Les Miserables (2012)

[azaleaqueen]

These people must be the same ones who went to see The Godfather thinking it was about some kindly gentleman and a little kid.

No, I don't know of anybody who did that. But I understand some people walked out of The Artist beause it was silent and in black and white. Do a little research, people.

[Shalamar]

Heh. Or taking their kids to see South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut because animated movie = children's movie.

I can't watch that trailer at work, unfortunately, but I can't wait to get home to see it. I've been excited about the movie ever since I heard the cast.

have to cringe at the thought of Russell Crowe's cigarette-ruined voice rasping out Broadway songs.

Javert doesn't have a lot of songs, though, and his character is supposed to be a brutish thug, so personally I think Crowe is a great choice.

[boxofrocks]

I definitely want to see this movie. I remember nerding out over British mega-musicals back in high school.

Crowe is in a band, 30 Odd Foot of Grunts, so he's supposed to have at least a rock voice. IIRC, Javert's music isn't that vocally challenging. Yes, one needs to be able to sing, but I think they're more acting challenges. Particularly his solos--we're supposed to get insight into his hard-ass, inflexible morality in "Stars" and his breakdown in the suicide song.

As for the "Guardian's" complaining about the trailer--uh, this show has been around for over 25 years and you didn't know it was about people in despair? The book, to which the show is quite faithful, was published in the 1860s. It's not exactly as if you were disappointed by a spoiler.

ETA: clarification.

[Neurochick]

May 31, 2012 11:33:43 GMT -4 @roisin54 said:

May 31, 2012 10:42:58 GMT -4 Atreides said:

You would think the word "Miserables" in the title would sort of indicate that this wasn't a rollicking comedy...

I know, right? That was certainly my first clue. That, and it's based on a novel by Victor Hugo.

Yeah, even when I was a child I knew the story was depressing. I can't imagine grown adults thinking the story was upbeat.

[azaleaqueen]

TOFOG (Crowe's band) no longer exists.

He'll do fine in the acting department. That's one thing he can do right.

[Deleted]

I keep imagining Crowe's singing to sound like Gerry Butler's attempts in Phantom. Slightly better, hopefully. I never understood why they cast someone as the Phantom who so clearly struggled. That was some epic shouting.

[kali]

I liked The Guardian article. It was just a joke, making fun of how Les Mis is basically the most depressing story EVER. Which it is. I don't think it was mean-spirited in any way.

Russell Crowe seems to be taking this role very seriously, so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. He's a great actor, and as I think Hathaway proved in this trailer, the acting is what's going to carry them through, not having a perfect voice.

[Atreides]

Anyone know if this movie will have spoken dialogue or will it just be non-stop singing? I wonder if any songs will be cut or if they'll compose a new one so it will be eligible for the Best Song Oscar?

[Deleted]

Tom Hooper has said he's not adding any dialog, and someone did write a new song. I don't know about anything getting cut. He said he expects it to be two and a half hours long.

[angelaudie]

It sounds like Anne's take on "I Dream A Dream" will be fantastic! Is it technically perfect like Lea Salonga's version? No, but that's fine. It seems the song comes when Fantine has hit rock bottom so it makes sense that she sounds like she's in tears. I've seen online today some Les Mes fans screeching (well they are in my head) that "I Dreamed A Dream" is meant to be bellowed out and then they post Lea Salonga's version. Now, there is nothing wrong with Lea Salonga's but the footage posted is from the 25th anniversary concert. Totally different context.