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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think they should have had Alfie Boe?

29 replies

Onebadbackandalostpelvicfloor · 14/12/2012 21:54

To play Valjean in the new Les Mis film, everything I've heard of the singing is its all a bit crap

AIBU

OP posts:
SantaFlashesHisBoobsALot · 14/12/2012 21:56

YABU.

Alfie Boe is horrendous as Valjean, painful. He's got a brilliant voice, but he is NOT Valjean.

I do wish they had managed to go it with Colm Wilkinson, however.

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Onebadbackandalostpelvicfloor · 14/12/2012 21:57

See I'm not a fan of Wilkinson he's the Sean Connery of the musical world

OP posts:
montysma1 · 14/12/2012 22:01

Would it kill them to cast you know, singers in a musical?
Judging by the trailers all the singing is pish, so I wont be going.

SecretSantaFix · 14/12/2012 22:03

Alfie is a great singer. He's not Valjean.

Colm is way too old now. I am going to reserve judgement on Hugh until I see the film. Russell Crowe is no Javert, as far as I can tell.

Shakey1500 · 14/12/2012 22:09

I like Alfie as Valjean. Agree Colm is too old sadly Sad

monty couldn't agree more. There's a gazillion decent singers out there but noooo, they have to hav the big names to make the bucks. And EVEN WORSE...Helena Bonham Carter is in it Angry. After the meal she made Sweeney (no pun intended)

Shakey1500 · 14/12/2012 22:10

of Sweeney

Doodlekitty · 14/12/2012 22:11

I'm pretty confident Hugh jackman was a singer before he hit big. He starred in oaklahoma on broadway. Personally I think he's perfect!

elderberryspokes · 14/12/2012 22:15

I don't think you're being unreasonable - I loved his voice in the 25th anniversary, but although he was very emotive, I think that is a lot to do with how he uses his voice and not his abilities as an actor. Whereas it worked very well in a concert format I'm not sure it would work on film.

I am not a great fan of Hugh's voice from hearing him in Oklahoma and The Boy From Oz -- I find it quite harsh and abrasive, although technically he can sing. However his performance in Oklahoma more than made up for the fact that his voice isn't the easiest on the ear. I'll reserve judgement until I see the film and hope that my worries are unfounded. Some of the other voices in the footage that has been released sound pretty good but it's hard to judge from the scraps we've been given ;)

As for Colm Wilkinson, I do love him as Valjean, but am afraid that I find it very hard to dislodge this from my mind:

hermioneweasley · 14/12/2012 22:16

Hugh Jackman did a lot of musical theatre and has done broadway stints since becoming a Hollywood star. He is also rather easy on the eye.

EvilTwins · 14/12/2012 22:19

Hugh Jackman is a very well respected musical theatre performer. He played Curly in Oklahoma! at the National Theatre. Why do people always assume that Hollywood actors can do nothing else? The singing in the Les Mis film was done live on every take. It takes a massive amount if stamina to do that. From what I've seen and heard, it looks bloody good.

CommanderShepard · 14/12/2012 22:22

I'm not so bothered about Valjean but I cannot get behind anyone playing Javert who is not Philip Quast!

Isn't Eponine her from I'd Do Anything?

Dominodonkey · 14/12/2012 22:22

Having seen the trailer a few times it does seem that most of the leads have poor voices.
The amount of people who are moaning about Hugh Jackman without seeming to know he was a major musical star earlier in his career is hilarious though.

I do think Anne Hathaway and Amanda Siegfried sound very poor though. Hathaway in particular seems to be acting her socks off but singing like a strangled cat.

Dominodonkey · 14/12/2012 22:23

commander Yes, 3rd placer Sam Barks. She sounds fab on the trailer.

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Onebadbackandalostpelvicfloor · 14/12/2012 22:27

I know Hugh jackman did musicals before but it doesn't make him instantly great. Him, Russell Crowe and Eddie Redmayne all have very very weak voices.

I've seen Samantha barks in the west end and she is phenomenal and luckily that translates onto the bits of the film I've heard and seen

OP posts:
Dominodonkey · 14/12/2012 22:32

"I know Hugh jackman did musicals before but it doesn't make him instantly great." True, but a lot of people are moaning at his casting because they think he is a random film star who has picked on his name.

Original poster
Onebadbackandalostpelvicfloor · 14/12/2012 22:33

Nah I know why he was picked, I just don't agree with the casting in terms of the vocals

OP posts:
simplesusan · 14/12/2012 22:35

I have seen samantha barks in les Mis and she is great.

EvilTwins · 14/12/2012 22:35

I think Hugh Jackman has a great voice, and that he is good for the role.

TheSecretCervixDNCOP · 14/12/2012 22:37

Who the Fuck is Alfie Boe?

StrawberrytallCAKE · 14/12/2012 22:39

I love Alfie as Valjean too and Samantha Barks is the best of the west end imo, I hope she stays in musicals after her film debut! She would be brilliant in wicked.

ScatterGotStuckUpTheChimney · 14/12/2012 22:40

I'm not convinced about Eddie Redmayne I have to say. But then I really struggle to picture Marius as anybody other than Michael Ball.

I saw Samantha Barks on Breakfast the other day talking about it, she seemed so nice and the bits of her singing (she did the 25th anniversary tour didn't she?) I've heard sound fab Smile

Dawndonna · 14/12/2012 22:42

Colm Wilkinson used to make me swoon!

Cezzy · 14/12/2012 22:48

I agree Philip Quast is the ultimate Javert, when he sings STARS he makes the hairs stand up on the back ofy neck, and he has the most amazing blue eyes.

bruffin · 14/12/2012 22:58

Agree Colm is now too old, and love Alfie but I don't think he is right for a film, no matter how good he is on stage.
Anne Hathaway brings me to tears every time I see the trailer. Can't wait to see the film.

shineypeacock · 14/12/2012 23:46

My DH was an extra in the film (shamless claim) and he says some of the scenes were filmed over and over again for different camera angles all with live singing, his main scenes were with Hugh Jackman (so lucky) and he said he was brilliant.

Hugh Jackman started as a theatre performer before movies, i saw him in oklahoma at the national and he is a brilliant singer, as is Alfie Boe, but think HJ is the better actor, so right call for Valjean for me

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