Les Miserables

Finally the movie everyone has been waiting for since the first previews started airing months ago. Why even bother teasing us? They knew we were all going to see it. I can't actually remember my personal experience of seeing Les Miserables on a stage but I'm sure I did. I can remember the feeling of awe, the ever-growing love of musicals and theatre, my grandmother buying me the CD and I'm pretty sure the T-shirt with the girl's infamous hair blowing across her face. Who didn't want to be Cosette singing about her castle on a cloud? Well, I did.
     I was thrilled when finally someone said they were going to go see the movie on Christmas day in the morning. We bought our tickets that day online and I immediately went to get us prime seats. Besides the fact that I could hear some singing, (which is normally me but I already knew I didn't know the words well enough and I would want to sing too loudly) and that one guy who decided he was bored enough to twirl his glasses around (I still hate you whoever you are) I was completely enthralled in this movie. I was transported, even more then I get in a play. I think this can be attributed to the extremely large theatre screens we have today and the surround sound systems. I thought perhaps this was the one time a movie could have used an intermission (not for smoking like they are used for in Israel) but a short 5 minute break would have been nice and it's clear in the film, as it is in the play, where the story jumps in time and changes its focus in characters.
     There was one moment that my sister and I agreed the film had ONE silly moment which was when Javert (Russell Crowe) jumps to his suicide and the sound editor put in this loud, odd, cracking sound that was a little unnecessary and took away from the heaviness of the moment. My sister thought Anne Hathaway (Fantine) was over acting but I actually disagree. I was completely drawn into her character, her emotion, her plight, and once again gave my insides a deep yearning to sing and act. To so deeply feel a character is something I cannot fathom and Hathaway does this so well and wholeheartedly I really hope the Academy gives her an Oscar (finally!) for it. Just as equally, and carrying the film, is Hugh Jackman playing Jean Valjean. This is no surprise to me. He proved himself a broadway actor for The Boy from Oz and his amazing hosting abilities for the Tonys & Oscars. I love to watch him sing and dance, just as much as I love to watch his shirt rip off and his claws tear through his skin as Wolverine.
     There are so many characters, and the actors who play them, that deserve so much recognition a blog post isn't nearly enough! Sacha Baron Cohen and Helen Bonham Carter were fantastic I thought as the owners of the motel "Masters of the House." Eddie Redmayne (Marius) is a new love of mine. I fell in love with him and his adorable freckles in My Week with Marilyn (p.s. see that if you haven't yet). I'm so glad more people will have the chance to fall in love with him even more in Les Mis. He was also InStyle's "Man of Style"in last month's edition, with fellow co-star Amanda Seyfried (adult Cosette) was the covergirl, who by the way, hit keys I had NO idea she could hit! She would put most pop stars to shame.  So check them both out in InStyle, it was a good one! And the last actor I'll mention is Aaron Tveit (Enjorlas) who I thought was great. I knew I recognized him from something, and if you had the same feeling and you're a female in your teens-twenties then I am about to relieve that pain. Are you ready? He played Trip Van Der Bilt in Gossip Girl. (How amazing does that feel?? That moment when you finally place where you recognize someone from! Must be one of my favorite feelings.) GG did him no justice, he was fantastic I thought in this role. I really look forward to seeing him in the future cause you can bet we will!
     I think it's needless to say I think everyone should see this movie, man or woman. Guys, the main character is a guy, there are prostitues, a man's struggle to survive, beautiful women singing with incredible voices, I mean come on! And if anyone hasn't seen it and wants to send me a message, I'm begging for an excuse to go see this again.