Les Miserables - Two Beefs

I do not particularly like movie musicals. There are exceptions of course like West Side Story (Once your a Jet,your always a Jet, snap,snap). Les Miserables does not have any snap, rather it is quite  bleak. The main force of the movie is redemption. Hugh Jackman's character rose from a prisoner to a factory owner of rosary beads who pledged his life to the salvation of an orphan girl whose dead mother worked in his factory. 

Anne Hathaway is one of the big stars in the movie. I have two beefs with her. She is only in the movie for about 25 minutes. The movie is about  three hours. Ads imply she is in the movie for the entire time. The other  thing is her signing. "Dream the Dream" is the soaring anthem of  Les Miserables (remember Susan Boyle). Anne Hathaway's rendition never left the tarmac.In this movie there were more actors singing than singers acting. Almost all the dialogue was sung, which was very boring.

The one bright exception was Hugh Jackman. As a song and dance man and he sang his numbers with power and passion. His entire performance was outstanding. He deserves any nominations he gets. Then there is Russel Crowe. He plays the meanie (what a stretch). His acting arch is from sour to dour. Russel sings in his own band... so much for resumes.

Sasha Baron Cohen mercifully adds some desperately needed humor to this epic. He play's a Fagin like character who owns a tavern where he lifts  valuables from his customers. It is not so much what he says that is funny it is more how he looks. I do not recall if he sings, thank God.

One thing  bothered me. There was this kid who was a member of the French Revolutionary cell. His East London accent was as thick as Stilton cheese. What gives? They couldn't find some little frog to play the role? One positive thing he was the only actor with bad teeth in the movie. With all the grim and filth heaped on  Anne Hathaway, her perfect white bright teeth glowed.   

I think you should still see the movie and make up your own mind. Oh, yeah there is no dancing ( I want to be in America, I want to be in America, snap, snap).

joe