Is your kid or teen actor a rising star? Director Sophie Taillefer’s take on “Les Misérables” is hitting the Scottish Rite Hall in Bordentown, New Jersey, for this Rising Stars Voice Studio production of the classic musical. Based on the novel by French poet and novelist Victor Hugo, this all-sung musical is set during the French Revolution and follows Jean Valjean, a peasant turned on-the-run slave and community leader who’s forever tracked by the hound-like Inspector Javert. All lead roles are up for grabs, including the iconic Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert, and they all call for young male actors aged 15–21. Fantine and Cosette, among others, are also looking for female actors of the same age. The role of Éponine is seeking actors as young as 12. This nonunion paid gig is scheduled to run July 30 and July 31 and rehearse four times per week (Monday–Thursday) until then. For...
- 5/26/2016
- backstage.com
Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. An ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others joins the lead characters. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city the original show at London's West End the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras,...
- 3/12/2016
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
★★★★☆It's extremely fitting that after Tom Hooper's star-studded version of Les Misérables (2012) has exited stage-left that Raymond Bernard original 1934 adaptation of Victor Hugo’s timeless novel should re-appear fully restored. The film was released as three separate features in 1934 but the Pathe-restored Masters of Cinema Blu-ray enables audiences to watch all 300 minutes of the film's torturous struggle in one go. The narrative of this French classic unfolds in an effortless manner moving from Jean Valjean’s (Harry Baur) release from prison and the orphan Fantine’s (Florelle) carefree days, to Valjean’s eventual adoption of Fantine’s orphaned daughter Cosette (Josseline Gaël).
- 12/10/2014
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
In honor of Les Miserables' opening tonight, BroadwayWord brings you the actors who've taken on the many complex and vocally challenging roles of Victor Hugo's world, from the unscrupulous Thenardiers to innocent Cosette, or principled Javert against the compassionate and strong-willed Jean Valjean. From Fantine and Eponine, unfortunate in life and romance, to Enjolras and Marius, the fiery young leaders of the French Revolution.
- 3/23/2014
- by BWW Special Coverage
- BroadwayWorld.com
Last month, BroadwayWorld announced the official casting of the major roles in Cameron Mackintosh's highly anticipated Broadway revival of Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's mega-musical Les Miserables - Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean, Will Swenson as Javert, Caissie Levy as Fantine and Nikki M. James as Eponine, with a follow-up this month revealing Andy Mientus as Marius and Charlotte Maltby as Cosette - and, now, just as the first six did for us, so do the final three new stars of the show - Cliff Saunders as Thenardier, Keala Settle as Madame Thenardier and Kyle Scatliffe as Enjolras - recount some of their fondest memories of attending the show as observers, reflect on the prescient themes of Victor Hugo's timeless novel and reveal what specifically drives their passion for the powerful material, as well as look ahead to the new production of the international stage sensation...
- 11/20/2013
- by Pat Cerasaro
- BroadwayWorld.com
Last month, BroadwayWorld announced the official casting of the four major roles in Cameron Mackintosh's highly anticipated Broadway revival of Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's mega-musical Les Miserables - Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean, Will Swenson as Javert, Caissie Levy as Fantine and Nikki M. James as Eponine - and, now, two more of the major roles have been cast - Andy Mientus as Marius and Charlotte Maltby as Cosette - and just as the first four did for us, now, those spectacular two new stars recount some of their fondest memories of attending the show as observers, reflect on the prescient themes of Victor Hugo's timeless novel and reveal what specifically drives their passion for the powerful material, as well as look ahead to the new production of the international stage sensation arriving back on Broadway in 2014.
- 11/11/2013
- by Pat Cerasaro
- BroadwayWorld.com
Broadway headliner and rising film and TV star Mackenzie Mauzy was one of many young performers to audition for the hotly contested role of Cosette in the big screen adaptation of mega-musical stage sensation Les Miserables and a filmed audition featuring the leading lady is now available to view, highlighting an emotional and committed portrayal of one of the central figures in the expansive story based on Victor Hugo's classic novel...
- 11/6/2013
- by Pat Cerasaro
- BroadwayWorld.com
★★☆☆☆
Winner of three glittering Oscars, British director Tom Hooper's all-singing, all-dancing big screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel (as well as the subsequent stage musical) Les Misérables has certainly managed to capture the imagination of many. After conquering all and sundry at with breakthrough hit The King's Speech (2010), Hooper had set the bar intimidatingly high for his eagerly awaited follow-up. It was almost excruciatingly disappointing then, to see such a competent filmmaker undone more by his own bemusing misdirection and false steps, than by any preconceived, lofty ambition.
Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Hooper's Les Misérables tells an interconnected, sprawling tale of imprisoned souls, demonised poor and kindred spirits, all fighting for survival amidst a country on the verge of civil unrest. Australian man mountain Hugh Jackman plays ex-convict Jean Valjean (aka prisoner 24601), hunted across the land by lawman Javert (Russell Crowe) after he breaks free of his bonds.
Winner of three glittering Oscars, British director Tom Hooper's all-singing, all-dancing big screen adaptation of Victor Hugo's classic novel (as well as the subsequent stage musical) Les Misérables has certainly managed to capture the imagination of many. After conquering all and sundry at with breakthrough hit The King's Speech (2010), Hooper had set the bar intimidatingly high for his eagerly awaited follow-up. It was almost excruciatingly disappointing then, to see such a competent filmmaker undone more by his own bemusing misdirection and false steps, than by any preconceived, lofty ambition.
Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Hooper's Les Misérables tells an interconnected, sprawling tale of imprisoned souls, demonised poor and kindred spirits, all fighting for survival amidst a country on the verge of civil unrest. Australian man mountain Hugh Jackman plays ex-convict Jean Valjean (aka prisoner 24601), hunted across the land by lawman Javert (Russell Crowe) after he breaks free of his bonds.
- 5/13/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
Chicago – I stand by my swooning praise for Tom Hooper’s “Les Miserables” when I reviewed it in theaters. Mostly. I must admit that its flaws are easier to see on the small screen as the grand, epic scope suits itself better to the movie theater (although I think people who claim to hate this movie simply don’t like musicals). It doesn’t hold up quite as well as that first, glorious experience with it in theaters. Even if the Blu-ray is one that will appeal greatly to fans of this beloved, Oscar-winning flick.
Rating: 4.5/5.0
How beloved? “Les Miserables” has made more than $400 million worldwide and is the 3rd-highest grossing musical domestically in movie history after “Chicago” and “Grease” (which took multiple release to get so high). People adore “Les Miserables”. And Universal has treated those fans right, giving them a multi-disc release with a fantastic HD transfer and interesting,...
Rating: 4.5/5.0
How beloved? “Les Miserables” has made more than $400 million worldwide and is the 3rd-highest grossing musical domestically in movie history after “Chicago” and “Grease” (which took multiple release to get so high). People adore “Les Miserables”. And Universal has treated those fans right, giving them a multi-disc release with a fantastic HD transfer and interesting,...
- 3/31/2013
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
People who enjoy a good cry, today is your lucky day: The film version of Les Misérables is now out on Blu-ray and DVD. The epic musical has been running all over the world for over 26 years, and according to movie producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who also produced the original show, an idea to make a movie version has been kicking around for nearly as long, but only recently – despite an occasional exception — have movie musicals been seen as a commercially successful idea. “Musicals 25 years ago were very few and far between,” Mackintosh explained to EW. “I think in the...
- 3/22/2013
- by Erin Strecker
- EW - Inside Movies
The sweeping and spectacular musical extravaganza Les MISÉRABLES has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries around the globe. Now the motion picture adaptation that grossed more than $340 million worldwide arrives on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on March 22, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Critically acclaimed and star-studded, Les MISÉRABLES is a stunningly realized interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of broken dreams, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the endurance of the human spirit.
Hugh Jackman, Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway star in this critically acclaimed adaptation of the epic musical phenomenon. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells the story of ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Jackman), hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe), after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.
Hugh Jackman, Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway star in this critically acclaimed adaptation of the epic musical phenomenon. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells the story of ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Jackman), hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe), after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.
- 3/19/2013
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city the original show at London's West End the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thenardier,...
- 3/12/2013
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: March 22, 2013
Price: DVD $29.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $34.98
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Nominated for eight Academy Awards, director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) 2012 Les Miserables is the latest adaptation of the timeless stage musical, which is based on Victor Hugo‘s classic novel.
Hooper loaded up the movie with a bunch of big stars. Hugh Jackman (Real Steel) as Jean Valjean, the 19th century man who’s being hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe, The Next Three Days). Valjean’s decision to care for Cosette (Amanda Seyfried, Letters to Juliet), daughter of factory worker Fantine (Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs), changes their lives.
The film also stars Sacha Baron Cohen (The Dictator), Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland) and Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn).
Both Jackman and Hathaway were nominated for Oscars for their performances, Jackman as a leading role and Hathaway as supporting.
Price: DVD $29.99, Blu-ray/DVD Combo $34.98
Studio: Universal Studios Home Entertainment
Nominated for eight Academy Awards, director Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) 2012 Les Miserables is the latest adaptation of the timeless stage musical, which is based on Victor Hugo‘s classic novel.
Hooper loaded up the movie with a bunch of big stars. Hugh Jackman (Real Steel) as Jean Valjean, the 19th century man who’s being hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert (Russell Crowe, The Next Three Days). Valjean’s decision to care for Cosette (Amanda Seyfried, Letters to Juliet), daughter of factory worker Fantine (Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs), changes their lives.
The film also stars Sacha Baron Cohen (The Dictator), Helena Bonham Carter (Alice in Wonderland) and Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn).
Both Jackman and Hathaway were nominated for Oscars for their performances, Jackman as a leading role and Hathaway as supporting.
- 2/12/2013
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
Check out the press release for the Les Miserables Blu-ray, hitting shelves March 22!
The sweeping and spectacular musical extravaganza Les Misérables has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries around the globe. Now the motion picture adaptation that grossed more than $340 million worldwide arrives on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on March 22, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Critically acclaimed and star-studded, Les Misérables is a stunningly realized interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of broken dreams, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the endurance of the human spirit. This Golden Globe®-winning cinematic event can now be experienced over and over again on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD with more than an hour of bonus features including cast interviews. Additionally, the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack is loaded with an extra 45 minutes of exclusive content taking viewers behind the scenes of the groundbreaking production for an unmatched entertainment experience.
The sweeping and spectacular musical extravaganza Les Misérables has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries around the globe. Now the motion picture adaptation that grossed more than $340 million worldwide arrives on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on March 22, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Critically acclaimed and star-studded, Les Misérables is a stunningly realized interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of broken dreams, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the endurance of the human spirit. This Golden Globe®-winning cinematic event can now be experienced over and over again on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD with more than an hour of bonus features including cast interviews. Additionally, the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack is loaded with an extra 45 minutes of exclusive content taking viewers behind the scenes of the groundbreaking production for an unmatched entertainment experience.
- 2/12/2013
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Victor Medina)
- Cinelinx
The sweeping and spectacular musical extravaganza Les Misérables has been seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries around the globe. Now the motion picture adaptation that grossed more than $340 million worldwide arrives on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand on March 22, 2013, from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Critically acclaimed and star-studded, Les Misérables is a stunningly realized interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale of broken dreams, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the endurance of the human spirit. This Golden Globe®-winning cinematic event can now be experienced over and over again on Blu-ray™ Combo Pack and DVD with more than an hour of bonus features including cast interviews. Additionally, the Blu-ray™ Combo Pack is loaded with an extra 45 minutes of exclusive content taking viewers behind the scenes of the groundbreaking production for an unmatched entertainment experience.
Directed by Academy Award® winner Tom Hooper (The King...
Directed by Academy Award® winner Tom Hooper (The King...
- 2/12/2013
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
"Les Miserables" Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actor (Hugh Jackman), Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway), Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Original Song, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing What's It About? Set against revolutionary-torn 19th-century France, "Les Mis" follows an ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) who attempts to start a new, virtuous life. He changes his name, and adopts a young girl, Cosette, (who grows up to be Amanda Seyfried) but finds himself hunted by one man, Javert (Russell Crowe), for decades. Why You Should See It: Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") takes on the Victor Hugo classic to bring the most authoritative -- and moving -- on-screen adaptation to date. Anne Hathaway's turn as Fontine has been lighting up the awards circuits; she has received both a Golden Globe and a SAG award for her role. Everyone's money is on Hathaway to win the gold at the Oscars,...
- 2/5/2013
- by Jessie Heyman
- Moviefone
Eddie Redmayne has discussed his role in Les Misérables.
Tom Hooper's musical adaptation stars Redmayne as Marius, a student revolutionary who falls in love with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried).
"The filming of [the love story] was tricky, because it's love at first sight," Redmayne told Digital Spy, explaining that the two characters spend far longer falling in love in Victor Hugo's novel. "It's tricky on stage, that moment, because it's very operatic."
He went on to compare Hooper's approach to that of Baz Luhrmann in Romeo + Juliet (1996), in which the two lovers have several near-encounters before finally meeting.
"I hope the love-at-first-sight moment works perhaps stronger than it does on stage," Redmayne admits. "It was tricky."
Redmayne was nominated for 'Best Actor' at last night's Evening Standard Film Awards, but lost out to Toby Jones for Berberian Sound Studio.
Les Misérables has spent three consecutive weeks at the top of the UK box office,...
Tom Hooper's musical adaptation stars Redmayne as Marius, a student revolutionary who falls in love with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried).
"The filming of [the love story] was tricky, because it's love at first sight," Redmayne told Digital Spy, explaining that the two characters spend far longer falling in love in Victor Hugo's novel. "It's tricky on stage, that moment, because it's very operatic."
He went on to compare Hooper's approach to that of Baz Luhrmann in Romeo + Juliet (1996), in which the two lovers have several near-encounters before finally meeting.
"I hope the love-at-first-sight moment works perhaps stronger than it does on stage," Redmayne admits. "It was tricky."
Redmayne was nominated for 'Best Actor' at last night's Evening Standard Film Awards, but lost out to Toby Jones for Berberian Sound Studio.
Les Misérables has spent three consecutive weeks at the top of the UK box office,...
- 2/5/2013
- Digital Spy
The connection between those sassy "Mean Girls" and the downtrodden of "Les Miserables" is a lot stronger than Amanda Seyfried's long, blonde locks. Oh yes. Now that Tina Fey's trying to re-work the zingers of her old high school clique comedy into song lyrics (go Tina, go!), the comparisons are becoming oh-so-clear.
We smell a crossover.
For serious. Fey told journos at the Screen Actors Guild this week that she and her musical hubby Jeff Richmond haven't given up on bringing those snarky she-bullies to the stage yet, even six years after the first mention of such an idea. In fact, she's already got the studio's proverbial thumbs up on the project, and she's not gonna be busy with "30 Rock" anymore, so ... With bated breath, we wait.
Until then, the net wizards on Tumblr have already begun working their meme magic on this one, putting Fey's words into...
We smell a crossover.
For serious. Fey told journos at the Screen Actors Guild this week that she and her musical hubby Jeff Richmond haven't given up on bringing those snarky she-bullies to the stage yet, even six years after the first mention of such an idea. In fact, she's already got the studio's proverbial thumbs up on the project, and she's not gonna be busy with "30 Rock" anymore, so ... With bated breath, we wait.
Until then, the net wizards on Tumblr have already begun working their meme magic on this one, putting Fey's words into...
- 1/29/2013
- by Amanda Bell
- NextMovie
With the film of Les Misérables on release and a Royal Academy exhibition opening, France's cultural giants and their views of the city take on a fresh importance
The iron gates of the short passageway, a stone's throw from the increasingly trendy Montorgueil district of Paris and a brief walk from the prostitutes of Saint Denis, are closed to the public these days. It was here, in what was Passage Saumon off the Rue du Bout du Monde – the end of the world road – that Victor Hugo is said to have sheltered between the stone pillars of the public baths and a ballroom of low repute from a raging battle between republican and monarchist forces on 5 June 1832. The gates were slammed shut then too, leaving the writer trapped in the crossfire.
A decade on, Hugo would use what he had heard and seen of the failed student uprising, known as the Republican Uprising,...
The iron gates of the short passageway, a stone's throw from the increasingly trendy Montorgueil district of Paris and a brief walk from the prostitutes of Saint Denis, are closed to the public these days. It was here, in what was Passage Saumon off the Rue du Bout du Monde – the end of the world road – that Victor Hugo is said to have sheltered between the stone pillars of the public baths and a ballroom of low repute from a raging battle between republican and monarchist forces on 5 June 1832. The gates were slammed shut then too, leaving the writer trapped in the crossfire.
A decade on, Hugo would use what he had heard and seen of the failed student uprising, known as the Republican Uprising,...
- 1/27/2013
- by Kim Willsher, Vanessa Thorpe
- The Guardian - Film News
Every showtune rendered in grubby closeup does not a historically accurate film make. Just which French Revolution are we talking about here?
Les Misérables (2012)
Director: Tom Hooper
Entertainment grade: C
History grade: C
The June rebellion of 1832 was an uprising in Paris against the rule of King Louis-Philippe, fuelled by economic hardship and a cholera epidemic. It was quashed, and is remembered mainly for its inclusion in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, Les Misérables.
People
The film begins with Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) completing 19 years of hard labour: the penalty for stealing bread and repeatedly trying to escape. His overseer is the unrelenting Javert (Russell Crowe). Les Misérables was inspired in part by the true story of Eugène-François Vidocq, who turned a criminal career into an anti-crime industry. He created the Bureau des Renseignements, said to be the world's first detective agency, in 1833, though he himself continued to be pursued by police.
Les Misérables (2012)
Director: Tom Hooper
Entertainment grade: C
History grade: C
The June rebellion of 1832 was an uprising in Paris against the rule of King Louis-Philippe, fuelled by economic hardship and a cholera epidemic. It was quashed, and is remembered mainly for its inclusion in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, Les Misérables.
People
The film begins with Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) completing 19 years of hard labour: the penalty for stealing bread and repeatedly trying to escape. His overseer is the unrelenting Javert (Russell Crowe). Les Misérables was inspired in part by the true story of Eugène-François Vidocq, who turned a criminal career into an anti-crime industry. He created the Bureau des Renseignements, said to be the world's first detective agency, in 1833, though he himself continued to be pursued by police.
- 1/17/2013
- by Alex von Tunzelmann
- The Guardian - Film News
There's nothing that demonstrates the difference between the "Les Misérables" stage show and movie more than the new Oscar-nominated song, "Suddenly." The tender lullaby sung by Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) to little Cosette (Isabelle Allen) in a carriage never could've been carried off on stage, yet it's one of the intimate highlights of the movie. For composer Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyricist Alain Boublil (who created the blockbuster stage musical in 1985), it was an opportunity to expand their vision by revisiting the famed Victor Hugo source novel at the insistence of director Tom Hooper. "Hooper thought one thing missing from the musical was how an acknowledgment of the love that Cosette played in Jean Valjean's life helped transform him," Boublil explains. "Victor Hugo had written something about two unhappy souls making one happy human being, and Hooper asked us to think about that line and a song as a...
- 1/16/2013
- by Bill Desowitz
- Thompson on Hollywood
Tom Hooper's gamble of filming Les Misérables with on-set singing has resulted in a work of unusual power and colour
Asked who was France's greatest poet, André Gide responded with the famously rueful answer: "Victor Hugo, hélas!" Cameron Mackintosh, the impresario who brought Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel's Les Misérables to London and transformed it into a worldwide phenomenon after its mild Parisian success and disastrous British first-night reception, would give a rather more positive response. I was in that first-night audience on 30 September 1985, and shared the general opinion that it was an indifferent show, shallow and somewhat forced in tone. I emerged with only one song planted in my head, Master of the House, sung by Alun Armstrong as Thénardier, the outrageously opportunist innkeeper, a number that struck me as rather like You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two from Oliver!
I wasn't writing about the...
Asked who was France's greatest poet, André Gide responded with the famously rueful answer: "Victor Hugo, hélas!" Cameron Mackintosh, the impresario who brought Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel's Les Misérables to London and transformed it into a worldwide phenomenon after its mild Parisian success and disastrous British first-night reception, would give a rather more positive response. I was in that first-night audience on 30 September 1985, and shared the general opinion that it was an indifferent show, shallow and somewhat forced in tone. I emerged with only one song planted in my head, Master of the House, sung by Alun Armstrong as Thénardier, the outrageously opportunist innkeeper, a number that struck me as rather like You've Got to Pick a Pocket or Two from Oliver!
I wasn't writing about the...
- 1/13/2013
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
Les Miserables
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Isabelle Allen, Amanda Seyfried, Samantha Barks, Eddie Redmayne, Colm Wilkinson | Written by Victor Hugo, William Nicholson | Directed by Tom Hooper
Victor Hugo’s epic novel Les Miserables is no stranger to big screen adaptations, with close to fifty different versions in various languages, but Tom Hooper’s version, (Oscar winning director of The King’s Speech) the first to adapt the stage musical, is possibly the grandest and most ambitious to date. The tale of Jean Valjean provides the plot for the longest running musical in the West End, and it took 27 years for someone to bring give it the cinematic treatment it so clearly deserves.
The story begins as Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is released on parole after 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, and trying to escape. However he breaks parole, in attempt to make a better life for himself,...
Stars: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Isabelle Allen, Amanda Seyfried, Samantha Barks, Eddie Redmayne, Colm Wilkinson | Written by Victor Hugo, William Nicholson | Directed by Tom Hooper
Victor Hugo’s epic novel Les Miserables is no stranger to big screen adaptations, with close to fifty different versions in various languages, but Tom Hooper’s version, (Oscar winning director of The King’s Speech) the first to adapt the stage musical, is possibly the grandest and most ambitious to date. The tale of Jean Valjean provides the plot for the longest running musical in the West End, and it took 27 years for someone to bring give it the cinematic treatment it so clearly deserves.
The story begins as Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) is released on parole after 19 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread, and trying to escape. However he breaks parole, in attempt to make a better life for himself,...
- 1/12/2013
- by Maahin
- Nerdly
Tom Hooper's film is a colossal effort – after 158 minutes, you really have experienced something. It's just not clear what
Like a diabolically potent combination of Lionel Bart and Leni Riefenstahl, the movie version of Les Misérables has arrived, based on the hit stage show adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel set among the deserving poor in 19th-century France, which climaxes with the anti-monarchist Paris uprising of 1832. Even as a non-believer in this kind of "sung-through" musical, I was battered into submission by this mesmeric and sometimes compelling film, featuring a performance of dignity and intelligence from Hugh Jackman, and an unexpectedly vulnerable singing turn from that great, big, grumpy old bear, Russell Crowe. With the final rousing chorus of "Do you hear the people sing?", the revolutionary-patriotic fervour is so bizarrely stirring, you'll feel like marching out of the cinema, wrapped in the tricolour, and travelling to Russia to...
Like a diabolically potent combination of Lionel Bart and Leni Riefenstahl, the movie version of Les Misérables has arrived, based on the hit stage show adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel set among the deserving poor in 19th-century France, which climaxes with the anti-monarchist Paris uprising of 1832. Even as a non-believer in this kind of "sung-through" musical, I was battered into submission by this mesmeric and sometimes compelling film, featuring a performance of dignity and intelligence from Hugh Jackman, and an unexpectedly vulnerable singing turn from that great, big, grumpy old bear, Russell Crowe. With the final rousing chorus of "Do you hear the people sing?", the revolutionary-patriotic fervour is so bizarrely stirring, you'll feel like marching out of the cinema, wrapped in the tricolour, and travelling to Russia to...
- 1/11/2013
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Having picked up an impressive eight nominations in yesterday’s Oscar nominations announcement, Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables is finally making its way to the UK this weekend, after opening in North America on Christmas Day.
As you can imagine from the number of nominations, the film has been earning tremendous levels of praise in the last few months – you can read our five-star review here – and naturally the anticipation for its arrival on our shores is running on high.
Whilst we’ve had longer to wait for it to arrive, we do have the added benefit of the film securing an IMAX release here in the UK, and now a new IMAX featurette has debuted ahead of its release this Friday.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit.
As you can imagine from the number of nominations, the film has been earning tremendous levels of praise in the last few months – you can read our five-star review here – and naturally the anticipation for its arrival on our shores is running on high.
Whilst we’ve had longer to wait for it to arrive, we do have the added benefit of the film securing an IMAX release here in the UK, and now a new IMAX featurette has debuted ahead of its release this Friday.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit.
- 1/11/2013
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
For Paco Delgado, "Les Misérables" moves like a breathless action movie in the way it combines gritty drama with musical fantasy. That was director Tom Hooper's cinematic vision for the operatic sing-through. So for the Spanish costume designer ("The Skin I Live In," "Biutiful"), it's all about capturing emotional states during this revolutionary epoch. From the Christ-like Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) to the oppressive Javert (Russell Crowe) to the doomed Fantine (Anne Hathaway) to the hopeful Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), he uses color to convey their dramatic arcs, particularly the clash of red and blue. In fact, it's a movie in which characters ultimately mirror themselves as well as one another. "I read the Victor Hugo book, which is full of amazing references," Delgado recalls. "He's so realistic and so descriptive about how people lived and dressed and their environments. Then we looked at paintings of the...
- 1/9/2013
- by Bill Desowitz
- Thompson on Hollywood
Currently playing in theaters is the cinematic take on the classic stage musical, Les Misérables, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. The film is directed by Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) and stars Hugh Jackman (The Prestige, X-Men), Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight Rises, Rachel Getting Married), Russell Crowe (A Beautiful Mind, L.A. Confidential), Amanda Seyfried (Alpha Dog, Mamma Mia!), Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn), and from the stage musical, Samatha Barks.
I recently had the chance to attend the press conference for Les Misérables at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City where I was able to speak with Tom Hooper, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, and Samantha Banks about their new film.
Jackman was asked about his dramatic weight loss and physical transformation for the role of Jean Valjean. “It’s a very big part of the story, this relationship...
I recently had the chance to attend the press conference for Les Misérables at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in New York City where I was able to speak with Tom Hooper, Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, and Samantha Banks about their new film.
Jackman was asked about his dramatic weight loss and physical transformation for the role of Jean Valjean. “It’s a very big part of the story, this relationship...
- 1/6/2013
- by Dana Gardner
- LRMonline.com
In 2011 that film was Oscar winner The King's Speech. Now he is Oscar-tipped again for Les Misérables. Here the 'tough guy' director, who made his first film while still at school, talks about the epic he sees as a timeless 'anthem for the dispossessed'
It was almost two years ago that I first met Tom Hooper. He was with Colin Firth, and their film, The King's Speech – which Hooper directed and in which Firth starred – was weeks away from winning its Oscars. It was a heady occasion. An excitable Hooper did most of the talking (Firth detests interviews) and the film – about the struggle George VI had with his speech impediment when he came to the throne in 1936 – became the unlikely winner that delighted everyone who saw it: an impossible act to follow.
And yet, today, Hooper is attempting to trump it on an epic scale. He has taken on...
It was almost two years ago that I first met Tom Hooper. He was with Colin Firth, and their film, The King's Speech – which Hooper directed and in which Firth starred – was weeks away from winning its Oscars. It was a heady occasion. An excitable Hooper did most of the talking (Firth detests interviews) and the film – about the struggle George VI had with his speech impediment when he came to the throne in 1936 – became the unlikely winner that delighted everyone who saw it: an impossible act to follow.
And yet, today, Hooper is attempting to trump it on an epic scale. He has taken on...
- 12/30/2012
- by Kate Kellaway
- The Guardian - Film News
A giant beautiful flawed mess is the best description I can give for the Tom Hooper-directed big-screen adaptation of Les Misérables, itself a musical theater adaptation of the 1862 Victor Hugo novel. The story is a sweeping epic, and people unfamiliar with the material may find they are swept off their feet by the spectacle. But for longtime fans of the musical, the movie is a bumpy ride more full of downs than ups.
Hugh Jackman takes on the lead role of Jean Valjean, a convict released after 19 years imprisonment for the loaf of bread he stole to feed his sister's starving child. The film opens with a stunning shot of hundreds of prisoners, Valjean among them, struggling with lines to pull a ship into dock. This is one of the strongest images Hooper presents us and a dazzling introduction to Valjean's world. As he is released, Valjean is confronted by Russell Crowe's Javert,...
Hugh Jackman takes on the lead role of Jean Valjean, a convict released after 19 years imprisonment for the loaf of bread he stole to feed his sister's starving child. The film opens with a stunning shot of hundreds of prisoners, Valjean among them, struggling with lines to pull a ship into dock. This is one of the strongest images Hooper presents us and a dazzling introduction to Valjean's world. As he is released, Valjean is confronted by Russell Crowe's Javert,...
- 12/29/2012
- by Mike Saulters
- Slackerwood
Les Misérables
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Samantha Barks
Running Time: 2 hr 37 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2012
Plot: A former prisoner (Jackman) in revolution-hungry 1800s France who broke parole tries to elude the determined policeman Javert (Crowe) while caring for a girl (Seyfriend) orphaned by her tragic mother (Hathaway). Adapted from the musical inspired by the novel by Victor Hugo.
Who’S It For? If you’re a fan of the musical, a viewing of this film is a no-brainer, as the magnitude and effort within this movie is bound to make it a top favorite for some. Those who are unfamiliar with musicals will likely enjoy taking the plunge into the big experience of Les Misérables, but all should be aware - the music never stops.
Overall
Director Tom Hooper, showing off his visual guns that made his...
Directed by: Tom Hooper
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Samantha Barks
Running Time: 2 hr 37 mins
Rating: PG-13
Release Date: December 25, 2012
Plot: A former prisoner (Jackman) in revolution-hungry 1800s France who broke parole tries to elude the determined policeman Javert (Crowe) while caring for a girl (Seyfriend) orphaned by her tragic mother (Hathaway). Adapted from the musical inspired by the novel by Victor Hugo.
Who’S It For? If you’re a fan of the musical, a viewing of this film is a no-brainer, as the magnitude and effort within this movie is bound to make it a top favorite for some. Those who are unfamiliar with musicals will likely enjoy taking the plunge into the big experience of Les Misérables, but all should be aware - the music never stops.
Overall
Director Tom Hooper, showing off his visual guns that made his...
- 12/29/2012
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
The Movie: Les Miserables (2012) Studio: Universal Pictures Director: Tom Hooper Starring: Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thenardier, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras and Samantha Barks as ?ponine Screenwriters: William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer based on the original stage musical from the novel by Victor Hugo RottenTomatoes: 73% MetaCritic: 64/100 Snippet from My Review: (read my full review here) Hooper's handling of such a massive story is a mixed bag of tightly woven storytelling in the first half to dry, dull and tiring in the second. Perhaps that's just the nature of the story, but everything about the introduction of Marius and all that leads up to the rebellion felt clunky and ill-conceived and none of it believable... I could watch the first...
- 12/28/2012
- by Brad Brevet
- Rope of Silicon
A visually impressive adaptation of Les Miserables comes to the screen under the direction of Tom Hooper. It's one of the best interpretations of the book to date. This film is one of the finest movies of the year and will likely be remembered at Oscar time.
There have been many screen adaptations of Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Miserables over the years, both on TV and on the big screen. This latest version is not so much a new interpretation of the book as it is a filmed version of the long-running musical play. The film follows the play very accurately and brings the songs from Broadway to the big screen. Director Tom Hooper--who directed the Oscar winning The King's Speech--may have another shot at a little gold statue this year because he does an excellent job turning the play into a rather epic-looking film, while...
There have been many screen adaptations of Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Miserables over the years, both on TV and on the big screen. This latest version is not so much a new interpretation of the book as it is a filmed version of the long-running musical play. The film follows the play very accurately and brings the songs from Broadway to the big screen. Director Tom Hooper--who directed the Oscar winning The King's Speech--may have another shot at a little gold statue this year because he does an excellent job turning the play into a rather epic-looking film, while...
- 12/27/2012
- by bogus@nospam.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
Christmas Day has finally arrived, and for Us theatres, that means only one thing: the release of Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables and Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained*.
We’ve seen nothing but good things from each of them, and the critics have been heaping praise upon them both, and now audiences will finally get to see them for themselves in the Us. If you’re reading this across the Atlantic and are planning on spending your Christmas at the cinema, be sure to let us know what you’re seeing in the comments below.
With the arrival of Hooper’s highly anticipated, potentially genre-defining film, Universal have released a brilliant new 90-second TV spot to get you in the mood this holiday season.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament...
We’ve seen nothing but good things from each of them, and the critics have been heaping praise upon them both, and now audiences will finally get to see them for themselves in the Us. If you’re reading this across the Atlantic and are planning on spending your Christmas at the cinema, be sure to let us know what you’re seeing in the comments below.
With the arrival of Hooper’s highly anticipated, potentially genre-defining film, Universal have released a brilliant new 90-second TV spot to get you in the mood this holiday season.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament...
- 12/25/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Before every great battle there is a rallying of the troops, a rousing speech. In Les Misérables that speech is “Red and Black,” sung by the students-turned-revolutionaries on the eve of the Paris Uprising of 1832.
The musical number centers on the revolutionaries’ leader, Enjolras, as he reminds his friends what they are fighting for. In the film adaptation of the beloved musical, set to hit theaters tomorrow, stage and film actor Aaron Tveit plays Enjolras. Les Mis is Tveit’s first movie musical, but he came to the project with many Broadway productions under his belt, including Hairspray, Wicked and Catch Me If You Can.
The musical number centers on the revolutionaries’ leader, Enjolras, as he reminds his friends what they are fighting for. In the film adaptation of the beloved musical, set to hit theaters tomorrow, stage and film actor Aaron Tveit plays Enjolras. Les Mis is Tveit’s first movie musical, but he came to the project with many Broadway productions under his belt, including Hairspray, Wicked and Catch Me If You Can.
- 12/24/2012
- by Emily Rome
- EW - Inside Movies
Another trailer for Les Miserables is here, and as you already see – it’s time for another song from the whole thing. All eyes on Samantha Barks‘ character Eponine and her On My Own song. In other words – it’s time to get romantic.You know – I love him, but every day I’m learning – all my life I’ve only been pretending and stuff like that… Check her out and let us know what you think about this movie so far!
Written by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Herbert Kretzmer, and directed by Tom Hooper, the movie is described as a sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo‘s epic tale of the same name.
Starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, Les Miserables is set to open on December 25th, 2012.
Set...
Written by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Herbert Kretzmer, and directed by Tom Hooper, the movie is described as a sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo‘s epic tale of the same name.
Starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen, Les Miserables is set to open on December 25th, 2012.
Set...
- 12/22/2012
- by Jeanne Standal
- Filmofilia
Universal Pictures has released six new “on-the-set” featurettes for Tom Hooper’s musical epic. In these videos, the cast and crew describe the massive undertaking to bring the greatest muscial of all time - Les MISÉRABLES - to the big screen. Universal announced earlier this week the release of the free Multi-Touch book “Les Misérables: The Musical Phenomenon,” a digital companion to the film. Highlighting the timeless music, celebrated performers, intricate costumes and sweeping cinematography of the film, the book presents an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the artistry of Les MISÉRABLES. It includes exclusive interviews, photo galleries and video, musical performances, interactive timelines and more. It is available worldwide for free, exclusively on the iBookstore at iTunes.com/iBookstore.
Les MISÉRABLES is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office...
Les MISÉRABLES is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office...
- 12/21/2012
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway
Directed By: Tom Hooper
Lingering death scenes, honourable gentlemen with puffed out chests, a little girl in rags sweeping the floor; to say Les Misérables takes itself very, very seriously is an understatement. Victor Hugo’s original novel is not known for its slapstick either (the clue is in the title), yet director Tom Hooper’s adaptation is so earnest as to verge on parody. This is Carol Reed’s Oliver! only with a good deal more rain and tears, and a lot less Oom-Pah-Pah.
To Hooper’s credit, Les Misérables never strives to be something it is not. Dramatic musical theatre on a grand scale should be expected by anyone with knowledge of the source material. Pleasingly for those not entranced at the exquisite agony of Anne Hathaway’s Fantine grizzling through ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, there are far more interesting sights on display,...
Directed By: Tom Hooper
Lingering death scenes, honourable gentlemen with puffed out chests, a little girl in rags sweeping the floor; to say Les Misérables takes itself very, very seriously is an understatement. Victor Hugo’s original novel is not known for its slapstick either (the clue is in the title), yet director Tom Hooper’s adaptation is so earnest as to verge on parody. This is Carol Reed’s Oliver! only with a good deal more rain and tears, and a lot less Oom-Pah-Pah.
To Hooper’s credit, Les Misérables never strives to be something it is not. Dramatic musical theatre on a grand scale should be expected by anyone with knowledge of the source material. Pleasingly for those not entranced at the exquisite agony of Anne Hathaway’s Fantine grizzling through ‘I Dreamed a Dream’, there are far more interesting sights on display,...
- 12/20/2012
- by Chris Laverty
- Clothes on Film
We have our biggest and best clip yet from Tom Hooper's feature film adaptation of the Les Misérables musical. The clip features the big "One Day More" ensemble musical sequence. This is one of my favorite songs from the musical, and it may not be as good as what the Broadway cast is doing or has done, but they mange to pull it off quite well.
The clip includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. You can tell that Barks is the most talented singer in the film, but Redmayne is surprisingly really good as well.
The film comes out on December 25th, and it's been getting great reviews. I can't wait to see it!
Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and...
The clip includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Aaron Tveit, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen. You can tell that Barks is the most talented singer in the film, but Redmayne is surprisingly really good as well.
The film comes out on December 25th, and it's been getting great reviews. I can't wait to see it!
Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and...
- 12/19/2012
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Les Miserables Directed by: Tom Hooper Written by: William Nicholson (screenplay), Victor Hugo (novel) Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter Tom Hooper’s (The King’s Speech) ambitious, sweeping epic adaptation of the musical Les Miserables hits full force on all cylinders during the first half, ensuring that it will garner a plethora of Academy Award nominations. However, an unfortunate and disappointing second half sends the film careening off course, and left me scratching my head over what exactly went wrong. Les Miserables (based on the French novel by Victor Hugo) has so successfully ingratiated itself into the world of pop culture that chances are you know the story of Jean Valjean and his lifelong quest to elude the clutches of police inspector Javert, even if you have never read the book or seen a performance. There have been multiple film...
- 12/19/2012
- by Shannon
- FilmJunk
Les Misérables has long been one of the most anticipated films of the year.
Tom Hooper’s adaptation features an all-star cast, and has been earning universal critical acclaim from the early reviews – you can read our five-star review here.
We saw two beautiful new TV spots for the film yesterday, and now MSN have debuted a wonderful featurette, taking us back to the original stage musical and bringing us forward to the upcoming film.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.”
Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway,...
Tom Hooper’s adaptation features an all-star cast, and has been earning universal critical acclaim from the early reviews – you can read our five-star review here.
We saw two beautiful new TV spots for the film yesterday, and now MSN have debuted a wonderful featurette, taking us back to the original stage musical and bringing us forward to the upcoming film.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.”
Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway,...
- 12/19/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
We're less than a week away from the theatrical release of Tom Hooper's take on the classic stage musical Les Misérables , based on the novel by Victor Hugo, on Christmas Day. A few weeks back, ComingSoon.net attended the press conference for the movie with Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks and Amanda Seyfried, where they each discussed how the original musical inspired them to do some of their best work. (Seyfried didn't have too much to say about playing the older Cosette, only looking up from her Blackberry when Hathaway called upon her to respond to a question, convinced the younger actress hadn't been paying attention. Meow!) Jackman spoke about what it was like taking on the role of Jean Valjean. "He's obviously one of the great literary...
- 12/19/2012
- Comingsoon.net
Les Misérables
Directed by Tom Hooper
Written by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Herbert Kretzmer
United Kingdom, 2012
At some point in cinema history, it became bad form to make movie musicals without being self-aware or self-referential. The concern must spring from the perceived stumbling block people have when they watch musicals, boiled down to one simple question: “Sure, but why are they suddenly singing?” The transition from spoken dialogue to speeches or monologues that are belted all the way to the rafters is, perhaps, more pronounced on the silver screen. With the long-awaited movie version of Les Misérables, the immensely popular musical based on Victor Hugo’s epic novel, director Tom Hooper has chosen to strip down the grand-scale show so that audiences aren’t stymied by the musical’s inherently lusty operatic style. This approach is only somewhat successful; the film almost works in spite of itself.
Directed by Tom Hooper
Written by William Nicholson, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Herbert Kretzmer
United Kingdom, 2012
At some point in cinema history, it became bad form to make movie musicals without being self-aware or self-referential. The concern must spring from the perceived stumbling block people have when they watch musicals, boiled down to one simple question: “Sure, but why are they suddenly singing?” The transition from spoken dialogue to speeches or monologues that are belted all the way to the rafters is, perhaps, more pronounced on the silver screen. With the long-awaited movie version of Les Misérables, the immensely popular musical based on Victor Hugo’s epic novel, director Tom Hooper has chosen to strip down the grand-scale show so that audiences aren’t stymied by the musical’s inherently lusty operatic style. This approach is only somewhat successful; the film almost works in spite of itself.
- 12/19/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Check out this new Les MISÉRABLES featurette. In it Hugh Jackman tells about his experience with creating the character of Jean Valjean. The Golden Globe nominee describes his process and what this film has meant for him (via Yahoo! Movies). Last week Les MISÉRABLES was nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards, announced as one of the official selections of the AFI Awards 2012 and this past weekend the Academy announced director Tom Hooper’s film was among the seven shortlisted films remaining in competition in the Makeup and Hairstyling category for the 85th Academy Awards.
Les MISÉRABLES is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 27th year. Helmed by The King.s Speech.s Academy Award®-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman,...
Les MISÉRABLES is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 27th year. Helmed by The King.s Speech.s Academy Award®-winning director, Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman,...
- 12/18/2012
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
When Eddie Redmayne isn't giving support to some of the biggest stars in Hollywood -- recent co-workers include Michelle Williams and Hugh Jackman -- he's busy being the next big thing. That's why the New York Times used 1,200 words to profile the 30-year-old British actor this past Sunday, and why he's negotiating to co-star opposite Channing Tatum in the new Andy and Lana Wachowski film. It's also why Redmayne has awards buzz: He's a dark horse candidate to earn a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his "Les Miserables" role, an impressive feat considering the film also features lush supporting performances from big names like Russell Crowe and Sacha Baron Cohen.
In "Les Miserables," Redmayne stars as Marius, the romantic lead of the film's second half, an upstanding youngster who falls head over heels in love with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). It's a role Michael Ball made famous in the original London production of "Les Miserables,...
In "Les Miserables," Redmayne stars as Marius, the romantic lead of the film's second half, an upstanding youngster who falls head over heels in love with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). It's a role Michael Ball made famous in the original London production of "Les Miserables,...
- 12/18/2012
- by Christopher Rosen
- Huffington Post
The transformation of the beloved Broadway musical, .Les Miserables,. into a big screen event is a daunting task. The filmmakers must satisfy the fans of the stage play and convince the non-believers. I can tell you now that the film adaptation stays true and improves on the Broadway production.
Like many fans, I have seen the Broadway play numerous times, yet I have not felt the story.s full impact until after I saw the movie version. What was once seemingly inferred on stage becomes highlighted on the big screen. The epilogue becomes much richer.
Big credit goes to Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (.The King.s Speech.) who made two important decisions for the film version. First, the movie is entirely sung-through which gives the adaptation an operatic feel. Second, the actors are encouraged to sing live-to-film to add passion to their singing style. The result is a true spectacle...
Like many fans, I have seen the Broadway play numerous times, yet I have not felt the story.s full impact until after I saw the movie version. What was once seemingly inferred on stage becomes highlighted on the big screen. The epilogue becomes much richer.
Big credit goes to Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (.The King.s Speech.) who made two important decisions for the film version. First, the movie is entirely sung-through which gives the adaptation an operatic feel. Second, the actors are encouraged to sing live-to-film to add passion to their singing style. The result is a true spectacle...
- 12/18/2012
- by Manny
- Manny the Movie Guy
HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 30 Pairs of Passes to ‘Les Misérables’ With Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe
Chicago – In the latest HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: Film with our unique social giveaway technology, we have 30 pairs of movie passes up for grabs to the advance screening of “Les Misérables” starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe!
The film version of the global stage sensation, “Les Misérables” opens on Dec. 25, 2012 and is rated “PG-13”. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit, Daniel Huttlestone, Cavin Cornwall and Josef Altin. “Les Misérables” is directed by Tom Hooper and written by William Nicholson based on the book by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil and the novel by Victor Hugo.
To win your free “Les Misérables” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the...
The film version of the global stage sensation, “Les Misérables” opens on Dec. 25, 2012 and is rated “PG-13”. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen, Helena Bonham Carter, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit, Daniel Huttlestone, Cavin Cornwall and Josef Altin. “Les Misérables” is directed by Tom Hooper and written by William Nicholson based on the book by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil and the novel by Victor Hugo.
To win your free “Les Misérables” passes courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, just get interactive with our unique Hookup technology below. That’s it! This screening is on Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012 at 7 p.m. in downtown Chicago. The more social actions you complete, the...
- 12/15/2012
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Eponine and Marius are not quite star-crossed lovers. They’re the couple that never was. The couple that, had Victor Hugo focus-tested the plot of Les Mis, would have probably won out over the pairing of Marius and Cosette. Scenes would have been rewritten to fulfill that overwhelming reader desire for Eponine to win his heart in the end.
But Hugo and Les Misérables don’t care about giving audiences something nice and pleasant, and frankly, having a crush that doesn’t like you back is the very least of anyone’s problems in 19th century France.
The film adaptation,...
But Hugo and Les Misérables don’t care about giving audiences something nice and pleasant, and frankly, having a crush that doesn’t like you back is the very least of anyone’s problems in 19th century France.
The film adaptation,...
- 12/14/2012
- by Lindsey Bahr
- EW - Inside Movies
Les Misérables has been earning universal critical acclaim with the early reviews surfacing in recent weeks – you can read our five-star review here.
Tom Hooper’s highly anticipated musical is on the cusp of its release, and is already buzzing in the height of the awards season. The film has picked up three nominations in the Screen Actors Guild Awards this week, for Hugh Jackman’s leading performance, Anne Hathaway’s supporting performance, and for the ensemble cast itself.
And with less than a month to go before the Oscar nominations are announced, things are looking very good.
We’ve seen a handful of brilliant things from the film in recent months – the full-length trailer that debuted last month was absolutely stunning – and now Universal have released two beautiful new TV spots in the run-up to its release in the Us.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables...
Tom Hooper’s highly anticipated musical is on the cusp of its release, and is already buzzing in the height of the awards season. The film has picked up three nominations in the Screen Actors Guild Awards this week, for Hugh Jackman’s leading performance, Anne Hathaway’s supporting performance, and for the ensemble cast itself.
And with less than a month to go before the Oscar nominations are announced, things are looking very good.
We’ve seen a handful of brilliant things from the film in recent months – the full-length trailer that debuted last month was absolutely stunning – and now Universal have released two beautiful new TV spots in the run-up to its release in the Us.
“Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables...
- 12/13/2012
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
"Les Misérables" is shaping up to be one of the biggest film events in recent memory. Thanks to an amazing cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Russell Crowe, an Oscar-winning director in Tom Hooper and the public's abiding love for the classic Broadway musical it's based on, "Les Misérables" seems poised to be a major power at both the box office and at the Oscars.
But what if we told you that back in 1998, another acclaimed director put together an even more impressive cast for an adaptation of "Les Misérables" — one that has been almost completely forgotten?
Yes, it's true. So why don't more people know about the 1998 adaptation of "Les Misérables"? What was that film all about? And what is the new "Les Misérables" doing differently to ensure it meets more success than its unjustly overlooked predecessor? Read on, as we tell you all about The Other "Les Misérables.
But what if we told you that back in 1998, another acclaimed director put together an even more impressive cast for an adaptation of "Les Misérables" — one that has been almost completely forgotten?
Yes, it's true. So why don't more people know about the 1998 adaptation of "Les Misérables"? What was that film all about? And what is the new "Les Misérables" doing differently to ensure it meets more success than its unjustly overlooked predecessor? Read on, as we tell you all about The Other "Les Misérables.
- 12/11/2012
- by Scott Harris
- NextMovie
-- Tom Hooper's extravaganza, big-screen telling of the beloved musical "Les Miserables" is as relentlessly driven as the ruthless Inspector Javert himself. It simply will not let up until you've Felt Something – powerfully and repeatedly – until you've touched the grime and smelled the squalor and cried a few tears of your own.
It is enormous and sprawling and not the slightest bit subtle. But at the same time it's hard not to admire the ambition that drives such an approach, as well as Hooper's efforts to combine a rousing, old-fashioned musical tale with contemporary and immediate aesthetics. There's a lot of hand-held camerawork here, a lot of rushing and swooping through the crowded, volatile slums of Victor Hugo's 19th-century France.
Two years after the release of his inspiring, crowd-pleasing "The King's Speech," winner of four Academy Awards including best picture, Hooper has vastly expanded his scope but also jettisoned all remnants of restraint.
It is enormous and sprawling and not the slightest bit subtle. But at the same time it's hard not to admire the ambition that drives such an approach, as well as Hooper's efforts to combine a rousing, old-fashioned musical tale with contemporary and immediate aesthetics. There's a lot of hand-held camerawork here, a lot of rushing and swooping through the crowded, volatile slums of Victor Hugo's 19th-century France.
Two years after the release of his inspiring, crowd-pleasing "The King's Speech," winner of four Academy Awards including best picture, Hooper has vastly expanded his scope but also jettisoned all remnants of restraint.
- 12/11/2012
- by AP
- Huffington Post
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