Major Theatrical Releases May 2019

Les Miserables

Starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried

Directed by Tom Hooper

Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) has spent nineteen years in heavy labor for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister's child.  He is finally set free by Javert (Russell Crowe), with the condition that he appears before a probationary officer on a regular basis.  Valjean makes his way to a church and, after receiving mercy from the priest, decides to no longer be a thief and dedicate his life to being good, and rips the probation papers apart.

Years later, Fantine (Anne Hathaway) just lost her job and is living the life of a prostitute to help pay for her child, Cosette, who is living with innkeepers.  Valjean, now a wealthy man, vows to find Cosette and raise her right, and goes in search for her. 

He finds Cosette with the two very rude, inconsiderate innkeepers (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter), and pays for her to live with him, all the while still being hounded by Javert.  He takes the child into safety, and through the years keeps her safe. 

It's now the time of the French Revolution, led by the young Marius (Eddie Redmayne), when he meets the older Cosette (Amanda Seyfried) and her father, but fails to get her name.  He enlists the help of his friend Eponine (Samantha Barks) to find her, totally unaware that Eponine has feelings for him herself.  She finds Cosette and the two re-unite before Valjean takes her away again when Javert finds them.

Marius and his friends stage a revolution against the French government, and Valjean returns after relenting his control over Cosette, knowing that the two were meant to be together, and hopefully having a happy ending in a world full of miserable people.

Based off Victor Hugo's classic novel, "Les Miserables" has been performed again and again on stage and screen, and for director Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech"), he had to bring the much-viewed story to new life.  Not only did he achieve that, he superseded any previous performance.

The cast was truly an epic cast, actors and actresses who were truly tied to the story and dedicated everything to their performances, which is easily seen in every frame.  For all the songs they sang, they sang it live, which is a first for a film of this magnitude.  This showcased their raw emotion and range of talent, especially with Anne Hathaway's performance of "I Dreamed a Dream," which should go down as one of the best scenes in any movie of any generation.  Her raw, emotional, unnerving performance of this song alone deserved her the Oscar win, and brought tears to my eyes every time I heard it. 

Hugh Jackman's performance of Valjean would be, if Daniel Day-Lewis wasn't nominated, Oscar winning.  His journey from a prisoner to a thief to someone who tries to do the right thing is simply stunning, and his singing talent is unparalleled.   Every note, every word, you felt it deep in your soul, as Valjean felt it in his own.

Russell Crowe gives a commanding performance as Javert, a man gone literally mad with tracking down Valjean, and even though some people weren't a fan of his singing, I found it to be decent and shows his inner battle.

Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried and Samantha Barks played the perfect love triangle, and acted superbly.  I was pleasantly surprised with Seyfried's performance, because before this film she wasn't in many critically acclaimed movies ("In Time," "Jennifer's Body").  She showed through this performance that she has what it takes to play with the big girls, and I hope in the future she takes on more adult, more challenging roles.

The set pieces were exceptional as well, taking us from a world of seedy back houses to glorious cityscapes and lavish buildings.  Every minute of the film was a feast for the eyes and the ears, and there was not a minute of this masterpiece that was beneath perfection.

"Les Miserables" isn't a film.  It's an experience, and one that will stick with you long after the movie ends.  Truly a cinematic masterpiece.

Rating: A+