Les Miserables

More often than not musicals fail to transfer successfully from the stage to the screen. What the imagination accepts when viewed from afar in the magic of a theatrical setting can seem ridiculous when viewed at large and close up in the cinema. There are exceptions but they are few. Three that come to my mind are Chicago (2002), Grease (1978) and The Sound of Music (1965).

The 'original' stage production of Les Miserables has been running in London for 27 years. Even here in Australia with our small population the stage production has toured for many years and is to be revived again soon. It is a theatrical event that has many admirers.

Victor Hugo's novel set against revolutionary developments in 19th century France sprawls across several generations and countless characters. It is a marvellous tale and has itself been filmed multiple times. There are 70 versions spread across more than one hundred years listed on the Internet Movie Database alone.

Now we have 'Les Miserables' the film version of the stage musical.

Cast with actors who are required to sing as distinct from singers who have to act the film aims for a realistic interpretation of the tale. It is a tightrope task particularly in this style of musical which has minimal spoken dialogue; almost every word is sung.

The professional critics I have read are divided.

For the most part, I like the film. I think the images are terrific. I love the film's overall look. I love how the poverty and oppression of the time are represented. I love the faces and appearance of the many support performers.

Much has been made that the actors sang their roles 'live'; that is they were not made to lip-synch to pre-recorded singing. In the instances where this works, it works very well. The problem is it does not work well in every instance.

For the most part it is the male actors who struggle. Neither Hugh Jackman (surprisingly) as Jean Valjean nor Russell Crowe (less surprising) as Inspector Javert seems entirely comfortable singing their roles. They seem to have to sing in too high a register. Eddie Redmayne as Marius is another who seems to be singing 'too high' yet I really admired his performance. Redmayne is perhaps the most successful male in the film apart from Colm Wilkinson who created the Javert role on stage all those years ago and who is a knockout in the film in the cameo role of the Bishop.

The female actors fare better to my mind. There are some weak singing voices in the smaller roles but the main performers all succeed.

The stellar performance comes from Anne Hathaway. She is sensational in her limited screen time. I was so affected by her performance that when she reached her highlight moment and sang 'I Dreamed A Dream' I was in tears. I rarely cry in movies.

★★★1/2