The Miserable Loves Les Miserables

Raquel Bevien-Cervantes


On Dec. 25 if people were not at home opening Christmas presents then they were lined up at the nearest movie theatre to watch the rated PG-13 movie Les Miserables.

Les Miserables has taken the hearts of many since 1862 and grown to be one of the half-dozen greatest novels of the world. It is no wonder that French admirers of this book turned it into a musical in 1980 and has inevitably turned into the world’s longest running musical. After Broadway celebrated its 25th anniversary, the producer Cameron Mackintosh became inspired by the devoted loyalty of the fans throughout the years and announced that this beloved musical would be transferred onto the big screen.

“It has to do with misery and that’s something people can identify with,” world history teacher Gilberto Avila said. “The theme is people banning together for liberty, equality and fertility.”

The drama discusses the three fatal predicaments of the 1800s, which is degradation of man in poverty, subjection of women through hunger and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night. Les Miserables centers around an ex-convict named Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman, who attempts to redeem himself as a French inspector Javert (Russell Crowe) hunts him down. Valjean struggles to keep his vow to take care of a prostitute’s (Anne Hathaway) daughter named Cosette acted by Amanda Seyfried during times of rebellion.

“It’s got love,” English teacher Julia Anderson said. “It’s got fighting and it’s got everything that makes a good story.”

The director Tom Hooper inherited the essence of a play into the movie by recording the actors sing without editing just as it would be if an actor performed on stage. Although this technique made the film more powerful in its sincerity, critics can get momentarily distracted during the few times the cast members voiced a note wrong especially when Amanda Seyfried tried to hit those high notes.

“By seeing the stage production, I think the way they went about producing this musical for film was unique because the actors really got to act it,” English teacher Julia Anderson said. “They got to choose the pacing and they were the one whose emotion ran the songs.”

Besides the singing, all of the cast members’ phenomenal acting abilities won three Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 13, two of which were won by Hugh Jackman for “Best Actor, Comedy or Musical” and Anne Hathaway for “Best Supporting Actress”. Although these actors deserved their awards, Les Miserables missed the spotlight on other actors who did not have a big name such as Crowe. Samantha Barks’, who played the daughter of thieves named Eponine, performance should have gotten more recognition then it did. Barks face was not plastered on Les Miserables advertisements such as Amanda Seyfried’s did, even though Seyfried acted very little in this movie and was just a pretty face that did not evoke any emotion from the crowd.

“Samantha Barks was brilliant because she portrayed the character exactly how I had envisioned,” junior student Sydney Crabtree said. “I adore her as an actress and would like to see more of her.”

The film’s spectacular quality led Les Miserables to win “Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical” in the Golden Globe Awards. The cinematography of stunning views of 19th century France left the audience awestricken. In conclusion, this two hours and 37 minutes cinematic version of the Les Miserables musical is amazing and is highly recommended for anybody who wants to see an emotional classic.

“The scenery was so realistic that I felt as if I was actually there in that era of time with the characters,” junior student Christian Salgado said. “I experienced every form of emotion that this movie had to offer through the struggles and triumphs of the characters.”

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