Les Misérables

"I had a dream my life would be so different from this hell I'm living"

Revolutionary France is gripped by hunger, heartbreak and desperation.  Jean Valjean, imprisoned for a minor offence, seeks his freedom from the inspector Javert who is obsessed with recapturing him.  Rescuing a young girl named Cosette, they confront a society that is struck by injustice.

Hugh Jackman delivered a great performance as the protagonist; capturing both the strength and vulnerability of an honourable man who is unable to outrun the shadows cast over him by his past. Anne Hathaway, who won the Academy Award for her performance as Fantine, was also particularly stunning through 'I Dreamed a Dream' - in which her character breaks down as the song tumbles from her lips.   The artistry of the make-up and hair was excellent, as it depicted the social and physical disintegration of the characters.

However, there were aspects of the plot that were strikingly contradictory.  While the revolutionary ideology conveys that the working class should be identified with, the depiction of this class is largely grotesque; from the mascara streaked prostitutes to Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen's comical turn as dishonest and degraded thieves.  The landscape of the film was unfortunately further flawed by the obvious computer-generated visual effects, as well as the overbearing camera angles that Tom Hooper cast on his characters.  The film stylistically, therefore, would have perhaps faired slightly better under different direction.

While the impossibly great expectations imposed on Les Misérables, after it's highly successful West End run, were always been difficult for the film to meet, the cinematic adaption does produce some strong acting and successfully captures the musical's most iconic songs.