The epic musical comes
to the big screen premieres today in Philippine theaters. I was one of the
lucky invited guests to watch the film on its advance screening last Monday and
I must say that I genuinely enjoyed it, so far the best musical I've ever seen.
Les Miserables
is such an amazing high-quality musical film. This movie has so much life
lessons, heart, entertainment and soul in it. Although I'm not a big fan of lengthy
films, I find it worth watching and keeping my self still until the finish. I
don't want to be so tight giving my feedback, I'm leaving it all to the
critics, I just want to share my ravings on my most favorite parts and
characters of the movie.
The story unfolds in
1932 where Jean Valijean (Hugh Jackman), an ex-prisoner got his
parole and tried to live a normal life outside of prison but the universe seems
to not conspire with him. He had a few misfortunes before meeting the man who
will be the start of the big change in his life. However, police inspector Javert (Russel Crowe), will always get on his way. As Javert is so
obsessed to enforce the society's law, a decades of hunting Valijean appears in
the movie almost the whole run, Javert will also realize the kind of life he's living,
where honor got ripped off him while the man he wants to prosecute, only shows
compassion and love for the people around him.
Although I hated
Crowe's voice at first, I kind of like it eventually. He may not be the best
singer but he gave a great performance for his role. His voice has this rough tone to it which I
guess made him a lot different from all who portrayed the 'Javert's' role.
Fantine
and her misfortunes narrated in a short given time in the film is enough to
struck my emotional nerves. I pity how her circumstances became even more desperate
up to her last breath. I can't listen to her "I Dreamed a Dream"
without being a teary mess! Anne Hathaway really had me in her acting and vocal
prowess in this film, she's indeed deserving of her Golden Globe award.
Sasha Baron Cohen and
Helena Bonham Carter played great parts too as Thénardier and Madame
Thénardier. The infused comic relief to their roles is just right in
time to make me breathe after Fantine's emotional scenes.
Samantha Barks has
portrayed the role of Eponine amazingly. The part in the
movie where she died while singing "A Little Fall of Rain" with Marius
is indeed the best duets in the movie and is also heartbreaking. Although Lea
Salonga's version of "On My Own" is still the best for me, Samantha
Barks' rendition is full of emotion and I can't deny the fact that she nailed
it! I was blown away how her interpretation sheds more light on her character.
It's not all about her epic unrequited love. It's about how dark her life is,
and how she longs for "a world that's full of happiness that I have never
known." Marius represents that.
And that happy life will go own, but not for her, it will never be for her. And
that's what makes it more heartbreaking.
Gavroche's
death on the barricade during "The Last Attack" is another
heartbreaking scene. The little boy played his role very well I must say. It
was at first a fun to watch of him while singing and at the same time, playing
a fearful game of hide and seek with death.
But when the final bullet hit him and made him fell to his feet and the whole
barricade vent to cry, I was caught by surprised. Thank God I had my hanky prepared;
it served so much purpose after that scene and the whole movie.
"Do You Hear The
People Sing?" is the most validating song for all the sufferings I
witnessed in the film, thus it is my favorite song for days now.
The epilogue is indeed
very touching with Jean Valjean's dying then suddenly Fantine appears as angel
while Marius and Cosette are beside him.
I will never forget the last words he's spoken because it blew the tears
I'm still holding on. The epic final
words Valijean said were "To love
another person is to see the face of God".
There’re some movies
that made me cry but with Les Misarables, I cried more than
once. The character's interpretation while singing the most popular songs from
Les Miserables production such as Jean's "Who am I", Fantine's
"I Dreamed a Dream", Eponine's "On My Own", the young Cosette’s
“Castle on a Cloud”, Eponine and Marius “A Little Fall of Rain”, a little kid
singing and the battle cry during the French revolution "Do You Hear The
People Sing?" and "One Day More", gives me emotional circus as I
watch the film. The film unfolds different themes about child abuse, slavery, prostitution
and human spirit and this made it a recommended film for everyone. You just
need to come prepared, bring tons of tissue or thick hanky with you.
Thanks to @Ely's Planet
for being my company to this awesome movie and to United International Pictures (UIP) for the invite. Les Miserables is now showing in all
theaters nationwide.
