Review of Les Misérables (2012) by Jesus C — 14 Sep 2013

Ahh, Les Mis. We all know it's long history from book to various movie adaptions to musical...why not combine the latter two? Well...this is kinda why. You're taking a book the size of a George R.R. Martin novel, turning it into a musical, and then into a somewhat shorter film...well let me slow down. Let me talk about what's RIGHT about the movie first.

1. Russel Crowe, while as always bland, isn't that bad at singing.

2. Most everyone else in the film is decent with their lines.

3. The sets are rather impressive.

4. The film is fairly faithful to it's musical parent interpretation.

Now this is what's wrong:

1. Russel Crowe isn't a good broadway singer, and while he is trying it's obvious to spot a faker, and that's him.

2. The pacing is kinda bad, skipping several years at times, turning Les Mis into a 19th century Cast Away.

3. Cosette is damnably bland, I dunno why she's the symbol of musical and movie when she doesn't really do anything. All she does is get adopted and get married.

4. There are far too many secondary characters, uncomfortably clumsy camera angles, and overall rather amateur cinematography that completely abuses the well-made sets.

Although I'm sure this isn't all, this is all I really think is important to say. Les Miserables seems to be one of those movies that people either really liked, really hated, or were personally indifferent about. And that's exactly where I am.