Les Misérables
It would be a masterpiece, were it not for the two main characters... Russell Crowe (here as inspector Javert) cannot both sing and act at the same time. Hugh Jackman (playing Jean Valjean, a runaway convict) does both, let's say, satisfactorily. (Actually, the only male character that, in my opinion, does sing well is the priest, who only appears for something like 5 minutes). However, the supporting actors - wow! Anne Heathaway's performance is stunning! And all the others are great as well. In fact, the average impression of Valjean and Javert's conflict lets the other, smaller threads shine.Add to that: wonderful decorations, costumes, make-up.
Everything beautifully shot and edited.
Btw, I have a confession to make: I did not read the book before watching the movie. Shame on me, I know. In my defence, I can only say that I had only heard about the adaptation shortly before it premièred and I really did not have enough time to get the book and read the whole five volumes, if I wanted to see the show still on the big screen...
On the other hand it is not a film adaptation of the book, but of a stage musical (which, of course, is based on that book); so maybe I should rather have regrets about not having watched the musical...? Or - by the right of transitivity - both...?!
Stay tuned.
