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So I finally got to see the new Les Mis movie in mid-February, when it had been in theatres for a month and a half.
This is rather a travesty. I’m a musical geek. I could sing you most of the soundtracks for about a dozen different musicals.* I was also a French major; I studied much French lit, loved the Romantics, and I’ve even been to the Victor Hugo museum.
As you can imagine, this movie gave me a lot of feelings.
First, some back story. (Victor Hugo would want me to include this.)
Dilovely’s first exposure to Les Mis in any form was on a visit to family friends in Toronto. She was about 11. This family had the piano music for the Schönberg-Boublil-Kretzmer musical, and the dad was playing it while another friend, a girl around my age, swished her long skirt around and sang “Master of the House” and “On My Own”. She knew all the words. Mini-Di wished she were like this girl: confident, knowledgeable, able to sing in front of people. And the music… it was compelling. There was obviously great drama behind it.
It was the spring of 1990 when a copy of the Original Broadway Cast Recording, with Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, came into Mini-Di’s household, via her aunt. It was a home recording, on cassette tape, of course.
She and her sister Emily became totally obsessed. ‘Twas in the days before lyrics.com (or anything .com), so Em transcribed the lyrics by hand in a little spiral-bound notebook, and Mini-Di read them and listened for the parts she couldn’t get. They knew every word – and every inflection, every quirk of accent, every nuance of instrumentation. They were of an age where they understood the concepts of poverty, prostitution, homeless people, revolution, and death – but only superficially. Suddenly this story, with its gorgeously sad music, was making tragedy real.
Soon, Dilovely would see the musical live at the Royal Alexandra Theatre – twice – and receive a Les Mis T-shirt for her birthday.
Fast-forward ten years. [That’s a Hugo tactic too.] In 2000, Dilovely was in France, having finished her French degree during which she was, inevitably, moved by Victor Hugo’s poetry. That year, the musical version of Hugo’s Notre-Dame de Paris was a wild success in Paris, starring Canadian Pierre Garand (a.k.a. Garou) as Quasimodo.
Dilovely found a copy of Les Misérables in the original French at Dunkerque’s Virgin Records store: two hefty paperback volumes totalling 1,948 pages (not counting appendices). She decided to make it her Everest.
She spent over three months reading this chef-d’oeuvre (in between teaching and gallivanting), with her French-English dictionary close at hand. She adored it. She cried frequently over the story. When it was over, she mourned its finishing and missed the characters terribly. They had become family.
As you can imagine, she was rather stoked to find out that there would be a new movie of Les Mis, the first to incorporate the music from the musical, and the first movie-musical to use live (rather than pre-recorded and lip-synched) singing by the actors. She anticipated great things.
Then, poor Dilovely wasn’t sure she would even make it to see the movie in theatres.
It ended up being almost a covert op: get baby to sleep just in the nick of time, leave the house in a hurry to arrive less than two minutes before the opening scene, keep phone in bra for whole movie in case of emergency text from Auntie Em, return home as swiftly as possible once the movie is over, before baby remembers that she doesn’t know how to drink from the bottle. (She was chewing on the nipple happily enough when we came in, so it was better than nothing.)
So, here are my thoughts as a francophile/Les-Mis-devotee.
Firstly, A Note About The Book:
To be honest, after I’d read Les Misérables, I returned to the musical’s soundtrack and found it lacking. The book is incredibly rich, teeming with history both real and imagined.** Every character, major or minor, is endowed with a superbly crafted, heart-wrenching personal history. And Victor Hugo knew what he was doing; though I haven’t been able to find it for you, I remember reading a quotation from him in which he admitted that he strove to evoke powerful emotions in his readers – something on the order of “If y’all don’t cry reading this book, I’ll eat my hat,” but in erudite, Romantic French.
It was gratifying to see the movie and realize it recaptures some of the depth that was lost in the stage play.
General Notes:
- This movie thoroughly impressed me: the performances, the singing abilities, the method acting, the sensitivity of the adaptation, the sound mixing (bonjour, Oscar!), the makeup (Oscar again), the costumes, the set design, the overall vision.
- This movie contains some of the most raw acting I’ve ever seen. And I don’t mean raw as in under-done – I mean naked, harrowing, bare-your-soul-to-the-camera acting.
- The main actors are apparently all Les Mis geeks, for whom playing these roles is a dream come true.
- Their dedication to their roles is remarkable. For example:
- Hugh Jackman drank no water for 36 hours prior to filming his convict scenes, to achieve the “gaunt” look;
- Eddie Redmayne sang 21 takes of “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” to be satisfied with his work, even though the director was happy with take #12;
- and Anne Hathaway had them actually cut off her real hair, on camera.
- Sean, without previous exposure to the music, was not as thrilled with the movie. There were many scenes where he felt it would have been better if they’d spoken the dialogue instead of singing. I think that’s an unsolvable issue with movie musicals: when you put them onscreen, it’s just kinda strange that they’re singing. The same is true of Rent: when it’s a movie, you expect them to speak their dialogue, not sing it.
- To combat this, I recommend listening repeatedly to the soundtrack until it’s part of the fabric of your being. Then it doesn’t seem incongruous at all.
- While watching, I had occasional glimpses of how the movie might seem to an outsider, how it could be perceived as maudlin. I mean, the pathos is so thick you can chew on it. But that’s part of why we love it. I believe Hugo would have approved.
Comparison to the Stage Musical (spoiler warning, if you don’t already know the story… but who doesn’t?):
- I noticed every time the music differed from the soundtrack in my head – alternate lyrics, more delicate instrumentation, and lots of abridged songs. (“Dog Eats Dog” was all but eliminated.)
- The grit and sordidness of the time and place really come through on film. From the dizzying nosebleed section of the Royal Alex, you can’t fully appreciate how filthy everyone is. (Teeth especially.) On a movie set, one can achieve truly repulsive squalor. “Look Down”, “Lovely Ladies” and “Master of the House” are outstanding examples of this.
- Similarly, the intimacy of film allows for plot subtleties that aren’t possible in stage format. Suddenly certain realities are clear:
- Fantine’s dawning acceptance, as her hallucinations dissipate, of the fact that she is dying and must give up care of her daughter;
- the poignant youth and naïveté of the students;
- Valjean’s jealousy and panic when he realizes Cosette will not always be his;
- the gendarme’s regret after shooting Gavroche;
- the pathetic haphazardness of the barricade, and indeed the “revolution” as a whole.
- I loved the new song, “Suddenly”, sung by Valjean when he takes little Cosette into his care. This was one of the book’s plot points missing entirely from the musical: rescuing Cosette completely changes Valjean’s outlook and priorities. His love for her is immediate, intense, beautiful, and drives basically all of his subsequent actions. He is fiercely protective and fearful at the same time, as parents are. I was very glad they reincorporated this element.
Specific Notes:
- The opening scene blew me away. “Goosebumps” doesn’t remotely cover it.
- Hugh Jackman made me cry, especially in the Soliloquy at the beginning. I loved almost every aspect of his performance.
- My only quibble was that I wished “Bring Him Home” were more wistful/delicate. But it’s, like, one of the hardest solos in the world, and he sang admirably.
- Anne Hathaway made me cry multiple times, even though her character lasts for less than half the movie. I’m glad she won the Oscar.
- I’d been warned that Amanda Seyfried as Cosette sings like a Chipmunk. I understood the reference immediately – it’s true that her vibrato is very trembly and the part is written super-high – but her pitch is right on and I thought she did a good job overall.
- I was also warned that Russell Crowe as Javert was the weak link. I can’t disagree; his singing – especially his consonants – were tentative where they should have been full of conviction (no pun intended). His performance was lacklustre. But again, his pitch was good, and his duet with Jackman was solid – especially the low note on “Monsieur le maire, you wear a different chain” – so I forgive him.
- Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham-Carter as the Thénardiers were appropriately gaudy and repellent, although I didn’t love Sacha’s constantly mutating accent. But I guess accents are his thing.
- Eddie Redmayne is totally endearing as Marius. Earnest and freckly and boyish. He completely won me over with his delivery of the line, “I’m doing everything all wrong.”
- Colm Wilkinson! Was in it! As the Bishop of Digne. I didn’t even recognize him – or his voice – while I was watching… so I guess I’ll have to see it again.
- I appreciated the parts that recreated certain stage moments, like Valjean’s burdened silhouette in the sewer, and the angle at which Enjolras dies. My inner geek-self was tickled. (If you’re thinking, Um, Dilovely, what other self do you have? then yeah. Touché.)
- I also appreciated the bits that gave us information from the book that was not in the stage version; for example:
- we get to see the elephant statue that, in the book, is home to Gavroche and a bunch of other urchins.
- we also catch sight of young Cosette’s doll that looks like a bundle of rags tied together; readers know she has wrapped up a little lead knife to be her doll. (I KNOW – how heartbreaking is that??)
- I was confused for a moment by the enormous barricade that appears in the finale, with the whole cast singing atop it. I guess it’s probably reminding us that less than 20 years after the end of the story, in 1848, the French people would rise up for real and force King Louis-Philippe to abdicate – using a MUCH bigger barricade.
Notes on Revisiting the Story After Many Years:
- As my understanding of the world increases, this story seems more and more relevant – and sad. There are people all over the world who still face tragic circumstances like those in Les Misérables, even though as a species, we should know better.
- Fantine’s story touches me more now that I’m a mom. The idea of being obliged to give my child to someone else to look after and just hoping for the best, yearning for her all the time… Furthermore, knowing I’m going to leave the mortal plane and never hold her again… Just awful.
- Hugo’s own story also hits home a lot more. His firstborn son died in infancy, and his second child Léopoldine drowned at age 19, shortly after being married. He knew all about pain, and also about passion, and politics. And he observed poverty all around him – the conditions he describes in the Les Misérables were not imagined. No wonder it’s an amazing book.
- I need to read it again someday, even though it would probably take me… an embarrassingly long time.
- And if you enjoyed the musical or the movie or even just the plot, I highly recommend reading it yourself.
***
- BONUS Factoid/Recommendation:
This is one of my favourite Romantic paintings, commemorating the July Revolution of 1830 in Paris. The little boy right beside Lady Liberty is said to have inspired Hugo’s Gavroche. I fell in love with this after seeing it discussed on video by Sister Wendy, and later had the privilege of seeing it at the Louvre. Sister Wendy is amazing and so is the painting.
***
*West Side Story, Showboat, Cats, Evita, Les Mis, Joseph, Miss Saigon, Assassins, Falsettos, A New Brain, Once On This Island, Rent, Parade… Sisters, what am I forgetting?
**For example, there is a section entitled “Waterloo”, a gruesome 70-page depiction of battle and its remains, related to the story only as historical context – and a vehicle to introduce Thénardier in the last few pages. I wrote a paper on it, about Hugo’s manipulation of time, during my M.A. That’s how much I love Hugo.
***
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I guess I’ll have to go to a real theatre and see an actual movie! Hang on, Les Mis, I’m coming! Who’s going with me?
That Delacroix painting – lots about it I love, but ever since the first time I saw it, in my twenties, I’ve wondered, Why the bare boobs? Was this the only way people (men) of the time could imagine men following a woman?
Good question. At the time, ordinary paysannes and bourgeoises were generally pictured fully clothed, but goddesses were usually nude. “Marianne” is neither, but apparently bearing her breasts endows her with a certain supernatural, goddess-like quality, to remind the viewer that she is extraordinary.
I can’t comment on the movie – I haven’t seen it yet – but I appreciate your reviews and will revisit it after I do. But did you hear about what happened to that painting? Someone defaced it with a marker!!!
http://news.yahoo.com/woman-defaces-famous-louvre-painting-black-pen-122311226.html
CRAZY story! And I’m so glad they managed to save it. I’m not sure this woman had any clue what kind of statement she was really making.
I really want to see it!! I attempted to read an English and, I’m sure, abridged version of the book at one point. Perhaps something was lost in translation? I may try it again but I loved, loved, loved the stage play. I think I saw it twice. I’ve even sung some of it on stage and the summer I was 16, I listened to the soundtrack so much that for a couple of weeks I would wake up in the middle of the night with the songs raging through my head! I wonder if it is still in theatres…
Aw, Krista, you are SO one of us. What did you sing on stage?? If you see the movie, you will have the songs raging in your head once again. And just to get you going, did you see this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9QbC41oQRo
There is also a new stage production of Les Miserables starting Oct. 2013 at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto. I love your review of the movie….so detailed. You are truly a fan of Victor Hugo!! I’ve seen the stage play 3 times in Toronto and I’m planning to go this fall. It is such a “timeless” story with such beautiful music.
Wow! Yay!! I would love to see it again – thanks for the information! I guess there are a lot of us hard-core Les Mis fans – and we’re all revved up by the movie, so the timing on this is perfect. I have a feeling they (we) will pack the house!
In your list of musicals, don’t forget Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia….another 2 of my favourites!
Yes, those are classics, although I don’t know Phantom as well as the rest – I’m familiar with the songs but never got obsessed for some reason. As for Mamma Mia, I’m a big Abba fan, so I knew every song long before the musical came out! 🙂
While Les Mis was on my “Must see” list, I totally missed the chance while it was in local theatres 🙁 (boo to shift work, committments and a conference out of town for a week!)
If anyone finds it in a “Di-lovely” geography, please let me know! Thanks to Di, I’m REALLY kicking myself for missing it! And it’s not like I can run to Blockbuster to rent it next month……lol
Thanks for the insightful review – I’m with Krista, wanna read, gotta be in English!
Oh no! It’s still playing in Toronto and Mississauga… I know, that’s not very helpful. 🙁 But you’ll be able to rent it on iTunes…
When I touch “Reply” at the end of your comment in response to mine, Diana, nothing happens. (Well, I get booted all the way back to the beginning of the post, but I don’t get to REPLY to your comment.) But this IS a reply.
If she didn’t bear her boobs (possibly a good choice given her environs), where would she leave them?
I read this post on my laptop in the parking lot of the blood donor clinic when I was waiting for the people who were actually allowed to give blood. I was glad to have left the browser window open to the actual post, so I could read the whole thing without an internet connection – and I actually cried just remember some of those scenes, ach! (Readers of your comments must think I cry all the time. Which is true, I guess.)
Don’t forget Baby (as we mentioned in the kitchen when singing to A), and Songs for a New World! That one was special because it came later than the others… all the Sondheim and big musical came in high school, then Falsettos was university, and I felt like I’d run out of new material to consume! Then Robert Ouzounian did a feature on Jason Robert Brown, and I was transfixed and delighted. Then Songs for a New World turned out to be being in Toronto, which was excellent timing, though really it didn’t improve much on the cd itself. And then Parade! Which is SO MOVING and BEAUTIFUL even though it is TERRIBLE and ENRAGING as well. Sort of like Les Mis.
Les Mis for me is Grade 10, staying up all night working on my Romeo and Juliet project, listening on Ben’s little yellow Walkman, then taking a shower at 5 am, singing I Dreamed A Dream and bawwwling into the shower spray. Ahhh the emotion of a 15-year-old.
Phantom still reminds me of Brown House in Briarcliff, where we were staying – do you remember how cold it was? – and I found the double-tape version in someone’s collection and started listening to it on their little tape recorder.
In the promo video that I saw (prior to seeing the movie), I think Russell Crowe said that he was NOT a fan. He was being slightly cagey, but the impression I got was that it was not his kind of thing, he was above it or something. If that was true, I hope when he actually got started on the project, he was chastened by all the passion and investment of the others working on it, because no one should get to do that project without being totally on board and fired up with musical romantic emotion!
Also, i am jealous that you got to write a paper on Hugo during your MA. Sigh for my misspent semi-youth, haha.
Yes, Songs for a New World! That recording is totally France for me. That and a certain mix you made me… good times. And I also associate Phantom with Brown House, although I never got to the memorization stage with it.
I remember you saying that about Russell Crowe – and I saw an interview with him that sorta seemed to back that up. I mean, he’s definitely not a Les Mis geek like the rest of them. I still do wonder why they cast him.
As for my paper – it was my Overview class, and we each got to pick which book and which analysis technique we would use. Obviously I picked Les Mis – any excuse to crack it open again, even though I didn’t have time to re-read the whole thing.