Les Misérables soundtrack is currently on loop and now thinking of trying to rope people in to watch the musical here in Melbourne. Going to be tough finding tickets. It's one of those things where I kick myself for not being exposed to musicals earlier because there is some real gold in some of them, Les Mis not sparing.
My first encounter with Les Mis was the film version that came out in 2012 and that was full on dramatic. I did not expect that I would be tearing but yet I did. Pretty badly actually. Anne Hathaway as Fantine was so heart wrenching and her remarkable rendition of I Dreamed A Dream just rendered me to tears, best rendition so far by anyone. I was a bit surprised by Amanda Seyfried of her singing abilities, I had always been skeptical about her but she's not bad. And of course, Samantha Barks as Éponine (one of two of my favourite characters). Gosh she is gorgeous and talent to boot. Eddie Redmayne as Marius is easily the best looking guy on the planet and with that voice, wow.
That said, there are a few things that I think didn't really quite work that well. Russell Crowe as Javert is a good cast for the role but doesn't quite cut it when he sang. Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thénardiers is again a good cast but fell short in the singing.
Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean is a bit of a mixed bag. Some parts are good like his confrontation with Javert and his death but others like Bring Him Home doesn't quite cut it. And the casting of Gavroche with a heavy British accent is kinda weird.
The interaction between Jean Valjean and Javert has so much meaning that it probably deserves another post just on that, mind blowing stuff there. I remember that when I left the cinema, I thought of how it is a great example of Grace and Law, two major themes in the Bible.
Éponine just struck accord with me, though not with the same amount of tragedy, I hope. Probably no surprise there, hopeless romantic me. Side note: overheard a friend say this, "On a scale of 1 to Éponine, how friendzoned are you?". I thought that was pretty funny.
I'll finish with some of the songs from the musical in various forms, since they are on loop anyway.
Not the whole part of the Confrontation but good enough to say they nailed it. Absolutely nailed it.
Anne Hathaway's version of I Dreamed A Dream. Drives me to tears every time.
In My Life leading to A Heart Full of Love
On My Own
A Little Fall of Rain
One Day More
Do you hear the people sing in 17 countries. Look out for the Iron Chef host
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