Les Miserables....I've been there....

     So I have been absolutely miserabley sick all week.  I went to the doctor on monday, and it turned out I have a HUGE sinus infection.....yay me.  I've barely moved from bed all week, living in some kind of miserable daze.  Not much has roused me.  When I'm in this state of mind, not much can reach me, but my music.  When I'm not loving life, my music diet generally consists of The Phantom of the Opera, Jekyll and Hyde, and (of course) Les Miserables.  These happen to be some of my favorite pieces of music in the theatrical world, and they always seem to get me through rough times.  So....I put on the Les Mis and listened for awhile....becoming absolutely addicted all over again.  This got me on a Les Mis binge and I ended up watching the movie trailer a couple different times as well as the special extended behind-the-scenes look.  I'M DYING FOR DECEMBER TO COME!  I know I'm probably going to get criticized for this whole post, but I'm a little too excited for this movie to come.   Here's my accesment of the movie so far baised on the trailer, what I've heard of the singing, read of the production, and overall.....

          
               First of all, the posters and the overall look of the movie so far I'm loving!  The director is Tom Hooper, who directed The King's Speech.  I definately like this decision. I've seen the King's Speech and have been quite impressed with it.  I'm hoping that the same quality of direction holds for this movie as well.  Now....as far as the casting...........I've fairly pleased with what I've seen.....so far. I mean, come one now, HUGH JACKMAN!!!! The man is a legend in the making!  I know Anne Hathaway has already taken a beating for her interpretation of I Dreamed a Dream, but, i have to say, I really like it!  I have many theatre finatical friends that absolutely hate her singing for this show.  That her voice doesn't have the chops, that she doesn't have the ability to act it properly, etc.  What I think the theater world is having a hard time understanding is the difference between acting for the stage, and acting for the screen.  This movie is taking a more realistic take on this musical.  In the song, I dreamed a dream, on the stage it is generally done with a lot of vocal power.  Looking at it realistically, if you were really dying of disease, selling yourself to save your daughter, and knowing that you were not going to be making it out of the sad situation you were in.....I don't think you would be belting as loud and prettily as you could.  The way Anne Hathaway has done it, it as completely re-invented the song.  I've heard it over and over, and when i listened to the trailer, it was like listening to it for the first time.  It literally brought me to tears to watch her emotion and hear it in her voice.  May I just say, BRAVO!
                 I'm extremely excited to see Sacha Baron Cohan and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thenardiers, and the same to their Marius (who i can't remember his name for the life of me)and of course, Samantha Barks as Eponine(too excited!). Russel Crowe I was skeptical of at first, but after hearing him sing, my hopes are better.  The one I am NOT impressed with at all is Amanda Seyfried as Cosette.  Her singing worked for Mamma Mia, but, it does NOT translate well for this part. When i heard her singing In My Life, i wanted to cover my ears!  Her vibrotto is not supported, neither are her notes.  She cuts of at strange places and.....it just sounded terrible! I wanted to cry!!!!
                  The news that they are recording all of the music live is groundbreaking!  Acting wise, it makes it all the more real in that moment, and I am exstatic to see how it turns out!!!
                   Anyway, I've now babbled on too long on this subject.  I'm probably a little too passionate about it, but, who cares!!! I'm an addict for crying out loud!!!!

 

 

Watch for youself and tell me what ya think!!