tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post5251313216716591225..comments2023-10-20T13:34:46.654-07:00Comments on Kevin's Movie Corner: Les Miserables (2012) Kevin Deanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-7604452463210557312013-04-15T14:02:06.795-07:002013-04-15T14:02:06.795-07:00Dave, thanks so much for writing. Yeah, you're...Dave, thanks so much for writing. Yeah, you're probably right, it's not an opera. I guess I was thinking about how much of the dialogue is sung, rather than talked. I still like the material, probably because I love the source material so much.<br /><br />At first I thought I was too hard on the singing, but a few weeks ago I was shopping in a Barnes & Noble, and they were playing the film soundtrack throughout the store, and man, I couldn't flee the store fast enough. I did enjoy the singing from the secondary characters, like Samantha Barks, but that's it. And I still think the Anne Hathaway Oscar win was not deserved. Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-14905489939374142442013-04-13T16:37:45.883-07:002013-04-13T16:37:45.883-07:00A musical with sung dialogue is not an opera, ther...A musical with sung dialogue is not an opera, there's rather more to it than that, the complexity of the musical structure and the voice requirements not least among the differences (dramatic it may be but Les Mis still requires the musical theatre voice, not that of the opera house). I agree with a lot of your review - Samantha Barks was very good, Jackman strained - but where I differ is that I think it's a so-so adaptation of an incredibly overrated musical; there's endless dull singing with very little music, just shapeless notes and phrases, occasionally interspersed with only slightly less dull sentimental tunes. The whole thing is harmonically so colourless and conservative, and the writing so unimaginative... I saw it on stage when I was younger and remember finding it ponderous but thought I'd give it another go, but it's just interminable. And why are the blandest musical passages all invested with such a melodramatic sense of importance?Dave J Lnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-5576560515035312962013-01-22T14:22:21.091-08:002013-01-22T14:22:21.091-08:00CFB, my friend said the same thing, about the exte...CFB, my friend said the same thing, about the extended use of close-ups negating the power of those used during Anne Hathaway's big scene. I think you are both right. <br /><br />Now, I tend to like scene chewers. I like big, hammy performances, from the likes of Paul Muni, Bela Lugosi, the Barrymore brothers, etc. I just don't want to see them in extreme close up. <br /><br /><br />Brian, "12 Angry Men" is a great example of using the close ups only for key scenes. Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-1767958236060962582013-01-20T09:29:26.110-08:002013-01-20T09:29:26.110-08:00Hi Kevin, Never apologize for a bad review as long...Hi Kevin, Never apologize for a bad review as long as it's honest and you have legitimate reasons for your opinions. Yours is an excellent review. I finally saw the film yesterday, and while I liked it more than you, I ultimately was unsatisfied by it. I'm a film musical fan and believe any film adaptation of a stage musical should have a different look and feel so it differentiates itself from what can be found on stage. A strong musical can still come through on film even if the direction isn't inventive (see "My Fair Lady"). With that said, I actually liked Jackman and Hathaway. In fact, I thought Hathaway was the best performer stuck in poorly directed sequences. While I didn't mind her closeup in "I Dreamed a Dream," it was the use of closeups throughout that diminished its impact. Frankly, because of the overuse of closeups, I thought like I could reach out and clip Hugh Jackman's nose hairs at certain points. As for Russell Crowe, he -- or perhaps the director -- kept his performance at a monotone. There was little differentiation between Javert being excited, frustrated, downtrodden or suicidal. Every emotion was presented in the same muted way. I agree that the young revolutionary cast members had better voices, but they all looked like they wandered out off a Vogue magazine shoot about old France. Poor Samantha Banks looked way too contemporary, and in her death scene Tom Hooper made her glow with youth, beauty and health! I won't even mention how annoying I found Carter and Cohen. And yet I was still moved by the plight of Jean Valjean, for which I commend Jackman for maintaining his character's emotional journey. This also represents the power of a good musical trapped in a sub-par film version. So ... while I don't think this is as bad as South Pacific or A Chorus Line, it still could have been much much better. Classicfilmboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01278928051994100842noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-6068191312644496672013-01-18T13:54:12.410-08:002013-01-18T13:54:12.410-08:00I just watched the classic 12 Angry Men. It is a ...I just watched the classic 12 Angry Men. It is a great example of how to use a close up camera shot for dramatic effect. The director of Les Mes should have watched 12 Angry Men to learn the proper way to shoot a film.Briannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-91523700567395703812013-01-13T10:47:28.858-08:002013-01-13T10:47:28.858-08:00I've been hesitant to see this movie because I...I've been hesitant to see this movie because I love the stage version so much, and I think your review has touched on all the things I wondered about.<br /><br />I enjoyed your review; I think I'll wait for the DVD.Silver Screeningshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04955048716754142299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-37128268351591633962013-01-10T18:11:22.138-08:002013-01-10T18:11:22.138-08:00You ain't kidding, it was stinko. I saw the L...You ain't kidding, it was stinko. I saw the London show in 1987 and thought it might have the power of the original. No so! You know from the start that the singing is all wrong and Hathaway's bug-eyed close ups were very tiresome. We watched in two separate sittings, because we just could take it after the first half. Never again.MisterHoneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17341614359695356606noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-66391028911240381922013-01-09T09:29:36.140-08:002013-01-09T09:29:36.140-08:00R.D. I always feel bad slamming something that peo...R.D. I always feel bad slamming something that people obviously worked so hard on. And the effort shows, but the results, for me, were sorely lacking. But I know alot of people are loving the movie, so it's obviously striking some chords with people. Now for something like the "Total Recall" remake this year, I come out with both barrels blazing. No excuse for ignoring even the rudimentary aspects of filmmaking and story telling. <br /><br />Rick, I second Becky's comment about performers with three names. Yes, it was a disappointment. I went with a couple of friends, one who had seen the play twice, and he was shocked at how bad it was. Yet there was applause at our screening. I guess it all comes down to individual taste. <br /><br />Another friend suggested people may not like the trained voices of a Broadway show, and may prefer the more ragged singing on display here. There might be something to that. Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-18915164616203312812013-01-09T08:51:55.987-08:002013-01-09T08:51:55.987-08:00Hope you don't mind my hopping over here again...Hope you don't mind my hopping over here again, but this time I had to comment on a comment! Rick, you made my laugh for the week with: " ... I am now hesitant to watch any musical with performers using all three names!" Love it!ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-21212431329042575192013-01-08T20:05:48.403-08:002013-01-08T20:05:48.403-08:00Kevin, I saw the new "Les Miserables" ov...Kevin, I saw the new "Les Miserables" over the holidays and--like you--was miserable for what seemed like eternity. My wife and I had seen a Broadway touring version of it several years ago and quite enjoyed the musical. But the film adaptation was a disaster for all the reasons you stated so well. Personally, I thought Crowe was terrible in terms of acting and singing. Hathaway's big number was OK, but the I agree that the extreme close-up was distracting (it will probably work better on a TV screen). I got so sick of Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen that I am now hesitant to watch any musical with performers using all three names! Every time I thought we were done seeing them, they would show up again (like at the wedding). Anyway, I won't continue to say bad things, but I am truly shocked that it has been highly touted by critics and many movie-goers.Rick29https://www.blogger.com/profile/08358116647815569722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-56163883336789383962013-01-08T00:26:14.855-08:002013-01-08T00:26:14.855-08:00Kevin, I don't know this work, but it's cl...Kevin, I don't know this work, but it's clear that you're thoroughly familiar with it and therefore qualified to judge the film version with authority. Your extreme disappointment in the film was evident, yet your tone was never nasty or condescending. I thought you presented your assessment of the film in a way that was always clear and well reasoned. I find it harder to write about films I'm cool towards than about than ones I like, so I have to hand it to you for tackling this one. <br /><br />Separately, I have to say how much I agree with you about the virtues of the 1935 Hollywood version and the earlier French version, especially Harry Baur's Jean Valjean. Also about how wretched the movie version of "South Pacific" is!R. D. Finchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05045080274131718843noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-82260640145631967132013-01-07T11:18:52.285-08:002013-01-07T11:18:52.285-08:00"Plus, Butler as the Phantom was deliberately..."Plus, Butler as the Phantom was deliberately kept so handsome that it lost the whole point of the story. I remember telling my sister that he is so gorgeous, what's the problem? Just sit on his right side all the time and everything would be fine!" <br /><br />Becky, it's only Monday but this will likely rank as the best laugh of the week. <br /><br />Yeah, "A Chorus Line" reeks.<br /><br />Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-46418766977475724342013-01-07T09:47:11.910-08:002013-01-07T09:47:11.910-08:00P.S., just to be clear, I thought the direction of...P.S., just to be clear, I thought the direction of "A Chorus Line" was awful, not "Phantom"...<br />ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-86741241689928870542013-01-07T09:46:09.655-08:002013-01-07T09:46:09.655-08:00I should amend my comments to say that yes, there ...I should amend my comments to say that yes, there are wonderful parts to the movie, such as you describe. However, the casting of the Phantom and Christine were mainly directed at the typical teenage-young 20's demographic, and the two actors, despite Emmy's voice being wonderful she isn't a very good actress, so both were inadequate for this great musical play. Plus, Butler as the Phantom was deliberately kept so handsome that it lost the whole point of the story. I remember telling my sister that he is so gorgeous, what's the problem? Just sit on his right side all the time and everything would be fine! LOL!<br /><br />I will let you know when I see Les Miserables!<br />ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-65542175693052624142013-01-07T09:06:52.494-08:002013-01-07T09:06:52.494-08:00Becky, I'll be curious to hear your reaction t...Becky, I'll be curious to hear your reaction to it. And while I agree with much of the criticism of "Phantom of the Opera" especially with the Gerard Butler casting, I thought the film was extremely well directed. There's a whole central portion of the film, with the "All I Ask of You" song, and the masquerade ball,which offers some of the best musical movie moments in the last two decades. I think it would have been some sort of classic with a different cast. Kevin Deanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07697597405552599370noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-38238604088306739462013-01-07T08:55:35.138-08:002013-01-07T08:55:35.138-08:00Amen!
Amen!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6189896360230007229.post-16033843497886839672013-01-07T08:49:25.135-08:002013-01-07T08:49:25.135-08:00Kevin, you do have guts, but you shouldn't hav...Kevin, you do have guts, but you shouldn't have to be brave to write an honest review. At least not to reasonable people. I am dying to see this movie, but in my heart I have had the same kind of dreads that you have described. Damn!<br /><br />I remember being incredibly disappointed at the very BAD movie treatment of "A Chorus Line", one of the the greats made mediocre by a bad director and ignorance of story and casting. Also, I was devastated by "The Phantom of the Opera", for which I may be crucified alongside you for saying that. Gerard Butler, way too handsome, could sort of sing, but he could not perform those marvelous songs as they should have been. Emmy Rossum spent the whole time staring at the camera with her mouth open and a dim look on her face. Raoul, Patrick Wilson, was good, but then they add in a stupid sword fight scene that made no sense. <br /><br />I don't know - I guess you can tell I feel that many modern movie-makers butcher the fabulous, well-loved modern musicals we all anticipate with such joy, and then find ourselves deflated. I agree with you that these guys do a lot of bragging about ways to film as if they could do better than Carousel, Oklahoma, Astaire/Rogers musicals, etc. They are the ones who have a lot of nerve!!<br />ClassicBeckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591715859057540467noreply@blogger.com