Les Miserables - B+

Rated PG-13, 160 minutes

Beautiful, epic "Les Miserables" hits all the right notes

Anne Hathaway

The big question the epic musical "Les Miserables" sets to answer is not just about love and war but "do you hear the people sing?" Yes, yes and yes would be the answer to Tom Hooper's ("The King's Speech") enthralling, entertaining and often beautiful film. Some of it lacks intimacy and not all of it works perfectly, but fans of the musical will be pleased. Set against the backdrop of the 19th-century French Revolution, "Les Misérables" story is a familiar especially to those who know Victor Hugo's epic novel or the award-winning Broadway musical. Hugh Jackman is ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Anne Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), their lives change forever. "Les Miserables" is a grand and grandly entertaining musical that's set to garner many accolades, including one for Hathaway's stunning, emotional (and very supporting, she's only in the film's first act) turn as Fantine. Her delivery of "I Dreamed a Dream" will please fans of the musical and may put memories of Susan Boyle out your head. Jackman's strong turn as Valjean is one of the film's highlights, though the real question may be: can Russell Crowe sing? Yes and no. Yes, he has a serviceably thin voice that's the weakest of the leads and while passable, is the film's biggest flaw. Relative unknowns Eddie Redmayne and Suzanne Barks are also memorable as Marius and Eponine, respectively, with Barks delivering a nice version of the classic "On My Own." Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter prance around nicely as the comic relief, the Thenadier's, providing some laughs from the film's general downbeat undertone. The sets are exquisite and the music, sung by the actors on set, adds realism and a certain exuberancy not found with other musicals; the barricade, which has so much power onstage, seems smallish here until the final scene. On the downside, there's so much grandeur to "Les Miserables," well-handled by Hooper, that some of the intimacy is lost and it comes across as a little distant. Hooper does make one significant change from the musical in that there is minimal spoken dialogue, which sometimes works in the film's favor. Overall, "Les Miserables" is an entertaining, handsome and award-worthy effort that fans of the musical should see.

Wes's Grade: B+