LES MISÉRABLES (A)

Bottom Line: Cutting to the chase – for those not in the know – LES MIS is a musical set in 19^th century France…where almost everybody is, well, pretty much miserable.  I figure at this point you’re either in or you’re out – and for those in you’ll easily surrender yourself to one of the most glorious films of 2012.  Having not seen the Broadway show, nor heard any of the tunes and just recently discovering that it started as a novel (what?!) you can consider me one of the uninitiated – I had no idea what to expect.  Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and (very-near-future-Academy-Award-winner) Anne Hathaway all lift heavy and help deliver a powerful, emotionally charged and intimately heartfelt, big screen version of the Victor Hugo classic.  You can now consider me a ‘Les Mizey’ or whatever they call themselves – ‘Miz-Hards’?  ‘Miz-iots’?!  No matter – I’m one of them now because this dynamic, lyrical and visceral big screen tour of sacrifice, redemption, romance and the power of the human spirit enthralled with its story, enraptured with its visuals, enlivened with its music and (most importantly) entertained with all of its combined and aforementioned efforts.  A surefire Oscar frontrunner in many categories, this miserable little musical makes for one happy movie-going experience!

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen
Directed by: Tom Hooper (THE KING’S SPEECH)
Rated: PG-13
Running time: 157 minutes
Story: Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption-a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever. In December 2012, the world's longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper's sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo's epic tale. -- (C) Universal

Trailer: www.lesmiserablesfilm.com