Let me preface my comments by saying I have seen “Les Miz” on Broadway two times. During the first performance, I distinctly remember being somewhat bored. Of course, there was plenty of great stage craft and very talented actors, but I wasn’t carried away. The second time I saw the musical, I was with 120 7th graders, seated in the highest balcony in the theater. Perhaps it was the enthusiasm of the kids, the perspective of being so high up, or maybe the second time around was just better, but I enjoyed it more.
I thought that my third exposure to the movie production would improve my opinion–wrong on so many levels. This movie version, in my opinion, was overblown, overacted, and overly long. I know that Anne Hathaway’s performance was praised, but I just couldn’t get passed how gaunt she was. Her closeups were scary. I did not think that any of the other leads, Hugh Jackson, Russell Crowe, among others, were well used. I realize the director Tom Hooper made the choice of having the actors sing live, but perhaps that lent itself to a less than polished performance. Ironically, Colm Wilkinson who starred in the origninal Broadway production and has a fantastic voice, was in a very minor role as a bishop.
Too bad all around. For some reason “Hollywood” fails more often than not in bringing Broadway musicals to the screen.