Les Miserables (2012)

“Les Miserables,” released Christmas Day 2012

For several weeks we were planning to see “Les Miserables” on Christmas Day 2012 and we were able to keep this commitment.  We were not disappointed.  What a great adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic book.

I first read “Les Miserables” when I was in high school.  It seemed to take forever to wade through this 1400+ page book.  I read it again about a dozen years ago but this time it was an abridged version.  I read another abridgement about a year ago.  The abridged versions and the movie cannot begin to cover all of the plots and subplots of the original.  That’s OK because we might have to sit in the theater for about a week if there were a page by page adaptation of this wonderful book.  I always think that a TV series of this classic would have enough material for ten years but it will never happen.

Hugo’s book and the movie center around the theme of grace…God’s grace…and how this overcomes legalism.  We are puzzled how someone like Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) can spend nearly 20 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family.  Puzzled indeed!  And we are puzzled that a man like Javert (Russell Crowe) can so doggedly pursue him when Jean Valjean violates his parole.

It’s not really surprising that Jean Valjean is changed by his encounter with God and the kindly bishop (Colm Wilkinson) who doesn’t press charges for Jean Valjean’s theft.  In fact, he gives him more—the candlesticks which are seen again and again throughout the movie.  In this touching scene I found how the original book can tirelessly spend dozens of pages considering this act of mercy.  Even the bishop’s housekeepers (seen without dialogue in the movie) spend page after page in the unabridged book, warning the bishop that he is too trusting. 

The scenes of Fantine (Anne Hathaway) and Cosette (Isabelle Allen and Amanda Seyfried) are also so wonderful in Hugo’s book.  The movie does them justice but the person unfamiliar with the general facts of the story may be puzzled about the depth of Fantine’s dilemma and the loving care of Jean Valjean for both Fantine and Cosette.

Jean Valjean’s care for others is also expressed in his rescue of a man pinned by a cart (and thus revealing himself to Javert) and in his rescue of fellow criminal who is mistakenly charged with being Jean Valjean and destined to go to prison.  In today’s world there are some who might reason that Jean Valjean should have just thanked his lucky stars that a rather inconsequential person would go to prison instead of Jean Valjean.  After all, he was a mayor, a good businessman, a loving rescuer of Fantine and Cosette.  Wouldn’t God forgive his “mistakes”?  Instead, Jean Valjean has an incredible sense of Christian care, concern and duty.

The Thenardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter) provide some comic relief.  Even in the book they are somewhat humorous characters but you realize that you can’t trust them for a second.  I love how Mr. Thenardier cannot remember Cosette’s name as he pretends that he is grieving the fact that she will no longer be under his care.

The book and movie could have ended here and been OK but there are many plots and subplots to come.  Again and again, the mercy of Jean Valjean emerges as he even rescues Javert as well as his future son-in-law.  I’ve always been disappointed with Javert.  He is so much like Judas Iscariot that his eventual suicide is almost not surprising.  If this were an Andrew Lloyd Weber musical you could almost wish that Javert would sing, “Could We Start Again, Please?”

I’ve never been familiar with the music in this screen adaptation of the musical and I confess that most of the music is still a little foreign to me.  I liked the movie and like the music and even purchased the soundtrack CD but so far nothing has jumped out as a classic.

Lots of reviews have questioned the “live music” approach of the producer instead of studio music being lip synched in the movie.  I think that was a good choice.  I also liked the close up shots while the songs were being sung.  I suspect, however, that the “on stage” presentation of this musical would be even better.  There’s something about seeing a drama/musical such as this “live.”

On the negative, I think that Jean Valjean should have aged just a bit, especially at the end of the movie.  Perhaps all of his years as a prisoner gave him permanent dark hair pigment.  Who’s to say?  Also, a break half way through the movie would have been good.  In today’s world we’re just not used to sitting through a movie quite this long.  Hey, these are pretty minor concerns.  See the movie/musical.  It was great!