"Les Miserables": Critics review the big-screen adaptation

Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway in a scene from "Les Miserables." / Universal

"Les Miserables" gets the big-screen treatment on Christmas Day with a star-studded cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter.

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"Les Miserables" premieres in London

Set in 19th century France, the film, based on Victor Hugo's book and the subsequent hit musical, follows ex-prisoner Jean Valjean (Jackman) as he's hunted for decades by relentless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. Valjean ends up caring for young Cossette, the daughter of factory worker Fantine (Hathaway), a move that changes their lives forever.

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Hathaway, Crowe at "Les Miserables" N.Y. premiere

With a 73 percent rating on aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, "Les Miserables" has largely favorable reviews, with some critics even expecting a few Oscar nominations.

Film critic Richard Roeper noted, "This is an unforgettable movie going experience, sure to garner multiple Oscar nominations."

But not everyone is impressed with director Tom Hooper's movie adaptation; Critic Michael Phillips of The Chicago Tribune gave it 1.5 out of 4 stars and simply wrote: "I didn't like it," before explaining why he was disappointed.

Here's what others had to say:

Claudia Puig of USA Today gave "Les Miserables" 3.5 out of 4 stars: "Victor Hugo's grim, but redemptive, classic novel is given resplendent new life on the big screen. 'Les Miserables' is sweeping, as would be expected given the scope of the hugely popular stage musical from which it is adapted. But it's also wonderfully intimate, thanks to Tom Hooper's deft direction."

Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer: "If you love Les Mis the stage musical, my guess is you will love what Hooper and his bustling company have done. But when you hear "Master of the House" and you think of the Seinfeld episode with Elaine's gruff dad belting the tune before you think of those shifty innkeepers the Thenardiers, then you may want to steer clear of this grand endeavor."

Rafer Guzman of Newsday gave it 3.5 out of 4 stars: "This is a big story, with big themes, based on Victor Hugo's really big novel about love, law and revolution in 19th-century France. Yet somehow, "Les Miserables" isn't the major movie event it should be."

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"Les Miserables" premieres in New York

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter: "As the enduring success of this property has shown, there are large, emotionally susceptible segments of the population ready to swallow this sort of thing, but that doesn't mean it's good."

David Edelstein of New York magazine: "The tasteless bombardment that is Les Miserables would, under most circumstances, send audiences screaming from the theater, but the film is going to be a monster hit and award winner, and not entirely unjustly."

Peter Travers of Rolling Stone: "No one expects gutsy filmmaking in a musical. But that's just what King's Speech Oscar winner Tom Hooper delivers in Les Miserables. Damn the imperfections, it's perfectly marvelous."

Tell us: Do you plan to go see "Les Miserables"?

[barn17]

Saw the movie three times... Blew me away each time....

[MarneyReid]

I was so inspired by the movie (and this has always been my favorite musical) that I wrote a post drawing a parallel from it for my blog (stilettos on the glass ceiling). Here is the link. Watching this movie, seeing someone who changes so many lives because of the redemption he was offered at his lowest point, reminds me to remember the chances I have been given, especially when I start to lose patience with someone. I think the greatest gift that someone can give to you is the gift of understanding and hope. I also believe that the best way to repay this gift, is to return it to someone who needs it even maybe more than you did at the time it was granted to you.

http://www.stilettosontheglassceiling.com/2013/01/the-redemption-in-les-miserables.html

[Hetgirl]

*you make it sound so easy

[jacobsiv]

I have seen the broadway production twice, including the original cast from London when it first came to NY. This is my all time favorite musical and I hated this movie. The supporting cast was great, especially the two children, who sounded exactly like the original cast members. Hugh was weak, Russell's voice showed no emotion and Anne was terribly off key. Why is she getting such rave reviews? I would have walked out, but my husband wanted me to give it a chance. Horrible and I'm so disappointed that they would allow this great musical to be ruined by casting movie stars, not broadway type voices. I kept wishing Colm Wilkinson, who played the Priest in the movie and was the original Valjean from London and US could have pushed Jackman down and played the part. The music didn't even fill the theater until the very end, when it finally found it's voice. It was only then, that I felt the real Les Mis showed its true self. The musical lost its soul in this movie. Shameful!!!

[Hetgirl]

How can you go into a movie theater and expect a Broadway experience. I too have seen the (traveling) Broadway show and saw it on the Westside in the Queens Theater in London. I am a "Les Mis" 'junkie'.... a 'freak' if you will, and always wondered why they did not take the musical to the screen and do just what that did. As a trained 1st soprano who lost my voice to a chronic illness, let me tell you, doing what they did is not an easy feat. You make it sound do easy. And from someone who can just sit and judge I suppose it is. But I thought the movie was splended and Anne did not have to have the bravatto or trained voice for the FEELING she showed and portrayed said it all to me. I think you need to be a little less critical; look at the ACTING instead of the voice technique for this was a whole different ball game and for the record I saw it Christmas day and yesterday and came out with puffy eyes from crying so hard. I had said people should see the musical on stage 1st but now I have flip-flopped. The movie does such a good job of filling in the holes you have to fill in for yourself, I think people should see the movie then they will HUNGER for the stage production.

[lz2001]

Les Miserables is so moving because the human nobility, dignity and unselfishness showed by so many of the characters. Humanity has hope as long as such characters continued to be cherished. Humanity may terminate when it is dominated by its "selfish DNA" completely and lose their purpose, just like Javert.

[Roseline22]

Russel Crowe was awesome as Javert- the whole cast was amazing. I loved this film!

[jbvermont]

what a perfect title for this movie

[barn17]

What a great movie. moved me and everyone else to tears....

[DanielCaceres]

I'm sorry but I did not like it. It was too dramatic and even though it appealed perfectly to the anyone's emotions, the acting was not that splendid.

[scarletvoice]

There are many comments which could be made about the cinematography, the screenplay, the singing, the scoring, and each could be critizised indempendently or praised, but overall, this is a remarkable film. To those who say Huigh Jackman does not have a voice, you clearly missed him on Broadway in such hits as "The Man from Oz." Anne Hathaway was a surprise, as she actually HAS a voice, not strong, mind you, but she hit the notes. And who knew Russell Crowe could sing? Again, not a strength, but he gave the emoition which the role required. I have seen the stage show in both NYC and London. This is NOT the stage show, but a much more historically accurate portayal of a time few are familiar with, except through Les Mis. The fact that each and every singer was singing live, not pre-recorded, is a technical marvel (singing to two, on-set pianos, with the orchestra score added later). It is different than the staged version, no rubber rats as pets or body parts being thrown above the barricades, but is a special movie, transforming a special time in history in France into an unforgettable panorama of poverty, political strife and a nation uncertain of what might happen the next day, month,m or year (this was one of many uprisings after Napolean's defeat). I recommend looking up the history of the time either before seeing Les Mis the first time, or after, with the hope you might, within that context, go back and see it again. The uprising lasted all of two days. But for Jean Valjean, the discontent in his mind and heart lasted many years of living the political uncertainty, the corruption rampant in the monarchy of Luis-Phillippe, and the final denouement of the French monarchy in 1848. A sidebar to the uprising in 1832 was an equally devastating cholera outbreack earlier in the spring, in which over 30,000 Parisians lost there lives. Not a country or hisotric period I would want to live in.