I Strongly Suggest That You Watch "Les Miserables"

I spent one of the last afternoons of my incredibly laid-back spring beak at the movie theater for my first viewing of the movie adaptation of the Les Miserables musical. While a susbtantial percentage of the population gags at the very mention of the word “musical,” especially those made by Hollywood as opposed to live onstage, I cannot encourage you enough to at least make a trip to the closest Redbox and give this one a chance. Here are the main reasons why I believe this musical has a better chance at pleasing even the biggest skeptics of the genre:

1. It’s historically accurate, at least to an acceptable extent. The story does capture the desperation of French society after the revolution, and there was an actual uprising by French students in 1832.

2. It’s an emotional roller coaster, pleasing for fans of drama and romance, but — especially for those who are not particularly familiar with the plot — the chase between Valjean and Javert appeals to fans of suspense and action/adventure. Mystery lovers might also be interested in the shifts and twists in the plot, accompanied by the fact that Valjean operates under a false identity in much of the story, which is known to the audience but not to most of the other characters.

3. This version of Les Miserables was impeccably well casted. I’d put my faith in anything with names like Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, and Anne Hathaway on it. Best of all, there could not have been better choices than Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter for the underhanded Thénardiers. The Sweeney Todd nostalgia was beautifully overwhelming, which is another musical that tends to wring out normal musical audiences.

4. The singing was live-recorded. That means that the singing you hear was done at the same time that the video was recorded, not separately in a studio. For me, this is what really made the show come to life on-screen, and most likely the reason I got goosebumps and teary-eyed during Anne Hathaway’s stunning performance of “I Dreamed A Dream,” arguably the most recognizable of the songs. The voices have the fragility of a live performance, and the tiny ticks and imperfections add a liveliness reminiscent of a real theater.

One more suggestion, however: Be sure that you know the correct pronunciation of the title before you start raving to your friends and family about “Less Mizzer Abbels.”