Courtesy: Universal Pictures
Adapting classical literature for the big screen is one of Hollywood’s most time honored traditions. Countless books have been adapted for the silver screen since the industry’s Golden Era. Just as common for movie studios to do is to adapt stage plays that have themselves been adapted from books. So as common as this practice is even now in Hollywood’s modern era, it takes a lot to make a movie of this fashion stand out in today’s overly crowded movie market. Enter the newest big screen adaptation of Victor Hugo’s classic story, Les Miserables.
The latest adaptation of Victor Hugo’s timeless story of redemption is one of the best movies of 2012. And now that it has been released to BD/DVD/Digital combo pack, it has proven to be one of this year’s best home releases. It isn’t the year’s best. But it does come close as it struggles with at least two glaring issues. Those issues are the movie’s scene transitions and its general cinematography. Much of the cinematography issue goes hand in hand with the problematic scene transitions. Though there’s just as much problem with this movie’s shooting style not directly linked to the transitions in question. Despite having issues with shooting and scene transitions, the movie’s positives far outweigh its negatives. And those positives are many.
The primary positive to the home release of Les Miserables is its abundance of bonus features. The bonus features included in the movie’s new home release offer lots of interesting tidbits that make the movie more worthy of respect. For starters, viewers learn through the bonus features that star Hugh Jackman actually went through a rather rigorous diet and exercise regimen in order to obtain a specific look of a convict who has spent much of his life in prison. It definitely worked as he looked every part the convincing character. Just as interesting to learn in watching the bonus features is the vocal work that went into singing each scene. Most audiences know by now that the entire movie was sung. It shows how seriously those behind the movie took its creation. The bonus features expand on the musical aspect of the movie. Jackman and company explain the training that was undertaken and how the cast and crew balanced the noise of the cast and instruments with the cast singing. Part of that balance came in the form of carpeting on the scenery floors to cancel out footsteps and keeping the pianist in a soundproof box, just to point out a little bit. One could go on for quite some time discussing the role of the bonus features in the new home release of Les Miserables. But viewers would be better left to check out the remaining bonus features for themselves. That’s because there is so much more to cover in this new home release.
The bonus features included in the new home release of Les Miserables go a long way toward making the movie better at home than it was in theaters. So what else could help elevate the movie? How about the director’s commentary? Director Tom Hooper discusses a variety of topics throughout the course of the movie. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his commentary is how he and writers Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil adapted not just the famed stage play but also the original literary work into one full big screen work. Those who have read the novel likely recognize the combination. But those who are more familiar with the stage presentation will appreciate this little nugget of information. It explains away the order of events in the movie in comparison to the stage work. This is just one more factor that makes Les Miserables better than it was originally given credit for in theaters. And yet again, it’s more proof of the value of special features on a movie’s home release.
Speaking of the movie’s audio commentary, the commentary involuntarily points out one more positive to the movie. That positive is the movie’s casting. Experienced fans will recognize both Samantha Barks and Colm Wilkinson from the 25th anniversary performance of the musical from London’s O2 arena. Samantha Barks reprises her role here as Eponine. Wilkinson on the other hand actually plays the bishop. This role is just as important as that of Jean Valjean in that it is the bishop who first helps Valjean turn around his life. He showed in his performance here that his vocal chops are just as sharp as ever.
Just as interesting as Wilkinson and Bark returning for this adaptation of Les Miserables is the mention by [Tom] Hooper that casting Eddie Redmayne was quite the choice considering so many of his fellow actors had also played the role of Marius. One can only imagine how nerve wracking it had to have been for Redmayne to have been so new to the role and surrounded by those who were so experienced in his role. He pulled off the role quite well though. This little piece of information, along with everything else that Hooper discusses in the audio commentary makes the movie that much more enjoyable. Though, it should be pointed out that while he does discuss the camera work, there is no apology for his shooting style. It is that shooting style that is really the movie’s one major downfall.
The music, acting, and scenery make this latest adaptation of Les Miserables a huge hit, as do the bonus features and audio commentary. For all of this movie’s shining positives, there is one glaring negative that none of the positives can erase. That negative is the general cinematography. It, along with some of the scene transitions, makes things a little bit difficult to handle; so difficult in fact that they could leave viewers feeling slightly dizzy and even confused. The problem with the cinematography is that throughout the movie, Hooper tries too hard to catch the emotion of his cast. The resultant effect is that it makes it seem as if the cast is over emoting, thus making the acting seem a little bit campy. On the other hand, the rough scene transitions do eventually make way for smoother transitions, thus making the movie that much more bearable and more worth the watch, whether one is an experienced fan of this classic musical or not.
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