Condemned to slavery for 19 years after stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), is finally granted parole by Javert (Russell Crowe), but not without a few caveats. Although technically a freeman, Valjean is labelled a "dangerous man" and is very much disliked by the people. Seeking refuge with the Bishop (Colm Wilkinson), Valjean is humbled by the Bishop's generosity and vows to become a better man.
8 years later, Valjean has reinvented himself as the mayor of a small town and owner of a factory. This same factory is where Fantine works, but she is promptly fired by the foreman after it is discovered that she has been sending money to her illegitimate daughter, Cosette, who has been living with a pair of abusive innkeepers, the Thénardiers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter). Forced to resort to prostitution, Fantine is taken to the hopsital by Valjean one night after being attacked by a customer.
Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean carrying Anne Hathaway, Fantine, to the hospital. Source: The Seven Sees
When Fantine dies, Valjean promises to look after Cosette for her. Paying off the debt to the Thénardiers, Valjean and young Cosette flee to escape Javert, who has now realized that the mayor and Valjean, the prisoner who broke parole, are one and the same.
9 years later, Paris is in turmoil following the death of Lamarque. Éponine, daughter of the Thénardiers, looks on as Marius (Eddie Redmayne) and Enjolras (Aaron Tveit) plan a revolution. However, Marius is smitten with Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) and asks Éponine (Samantha Barks) to find her for him. Little does he know that Éponine is also in love with him, but sadly, her love is unrequited. Éponine reluctantly brings Marius to Cosette, and stops her father from robbing Valjean and Cosette. Believing it to be Javert, Valjean fears being caught and tells Cosette they must leave the city again. Cosette is upset and confused as to why her father is always on the run, but Valjean refuses to tell her anything about Javert or Fantine.
During the June Rebellion, Javert pretends to be part of the rebelling and promises the men at the barricade that he will "spy" on the government. But soon he is exposed and held captive by Enjolras and later saved by Jean Valjean, who pretended to execute Javert to spare his life from the rebels. The battle at the barricades results in Éponine's death as she saves Marius, who is also critically injured. Valjean carries Marius through the sewers and crosses pathes with Javert once again. Valjean pleads with Javert to allow him to bring Marius back to his daughter in exchange for his arrest later.
Javert, letting Valjean escape once again, is unable to deal with conflicting morals. All his life he has only known the law. He doesn't quite know how to justify letting Valjean go, but he also can't justify arresting him either since Valjean spared his life. He realizes that Valjean is a criminal, but also a good person, something that violates his entire system of belief. The fighting within himself is too much for Javert to understand, which leads to his suicide.
Marius is now in good health and returns to the cafe where him and his friends had their meetings. As he mourns their death, he marries Cosette, but not prior to Valjean confessing his past to Marius. Our protagonist makes Marius promise not to tell Cosette, and runs to the convent once again to protect his daughter from his past.
Oscar winning director Tom Hooper has taken this film to a whole other level by having the cast sing live. It brings depth and emotion, as we hear every breath and pause in the music, as opposed to hearing a studio recording. From book to stage to screen, the cast has really brought this story to life through song. Already on a role with numerous nominations, this film is undoubtedly one of the best of the year.
However, take everything with a grain of salt. I felt that the film was lacking was character development. Of course the main focus is Valjean, but all the other characters barely had any time to develop their plot lines. Javert is the only one who comes close to having a substantial plot line after Valjean, if you can even call it that.
That being said, this film is still nothing short of spectacular. Even though we don't really get to know the characters that much, we know them well enough through the story line and more importantly, through the music. Some of the big solo numbers were long and dragged out, and I'll admit a tad bit of a snooze fest, but when the group numbers come around, or when the solo is just the right length, it makes all the difference. Power house cast with the voices to back it up - that's what this film is about.
With the Academy Awards just around the corner, Les Misérables, a story that essentially started because a man stole a loaf of bread, is well on it's way to racking up the nominations and awards. This musical is one for the ages and everyone in the family is sure to enjoy it.
Rating: 8/10
Good review Debbie. Captivating uses of close ups and live performances, Anne Hathaway dominates every scene in which she appears, but so does the whole cast and it’s one of the most powerful movie experiences of the year.
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