier, a man who follows the law regardless of the consequences. His vocals stand out during songs such as ‘Look Down’, a brutal reminder of his place, yet it never feels like he gets a definitive solo.

Anne Hathaway steals the show during her brief storyline, creating a character who is beaten down by the world around her; remaining strong yet inherently broken. Her single solo is the best song of the film by far. Hathaway brings a new life to ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, filling it with all the character’s rage and sorrow, defiant and heart-wrenching. Hooper perfectly handles this moment with unflinching close-ups. His commitment to live performance helps heighten the emotion of scenes like this.

The more comical moments between Sacha Baron Cohen and his on-screen wife Helena Bonham Carter help to lighten the mood when its getting a little too dark. 'Everybody Loves A Landlord' is a hilarious song, full of great visual gags that they both handle beautifully. 

While the film has its lighter, sweeter moments it succeeds best when it is raw and unyielding. Which is why it’s a shame that during the film’s last act the revolution is second focus to a soppy romance storyline between Valjean’s adopted daughter (Cosette, played by Amanda Seyfried) and one of the revolutionists. Cosette doesn’t work too well as a character, a glimmer of beauty in this dark world who just comes across as dull and two dimensional. Eddie Redmayne at least has a sort of character arc to him; yet there is little reason given for his undying love for Cosette. 

A powerful musical, that could have done without the overly romantic ending.