Okay, my feel on the film is a little bit complicated. It was the first show on the first day here in Manila that I came to watch the Les Miserables. This film is based on the critacally acclaimed musical of Schönberg, original French lyrics by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, with an English-language libretto by Herbert Kretzmer.

I sat there admiring the spectacular opening  but then, disaster struck… Russell Crowe is a big disappointment. Javert is a character with strong conviction, and Crowe did not have that on his first note. Hugh Jackman as Valjean, now that’s a different story, his eyes is on the scene, he had hatred in his voice, and in his eyes, even his trembling cheeks are doing it’s job! His “What Have I Done?” set the bar high for the rest of the film. Another thing that disappointing? The chorous, it was weak, it was soft, I was sitting there and asking myself, “no goosebumps?”.

Then Fantine came, Anne Hathaway is gourge! She really is a perfect movie Fantine. Her “I Dreamed a Dream” is a Hollywood gem. Helena Bonham Carter is such a delight! But, I still see her as Bellatrix. Period.

Now, the student revolutionaries did a wonderful job on “Do  You Hear the People Sing?” the actors who played Enjolras, Grantaire, and Marius are perfect for the job! Redemption for those roles from the critically ashamed performance from a Jonas brother on the 25th Anniversary concert (ehem)… Cosette is a joy! Seyfried is like a singing bird to my ears. Samantha Barks, please! Don’t ask. I adore that woman. Hands up. I want her! (Yes, I’m biased when it comes to her). I did not know anything about the little dove who played Gavroche, but he is something! Also, the final battle scene had me gripping on my seat… Man, that was intense! I was crying that entire 3-4 minutes. 

Crowe redeemed himself in the suicide scene. But, the question is, was that enough? Overall, it was not! (i don’t hate him, promise! It’s because Javert is my favorite character in this musical, and he did not give justice to him! or maybe I was just expecting too much, idk).

Musical score was impeccable. It’s perfect just as is. Except for the chorus (yes, i have a very big issue with that). The overall texture of the film is such an experience, the costume is also a plus.

The actors’ face close ups are amazing! The actors’ eyes and every muscle on their faces are like a wonderful system conveying emotions and truth, passing through the big screen into my eyes, piercing my soul. Because that is what we do not get from stage musicale and concerts.

I commend Tom Hooper and the entire production team for a wonderful experience this gave me. Looking forward for Miss Saigon. Yes, yet again, I will be waiting…

BULAKBOL RATING: 4/5

is even more fun than going to San Sebastian, Irún, Hendaye, Biarritz, Bayonne
or being sick to my stomach on the Travesera de Gracia in Barcelona
partly because in your orange shirt you look like a better happier St. Sebastian
partly because of my love for you, partly because of your love for yoghurt
partly because of the fluorescent orange tulips around the birches
partly because of the secrecy our smiles take on before people and statuary
it is hard to believe when I’m with you that there can be anything as still
as solemn as unpleasantly definitive as statuary when right in front of it
in the warm New York 4 o’clock light we are drifting back and forth
between each other like a tree breathing through its spectacles

and the portrait show seems to have no faces in it at all, just paint
you suddenly wonder why in the world anyone ever did them

I look
at you and I would rather look at you than all the portraits in the world
except possibly for the Polish Rider occasionally and anyway it’s in the Frick
which thank heavens you haven’t gone to yet so we can go together the first time
and the fact that you move so beautifully more or less takes care of Futurism
just as at home I never think of the Nude Descending a Staircase or
at a rehearsal a single drawing of Leonardo or Michelangelo that used to wow me
and what good does all the research of the Impressionists do them
when they never got the right person to stand near the tree when the sun sank
or for that matter Marino Marini when he didn’t pick the rider as carefully
as the horse

it seems they were all cheated of some marvelous experience
which is not going to go wasted on me which is why I am telling you about it

Frank O’Hara