Les Miserables

Author(s): Jeffrey

Location: Long Island

"Les Misérables"

Directed by Richard Eyre
Written by Patrick Marber

Main Cast

Bill Nighy as Jean Valjean
Russell Crowe as Javert
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Cosette
Daniel Radcliffe as Marius
Saoirse Ronan as Éponine
Kate Winslet as Fantine
James McAvoy as Enjolras
Tim Curry as Monsieur Thénardier
Imelda Staunton as Madame Thénardier
Freddie Highmore as Gavroche

Tagline: "The end of injustice is here"

Synopsis: 1815 - 1820

Jean Valjean was jailed for filching bread, and released five years later. A run in with a bishop forced him to change his ways and he meets a prostitute and mother named Fantine. An old prison guard named Javert who had been watching Valjean very intently starts to get suspicious of a new identity that Valjean has created for himself to devert attention. Fantine and Valjean, who have formed a close and cordial relationship, are torn apart when Fantine dies after a painful tuberculosis battle. Valjean makes one last promise to Fantine before she dies: he will care for Cosette, Fantine's daughter, who works for the Thénardier family (cruel thieves). Javert finds and convicts a man he incorrectly believes is Valjean. To fix this mistake, Valjean turns himself and manages to escape prison. He pays off the Thénardiers and flees with little Cosette to Paris.

Ten Years Later

Word gets out of General Lamarque's (the leader who lobbied for the rights of the poor) death, and a man named Enjolras sparks a revolution. The Thérnadiers' young son, Gavroche, is one of the boys joining in the revolution, along with Cosette's love interest Marius, an outspoken young man with a charming face. Marius is so charming that the Thérnadiers' daughter, Éponine, falls for him as well, thus creating a complicated love triangle. Éponine shows her love for Marius by protecting him (and Cosette and Valjean) from a planned robbery by the Thérnadiers. Marius, however, pities Éponine and finds her revolting.

As Enjolras, Marius, and Gavroche begin the revolution battle the next day, Valjean joins in an effort to aid Marius who he has learned is in love with Cosette. Éponine dresses as a boy and Cosette tells her to deliver a letter to Marius in the battlefield. Instead, Éponine ends up taking a bullet for Marius and dies in his arms, confessing both her love and selflessly handing over Cosette's letter. Marius kisses her on the forehead, a promise that she requested from him just before she dies. Meanwhile, Javert has gone undercover to gather information about the students' plans. His true alignment is discovered by Gavroche and the students decide to kill him, however Valjean secretly sets him free out of goodness. Enjolras is later executed, having been captured by soldiers. Gavroche is shot and killed not soon after this.

The Finale

Valjean flees the revolution through the sewers with an injured Marius. He encounters Javert, whom he convinces to let him pass without informing the authorities. Javert then finds himself struggling with his newfound ambivalence, and he drowns himself in a river. Reunited with Cosette, Marius weds his love having escaped the revolution alive. He learns of Valjean's past, however, about how he is an ex-convict. Marius forces Cosette away from Valjean, however the Thérnadiers attempt to blackmail Valjean and in this act they force Marius to realize that not only did Valjean save his life, but he also did countless good deeds. Unfortunately, when Marius and Cosette arrive to see Valjean again, he is on his death bed. The three reunite one last time before Valjean dies. For the first time, he tells Cosette about Fantine. He dies happily.

What the Press would say:

Les Misérables from Richard Eyre, the latest adaption of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name, is above and beyond its preceeding adaptations. With characters so realistic you might find yourself calling out to them to advise them on actions throughout the film, it's not hard to believe that every actor is going to be deemed Oscar worthy come awards time.

Bill Nighy is absolutely flawless as the huge-hearted protagonist, Jean Valjean. The emotion he portrays when dealing with both Kate Winslet and Keisha Castle-Hughes is hard to let pass without echoing the rest of the theater: "WOW". Winslet and Nighy, though their time is short together, have clear chemistry and can only be trumped by Nighy and Castle-Hughes, or perhaps the young actress and Daniel Radcliffe.

Radcliffe steers away from past caricatures and puts a unique spin on Marius, the love interest for Castle-Hughes in the film. Whereas some would deviate from the original Marius from the novel and stray more towards the less motivated and more kind musical version of the young man, Radcliffe is able to appear both arrogant and loveable. Not once can Cosette or Éponine's love for Marius be questioned. The only thing one might wonder about this love triangle is why no one fell in love with Valjean, because Bill Nighy will make anybody fall head over heels for the former criminal.

Winslet's small and tragic role as Fantine has a big impact on the audience that lasts throughout the entire film. She once again steps out of her comfort zone and delivers a fresh performance that only she could pull off. She bundles up all of Fantine's regret, pain, sorrow, and hatred in one. If anyone deserves an Oscar after this long, it is without a doubt Kate Winslet for her radiance in Les Misérables. Saoirse Ronan, on the other hand, could very well give any actress this year a run for their money. Ronan is able to do what hardly any adult actress can: she doesn't act; she just puts emotion into the role. Only a monster wouldn't shed a tear as she finally confesses her infatuation with the young man who has disregarded her emotions.

We finally must get to the heart of the revolution: Russell Crowe and James McAvoy. McAvoy flexes his muscles as the well-spoken and admireable leader. It's easy to see why people can Enjolras as convincing and strong: it's all to do with how McAvoy plays him. But Crowe is the brightest (or darkest, considering Javert's actions) star of the bunch in Les Misérables. Javert, who is as ambiguous as he is conflicted, seems to have been written specifically for Crowe. This tough guy will have to try NOT to attract any Oscar buzz for his ruthless yet redeeming portrayal of the prison guard. Crowe can be considered the heart of the film for making an antagonist that the audience will truly relate with.
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For Your Consideration:

Best Picture - Drama
Best Director - Richard Eyre
Best Actor - Bill Nighy
Best Actor - Russell Crowe
Bet Supporting Actor - Daniel Radcliffe
Best Supporting Actor - James McAvoy
Best Supporting Actress - Keisha Castle-Hughes
Best Supporting Actress - Saoirse Ronan
Best Supporting Actress - Kate Winslet
Best Adapted Screenplay - Patrick Marber