Released, Valjean finds the world is not much better, especially having been being classified as 'dangerous.' But the Bishop of Digne (Colm Wilkinson, "Les Misérables in Concert: The 25th Anniversary") shows compassion, giving him food, shelter, advice and silver candlesticks (I must presume the musical, which I have not seen, breaks from the classic story where the silver is stolen).
The film begins with an almost unrecognizable Jackman as Valjean, shackled, one of many pulling a ship into its cradle under the steely eyed gaze of Javert (just about Crowe's only expression throughout). Above all, there is no dramatic tension between Jackman's Valjean and Crowe's Javert. Yes, some amount of reveling in dirt and squalor is commendable given the subject matter, but when a closeup of the adult Cosette (Amanda Seyfried, "Red Riding Hood") just accentuates facial blotching and peach fuzz things have gone too far. "Les Misérables" is one of the ugliest big budget awards season movies to date with framing that cuts off the top of young Cosette's head, close ups so insistent the focus puller must have ulcers and a camera that moves in to the underside of Hathaway's chin while Fantine lies dying.
It took over twenty-five years to turn the smash hit Broadway musical into a film but while Anne Hathaway is transcendent performing its most famous song, 'I Dreamed a Dream,' director Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") seems determined to cut the rest of this epic off at the knees.
0 kommentar(er)
