Comments on: In Which I Overanalyze Les Miserables, the Film

By: Relyn Lawson

Relyn Lawson — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:11:11 +0000

I just read the comments,and found them so interesting. This cracked me up! Get the frog out of Marius's tight throat! Please give Javert some confidence so that he appears moderately intimidating! Slow down Cosette's vibrato so she doesn't sound like a cross between a goat and Snow White! .

It's so funny the way we notice the things that matter to us. As I read the comments, I could totally recall the frog in Marius's throat, but I never noticed as I watched. My ear is untrained, but not my eye. I could tell you about the super cool camera angles, the use of a huge variety light sources, the amazing textiles, and the way those textiles were lit…
visual things.

By: Relyn Lawson

Relyn Lawson — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:05:05 +0000

Oh, you can tell a real musician from a music lover. That would be you as compared to me. I loved, loved, loved the movie for exactly the reasons you didn't. We've seen touring stage versions of Les Miserables three times now. The one thing that has always bugged me is how gorgeous Fantine sounds while she is dying.

So, for me, someone with an untrained ear, but love of music and of movie magic – this was perfect. Finally! Someone told an amazing story in a lushly gorgeous visual way – with real acting. When Fantine was dying, she sounded like she was dying.

How interesting that we both enjoyed the movie, but looked at it so differently.

By: Amy

Amy — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 05:58:08 +0000

I still haven't seen it. Waiting for it to come out on video, I suppose. I have worried that I would hate it. I saw the musical when it was touring with the original cast and loved it, though it of course wasn't nearly as great as the book (unabridged, of course). I saw it again right after I got married when a local theater company performed it. I loved it, just not as much as the original cast. Which is why I worry I will hate the movie. And I am so happy to hear someone else debunk Anne Hathaway's reasons for not singing I Dreamed a Dream with as much passion as I expect Fantine to have in it. When upset and downtrodden, that is when the despair and sadness and anger explode, right? Just saying. Still, you have given me hope that I wont hate it, though I am sad that Little People was cut. That song is SO fun!

By: mylittlegems

mylittlegems — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:58:13 +0000

oh and if it makes you feel any better- we live in a very small town with a similiar theater 🙂 don't get to see the movies much unless we drive…

By: mylittlegems

mylittlegems — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 04:56:51 +0000

Laura, I'm glad someone sees it as I did. I have seen the stage version-Broadway- at least 6 times. While I loved the movie, because I love the story, I too felt the same about Anne Hathaway. She could not sing, and it really bugged me the entire time. Her acting was ok, but her lack of talent in the singing department really bothered me. Same with Russel Crowe. His singing was really pretty awful. I did like Hugh Jackman…but as you said, the new song? And cutting one of the best?- I knew that was bound to happen in the movie. Anyway- I liked your review. I haven't kept up on my singing since college, but I know enough about singing to recognize when someone can sing and someone can't. And you are right- the song was an expression of their emotions so it really should have been sung well 🙂 – OK- long enough but I agree with your review- although I'm not sure I wanted to see Anne get the Oscar….I feel like the singing was still just too lacking.. but I sure loved her dress!! -sharla

By: Marielle

Marielle — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:11:55 +0000

I have been anxiously awaiting your post! Thanks for your insights. I have to agree with most of what you said. I thought Anne Hathaway did a great job, though. Russell Crowe felt too stiff and stilted. I really wanted to love Hugh Jackman but didn't. His acting was great but singing wasn't. Marius was a bit annoying. Hands down Enjolres was the best all around performance. And Eponine was great. I loved the movie. It was great.

By: mCat

mCat — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 01:06:20 +0000

I've wondered what you would think of it. Based on your knowledge and background, I can imagine you actually cringing.

I agree the vocals were not stage quality, but overall, loved the film!

By: Lara Neves

Lara Neves — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:03:40 +0000

Rachelle, I totally forgot to write about my frustration with the orchestration! It was weird how they cut out a lot of the texture, and opted for even just a Capella singing. Which of course then contributed to the pitch issues…

By: Chellers

Chellers — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 23:59:10 +0000

OH MY GOSH! Don't even get me started about my opinions on the horrendous singing in this movie. I went to it with the expectations that the singing would be sub-par because they sacrificed musical ability for star quality. But I was still soooo frustrated by the majority of the singing!! The voice teacher inside of me kept trying to analyze and fix their vocal issues so much that I simply could not suspend my disbelief enough to enjoy the movie or get wrapped up in it emotionally.
Get the frog out of Marius's tight throat! Please give Javert some confidence so that he appears moderately intimidating! Slow down Cosette's vibrato so she doesn't sound like a cross between a goat and Snow White! Jean Valjean was so hit and miss that I would get my hopes up for some good singing, just to have them dashed to pieces. I love Joel's comment about pitch mattering—it's not aeliatoric music, for heaven's sake. And PLEASE: MORE MORE MORE of ENJOLRAS!!
Still, Anne Hathaway's "I Dreamed a Dream" knocked my socks off. How she could sing and cry at the same time was beyond amazing.
But more than their vocal technique issues, the problems I had with the movie stemmed from the director's choices on how to film it and mix the sound. So many freaking close-up shots made me feel suffocated and begging to see at least shoulders or a torso from time to time. I mean, "A Little Fall of Rain" was so stilted and weird because you couldn't see if they were even touching or sitting close together. TOO MUCH CLOSE UP! And was I the only one who felt like I had to strain to hear the orchestral accompaniment? Sure it made the singing feel very clear and present, but I wanted more orchestra to support the voices.
I wanted to get lost in the story but I felt like these issues kept me at arm's length. Oh well.

By: Jenny P.

Jenny P. — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 22:07:10 +0000

This reminds me of a recent guest post I read on a very prominent blog… It was an emotionally gripping piece and was highly praised in the comments, but for me I could NOT get past the poor quality of writing. The pacing was bad. The structuring was awful. I completely admit things can still mean something if they aren't written well, but good writing certainly helps.

As for the movie, I'm not a trained musician, but Enjolras was my favorite too. I remember leaning over to my husband and pointing him out as one if the only ones that had the musical training for the kind of singing they were doing.

Having said that, I was actually underwhelmed with Eponine's performance. I thought her acting lacked expression and that her close ups were not as impressive as others on screen. I wondered if this was because she hasn't had as much screen acting experience?

And oh!! I almost forgot my other favorite was the Bishop… Because who doesn't love Colm Wilkinson? (While I believe Hugh Jackman did an admirable job, Colm will always be the Valjean I love the most.)