Review: "Les Miserables" brings the final great musical movie of 2012

"Les Miserables" PG-13
The story of escaped convict Jean Valjean and his pursuer, Javert, and his love for a commoner, and her daughter, is made into a soaring musical epic. Set in revolutionary France between 1815 and 1832, the musical proves that both Jackman and Crowe can sing, and also that Hathaway is not bad either. It is based on the London adaptation of the Broadway play, the longest running in history. The Oscars might just give it a nod for best picture. That was the idea casting the leads, and surely including Broadway unknowns to Hollywood fame also added to the thing, meaning more new actors down the line.
     The particular packed showing I saw (December 30) this included some choir and worship friends who had wanted to see it again together, and we scattered about in the audience. The only real issue was that due to the live performances the sound was not soaring bombastically as usual, so nervous chuckles from the row behind some of us could be heard audibly. Even so, this was not a fault of the movie.
     Jean must run from Javeart for dozens of years, all through France, and he makes a new life fopr himself after a priest in an abbey gives him the silver he intends to steal, and then he meats Fontaine, a worker at the factory, and he has an interest in her story when she is cast out into the street.  She has a daughter, Cossette, who is with two crooked innkeepers, and when she dies after a brutalizing, he takes the girl from the innkeepers and runs off to Paris.
    Sasha Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter play the innkeepers, but are essentially playing themselves, or variations of characters they've spoofed, so it is type casting.
     Eventally Cossette grows up and through chance and much opera, falls in love with a revolutionary named Monseir (I think), who is rescued by her adopted father, Jean, during a battle. Also Monseir has a friend who loves him so there is a triangle.
     A good adaptation of the Victor Hugo Broadway play into a movie. Don't bother with the non musical version unless you're using it as a supplement.They have many versions to choose from.
     Can a Hugo win the Oscar again? Find out in March 2013.
Review by Adam Browne