Les Misérables

Guhhhhh!!!

Too darned excited. The only movie I'm really excited about this year is this one. December can't come fast enough!

I must admit I didn't get too much of an impression from that film-of-film clip. But from everything I've seen of pictures and articles so far, I think the movie will be epic.

So apparently there's going to be a teaser trailer released tomorrow, which means I may as well give up on my attempted spoiler ban (not that it was going very well anyway). In the meantime there's been some more stills released. Barks looks a little too clean (which tends to happen a lot for Eponine, I've noticed), but other than that I'm quite satisfied.

~LCD

Loving it. I bet the teaser will be largely what was shown to the theater owners a few weeks ago. Can't wait for it though. As soon as they say what movies it'll be playing in front of, I'll have to go see one of them. Though there's nothing coming out this weekend I really want to see. Maybe they'll retroactively put it in front of MIIIB.

My understanding is that it's supposed to be attached to Snow White and the Huntsman, but as with all Internet gossip I'd take that with a grain of salt.

I'm loving that pic of Jackman and Crowe. I bet their "Confrontation" is going to rock the house.

~LCD

That makes sense since it's another Universal release and has similar audience demographics (heavily female). But I'll skip it if that's all it's attached to. I can just watch online, but it'd be cooler to see on the big screen.

Okay since a lot of people here love Les Miserables (I am not even sure if I spelled that right) I will like to take this moment to tell you guys my opinion of this musical / opera...

I rented the 25th Anniversary Edition because there were a lot of Les Miz stuff on my dashboard at tumblr. Aparently a lot of the Phantom phans are obssessed with this show as well so I decided to give it a try. So far here is what I have to say...

TOO LONG, TOO SLOW, AND NICK JONAS SHOULD PRETTY MUCH STAY IN H2S.

No offense or anything, but I pretty much was in the middle of Act 1 before I decided to turn it off. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE the plot, and while some of the songs were good, especially Fantine's song "I Dreamed a Dream" others bored me to death. And while some characters were good (Fantine, Eponine) others bored me to death (Ramin's character, and that policeman) Speaking of characters, I pretty much fell in love with Fantine. Why did she have to die???? I also saw a bunch of actors who have been in "Phantom" like Katie Hall, Ramin Karimloo (HUBBA HUBBA) and Hadley Fraser.

And Nick... Oh Nick....... I don't have any hate bashing for the guy in general, (I used to be a fan for Jonas Brothers) but his voice just wasn't good enough for the role, and it was usually overpowered by the rest of the voices. Like you hear Nick's voice at one verse of the song (okay) and then you hear Ramin's voice the next (HOLY SCHNITZEL!!!!!!!!!!)

Even though my first experience with Le Miz wasn't a good one, maybe I'll watch it again or maybe I'll wait for the movie.

I would recommend the Tenth Anniversary concert over the 25th in almost every respect other than the score's completeness.

Also, Fraser has only been in the Phantom 25th concert, not the show itself.

I agree, the 10th anniversary concert is in all ways incredible. The finale where the Valjeans from all the different international productions perform "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their respective languages is something extraordinary to behold.

I've heard tell that Hadley Fraser will be playing the soldier that calls out to the students ("You at the barricade, listen to this!" etc.) in the movie...

~LCD

LadyCDaae wrote:I've heard tell that Hadley Fraser will be playing the soldier that calls out to the students ("You at the barricade, listen to this!" etc.) in the movie...

~LCD

Grr, I really wish they had gone with my Quast and Allam idea.

Somebody get Barks a sandwich.

R.

Guess it makes sense for her to be really thin. Looks like she's wearing the tightest corset in the world though.

The trailer is up. And. It. Is. AWESOME.

~LCD

OMGeezus.

LadyCDaae wrote:The trailer is up. And. It. Is. AWESOME.

~LCD

I feel very embarrassed by this, but is it just me who felt a tiny bit emotional watching that trailer? The amount of love and care that seems to have gone into it is thrilling. I just hope the rest of the film lives up to this...

Tom Hooper, fancy remaking Phantom any time soon?

Scorp wrote:

LadyCDaae wrote:The trailer is up. And. It. Is. AWESOME.

~LCD

I feel very embarrassed by this, but is it just me who felt a tiny bit emotional watching that trailer? The amount of love and care that seems to have gone into it is thrilling. I just hope the rest of the film lives up to this...

Tom Hooper, fancy remaking Phantom any time soon?

To be honest, I started getting teary eyed when the visuals of her loosing her hair and 'I had a dream my life would be, so different from this hell I'm living'. That right there blew me away. Anne may not be belting the song, but the way the director decided on how to approach the song and how she is singing is very intimate, heartbreaking and sad. Also, I'm adoring the fact that it's placed after she becomes a prostitute.

The trailer was taken down. Wonder if they jumped the gun on an embargo until the studio officially released it.

Edit: It can be seen here now: http://www.hollywood.com/news/Les_Miserables_Trailer_Anne_Hathaway_Dreamed_a_Dream_Comic_Book_Blockbuster_of_Movie_Musicals/29141533

It gave me goosebumps on the second viewing.

Scorp wrote:

LadyCDaae wrote:The trailer is up. And. It. Is. AWESOME.

~LCD

I feel very embarrassed by this, but is it just me who felt a tiny bit emotional watching that trailer? The amount of love and care that seems to have gone into it is thrilling. I just hope the rest of the film lives up to this...

Tom Hooper, fancy remaking Phantom any time soon?

No, I will fully admit to getting chills and, yes, even a little misty-eyed watching that. The effectiveness of the music and visual imagery is stunning, and bodes well for the film as a whole.

~LCD

I saw the trailer earlier this morning and yeah - I have really high hopes for it. It's beautiful and moving and the actors all look spot-on.

Please. Someone remake Phantom with this amount of sensitivity and artistry. It deserves another chance with a better creative team and cast.

~Madame~

ML6 wrote:Anne may not be belting the song, but the way the director decided on how to approach the song and how she is singing is very intimate, heartbreaking and sad.

YES -- I'm already seeing comments online criticising her for not belting the song, which bamboozles me. Not only would it look/sound bad on film, but even on stage I HATE it when people just belt through this song as wotsherface did in the recent UK tour and on the recording. Even Patti big-belter LuPone didn't belt this song. She's supposed to be absolutely devastated and crushed by life. Why would she belt it out like 'Defying Gravity'? I thought the way they approached this song, judging only from the trailer, was just right.

Apparently someone did mess up re the embargo; it wasn't supposed to be up till 8am LA time.

Madame Giry wrote:
Please. Someone remake Phantom with this amount of sensitivity and artistry. It deserves another chance with a better creative team and cast.

Hear hear! In 100 years' time, if people only know the two shows by the film versions, people will wonder based on them why on earth Phantom was an even bigger hit than Miz.

thegenuinebeauty wrote:Okay since a lot of people here love Les Miserables (I am not even sure if I spelled that right) I will like to take this moment to tell you guys my opinion of this musical / opera...

I rented the 25th Anniversary Edition because there were a lot of Les Miz stuff on my dashboard at tumblr. Aparently a lot of the Phantom phans are obssessed with this show as well so I decided to give it a try. So far here is what I have to say...

TOO LONG, TOO SLOW, AND NICK JONAS SHOULD PRETTY MUCH STAY IN H2S.

No offense or anything, but I pretty much was in the middle of Act 1 before I decided to turn it off. Don't get me wrong though, I LOVE the plot, and while some of the songs were good, especially Fantine's song "I Dreamed a Dream" others bored me to death. And while some characters were good (Fantine, Eponine) others bored me to death (Ramin's character, and that policeman)

It's alas how I've always felt about Les Mis. I've come to the terms that it isn't for me. Lord knows I've given it many chances, seeing the original version in London as well as non-replica ones in Oslo and Copenhagen. And the various released DVDs. And the non-musical movie released some years ago. There are songs and scenes I love, but as a whole I just don't feel it. I don't understand Javert's obsession with "the one that got away", it comes off as homo erotic more than anything (I quote Seinfeld: not that there's anything WORNG with that... It just alters the premises). I don't feel anything for the students and their fight. And most Cosettes and Mariuses are as intriguing as a beige wall. So I find myself bored in big chunks of the musical.

I AM looking forward to the new movie version, though, especially after the teaser was released. I hope it'll alter my view on Les Mis. I really want to love that musical as I do with POTO. Or at least come to love it.

Madame Giry wrote:Please. Someone remake Phantom with this amount of sensitivity and artistry. It deserves another chance with a better creative team and cast.

THIS!!!

If anyone cares, I've posted my ramblings about the trailer on my blog.

~LCD

ML6 wrote:
To be honest, I started getting teary eyed when the visuals of her loosing her hair and 'I had a dream my life would be, so different from this hell I'm living'. That right there blew me away. Anne may not be belting the song, but the way the director decided on how to approach the song and how she is singing is very intimate, heartbreaking and sad. Also, I'm adoring the fact that it's placed after she becomes a prostitute.

I really love that she's not belting it out. Belting is fine and dandy on stage, but I don't think it would have translated well into film. Also, very impressed with Anne's performance based on the trailer. Not a huge fan of her or her voice (her vibrato bothers me), but it looks like she's really well suited for this role. I can't wait for the movie. I pretty much already got my mom to commit to going with me.

An excellent trailer - capitalizing on what is currently its most well-known song (but if one more person refers to it as "that Susan Boyle song" I'm gonna punch them in the throat), and well edited.

Regarding Hathaway's performance, at first listen it appears that her Fantine is pure 100% victim - beaten down by everything that life has thrown at her. She's a woman with no strength left to fight. And when I hear IDaD belted (and I don't feel there's anything particularly wrong with that if it fits the actor's approach to the character), it gives me the impression that that particular Fantine still has some spirit in her. If I'm correct in Hathaway's interpretation, then belting is the last thing she should be doing.

operafantomet wrote:
It's alas how I've always felt about Les Mis. I've come to the terms that it isn't for me. Lord knows I've given it many chances, seeing the original version in London as well as non-replica ones in Oslo and Copenhagen. And the various released DVDs. And the non-musical movie released some years ago. There are songs and scenes I love, but as a whole I just don't feel it. I don't understand Javert's obsession with "the one that got away", it comes off as homo erotic more than anything (I quote Seinfeld: not that there's anything WORNG with that... It just alters the premises). I don't feel anything for the students and their fight. And most Cosettes and Mariuses are as intriguing as a beige wall. So I find myself bored in big chunks of the musical.

Les Miz was the very first musical I ever saw. I liked it, but seeing it didn't make me a huge fan. While I thought some of the songs were nice, I couldn't follow the story very well and I thought it dragged a bit (and I never bought into the Cosette/Marius romance. Rebecca Caine may have preferred Cosette to Christine, but the former is even more one-dimensional in my opinion). But after several years away I listened to it again (and saw some of the anniversary specials too) and it made me reassess the show. And now, its one of my favorites. At its heart, I feel it's a story about redemption (my favorite theme). A single act of mercy leads Valjean to let go of the bitterness and hatred he has toward the law and society for how he was treated and turn his life around for the better. When he extends that same act of mercy to Javert, the inspector is so dogmatic in his adherence to the law and his own worldview that he is unable to accept it. While Valjean's spirit is reborn, Javert's is shattered.

That's some damn powerful stuff.

The rest of the stories whirling around definitely give it an epic scale (the student rebels, the love triangle, etc), but they are diluted due to the sheer number of characters (I for one still can't name any of Marius' buddies), but when I focus on Valjean's story, it really gets to me.

R.

Raphael wrote:An excellent trailer - capitalizing on what is currently its most well-known song (but if one more person refers to it as "that Susan Boyle song" I'm gonna punch them in the throat), and well edited.

Regarding Hathaway's performance, at first listen it appears that her Fantine is pure 100% victim - beaten down by everything that life has thrown at her. She's a woman with no strength left to fight. And when I hear IDaD belted (and I don't feel there's anything particularly wrong with that if it fits the actor's approach to the character), it gives me the impression that that particular Fantine still has some spirit in her. If I'm correct in Hathaway's interpretation, then belting is the last thing she should be doing.

I agree with this because the circumstances of her singing IDAD seem to be different from that in the musical. Instead of singing the song after she gets fired (as bad as it was for her), she sings it after she sells her hair, and has become a prostitute (downright traumatizing.) So it's makes sense that she sings it like she really has lost everything.

Did anyone see Helena Bonham Carter in the teaser? An account I read mentioned something about a glimpse of an "HBC side eye."

According to secondhand internet reports, the Thenardiers' scenes had not been filmed when the teaser was put together (they're either doing those now or will get to them soon) due to HBC and Sacha Baron-Cohen having other commitments. So no, she's not in there--I think someone may be mistaking one of the "Lovely Ladies" for her.

~LCD

LadyCDaae wrote:According to secondhand internet reports, the Thenardiers' scenes had not been filmed when the teaser was put together (they're either doing those now or will get to them soon) due to HBC and Sacha Baron-Cohen having other commitments.

That's what I thought.

So no, she's not in there--I think someone may be mistaking one of the "Lovely Ladies" for her.

Ah, yeah, that might be it.

So - here goes:

From Euston, I caught the train to Uxbridge and when I arrived there I walked over to the meeting point as requested by the extras company. There were six of us. We then got a cab to Pinewood and were taken to a huge white marquee which was a costumiers heaven - row upon row of exquisite period clothing: hats, shoes, waistcoats, corsets, dresses, accessories - you name it. I saw the red convicts rags on a rail. I was asked for my name and then given a paper slip with my original photo from the castings on it. The men were then shown into a small changing area where my costume was hung with my name - it was high-waisted black pants with a square flap at the front, black boots, a white linen shirt, a black embroidered waistcoat, a black tailcoat and a white 'stock' or necktie. Once the costume lady was satisfied with how we all looked (two of the other guys were students), we were taken to another part of the marquee (it was a BIG marquee) and seen by hair and makeup. I was originally given a pair of big lamb chop sideburns but the makeup lady said they drowned out my features so they got two smaller ones, which were taped to my face. We were all then photographed again, and that was the costume fitting done!

From Uxbridge, I made my way to Chatham and checked into my hotel and arrived at Chatham Dockyards the afternoon of the next day, making my way to another big marquee as instructed. Inside, men's costumes were in the left section, then women's, then a vast area for hair and makeup. Next to that was a waiting area for the extras with a mobile canteen. There were about 150 extras approx, mostly men. We were called to the changing area by character - e.g., soldiers, convicts, legals, etc. When my name was called I went to change into my costume. For the legals, there was one judge, two magistrates, two senior clerks and four junior clerks (of which I was one). The clerks were all dressed in the same costume as I had, the judges wore black robes with tall hexagonal hats. Other extras were townspeople of varying classes, three convicts, and two soldiers/policemen. Once I had my costume on I went to the makeup section, where hair and make-up artists were styling ringlets, hairpieces, sideburns and prosthetic pieces. I watched one of the convicts being made up which was fascinating - scars were applied using wax, a huge swollen prosthetic ear was added, and various lacerations and scabs on the scalp and face. My sideburns were glued on with spirit gum and my hair was styled, and a light base makeup applied. Then it was a three hour wait. The food provided was lovely and there was lots of choice, and the extras chatted and got to know each other - most of them were huge fans of the musical, so it was great company!

Outside the marquee we all had additional photographs taken and then when it began to grow dark we were taken by a fleet of minibuses to a church within the dockyard that had been converted into a courthouse. There was a tall structure at the far end (where the altar would be) with a curved set of steps leading up to it on both sides. The actor playing the judge was seated at the top, with a magistrate on either side of him. Below this was a huge desk covered in parchments, quills etc at which the two senior clerks were placed. In front of them was a desk for three of the junior clerks, and I was asked to stand at the bottom of the steps leading to the judge. The convict was chained to a low wall which divided the legals from the pews in which everyone else was sat. (The convicts 'chains' around his hands looked very heavy - but were actually made of soft rubber which had been aged.

The assistant director then set the scene for us as the technical crew entered and began to set up lighting etc. We were told that The Mayor (Hugh Jackman) would rush in and declare that the convict was wrongly accused and that he himself was Prisoner 24601! Sacre Bleu!
I was told that, at the given moment, I should walk towards the junior clerk's desk and then stand in shock and amazement (along with everyone else) when the mayor makes his announcement. The director (Tom Hooper) then came in and had a chat with the crew to set up the scene. Hugh Jackman then entered. He was wearing a green frock-coat and he was clean shaven with a wavy wig. He looked very dapper indeed. At this point candles were lit in the various candelabra in the legal section, and then we had a rehearsal. When Valjean rushes in, he looks up at the judge and sings 'and so, Your Honour, you see it's true...' unlike the show in which he sings 'and so Javert you see it's true' as the first section of the song had been filmed elsewhere. He entered on the line 'My soul belongs to God I know' and the congregation had to stand en masse in surprise. He then rushed to where the convict as standing to finish the song (about two feet from where I was standing). Hugh Jackman BELTED the last line out - it was amazing to see him sing that. The key is the same as the show, including the high note which he managed effortlessly. The judge then stepped down, walked past me and there was some spoken dialogue in which Valjean asks him to speak to Javert.

The scene was filmed about ten times before Tom Hooper yelled 'Cut! It's a wrap'. It was shot using several cameras in various positions. It was a lot of fun! After we had finished we all filed out of the 'courthouse' where I noticed that fake snow had been placed all over the grass and trees, and we were taken back to costume to have our makeup removed. In all, a brilliant day - a fascinating first-hand experience of movie-making and a wonderful opportunity for me, a Les Mis fan of epic proportions (having seen the show in Manchester, London, Salford, Guernsey, New York, Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, Budapest and Reykjavik) to be involved! I met some wonderful people and feel very, very lucky to have been a small part of it.

Wow, that is so awesome. Lucky you!