AngelHood

My first movie of 2013. This movie: Les Misérables must be watched. It’s 100% musical from the beginning to the end. It is based on the 1862 French novel by Victor Hugo. Bring tissues – I shed tears, I try to hold them back but in the end I still cried :) It’s a very beautiful & touching movie, very nicely done, the actors & actresses have been amazing, they sing so well & in tune with conviction, the characters were strong & inspiring, the music was structured & the lyrics matches very well with each emotion, with each scene, with each tragedy and with each triumph. I thought that it will be a very boring & heavy movie (as all Oscar nominated movies are) but it was not. You will leave the cinema feeling moved, encourage and exhilarating. The soundtrack is unbeatable. I love those close-up solo performances from each of the main stars. Highlighting their vocal credibility.

Hugh Jackman – if he is nominated, then he truly deserves an Oscar. He can do action, comedy and even musicals. He is truly versatile. He was pretty good in Les Miserables as Jean Valjean.

Russell Crowe – I am surprise that the Gladiator star can sing pretty well. I like his deep husky voice. But I was hoping that Javert could be more expressive; meaner, revengeful instead of being a bit too uptight & stone.

Anne Hathaway – she plays Fantine and she really blows me off. She can sing! And she sings well! I was so in awe of her. The first time I saw her was in 'Princess Diaries' where she played a geeky & awkward teenager. I certainly did not expect that she can carry such a heavy-drama-character-driven-character. I sort of expected that her acting abilities are only limited to tackle comedic roles only, something similar to Jennifer Aniston. She is all so grown up now. Everyone will have to take her seriously after such an astounding performance. Her rendition of the musical’s signature song 'I Dreamed A Dream' was a sterling performance. She gave a very raw, original and a fresh interpretation to it. That scene was perfect and Anne Hathaway did it all in one take. Wow! She seriously nailed it. Bravo to her.

Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter – they play the Thénardiers couple. They provide the comic relief for the movie. Love their quirky sense of humor.

The boys; Marius Pontmercy (Eddie Redmayne) and Enjolras (Aaron Tveit), together with street urchin Gavroche (Daniel Huttlestone) were a very good surprise talent package as well. They were so inspiring, stirring those patriotism revolution messages in everyone’s heart, ever ready to make their country a better place for their fellow French men even though their fellow Parisians refuse to join in their cause as the students expected. The way they sing for their assault and battle cry was so moving.

The girls; Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) and Éponine (Samantha Barks). It’s so easy to fall in love with these 2 characters Both of them are equally good but I prefer the latter better. Cosette struggles to know the past story of her mother and ‘father’. While Eponine struggles with her unrequited love for Marius and she was willing to die for him, willing to love him secretly and willing to give her love away as long as Marius is happy. Sob.

The overall style of the movie was very French and modern. I just love the ending where as Valjean sits dying in a local convent, he perceives the spirit of Fantine appearing to take him to Heaven. Cosette and Marius rush in to bid their final farewell. Valjean hands Cosette his confession of his past life, and the spirits of Fantine and the Bishop guide him to paradise, where he joins the spirits of Enjolras, Éponine, Gavroche, and the other rebels at the barricade.