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to think that Russell Crowe is really not that bad in Les Mis?

164 replies

Lottapianos · 22/01/2013 16:33

Just back from seeing the film and I LOVED IT! I saw the stage show about 10 years ago and it was great hearing all the songs again. I thought all the singers were absolutely fabulous apart from Russell Crowe - but I had been led to believe he was a total disaster and massacred all the songs. I thought he did fine - apart from 'Stars' which was a real disappointment (such a beautiful song). He really looked the part and super hunky in his lovely uniform. I don't think he disgraced himself with his singing at all. He was hardly Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia Grin

Thought Hugh Jackman's voice was about 90% great, a few wobbles though. The start of 'Bring Him Home' was not good.

OP posts:
mrsjay · 22/01/2013 19:52

I cry just listening to the songs on youtube

I cried at the DVD proper sobs was a wreck in the pictures Blush

CloudsAndTrees · 22/01/2013 19:55

YANBU. He's lovely.

WelshWereRabbit · 22/01/2013 20:00

I saw it this afternoon and thought he was good - a bit nasally in places, but his voice suited the character, made a change from the usual musical theatre type.

Cosette was my least favourite, and I was surprised by Gavroche, I usually find him really annoying but liked him in the film.

mrsjay · 22/01/2013 20:03

do the boys who play Garvoche go to the artful dodger school of acting Grin

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:08

I saw the film on Sunday.I had low expectations as I'd listened to the soundtrack and hated it,but I enjoyed it much more than I expected to.
If I compared it to the stage versions then the singing paled in comparison,but if I judge it on it's own merits then it was really rather good.
And to my surprise Russell Crowe's performance was one of my favourite.I thought his voice,while not great,worked for the film,and that he did a good job of showing Javert's human side and his vulnerability.

Foggles · 22/01/2013 20:09

RC was not as bad as I expected him to be but I think he was concentrating that much on singing that he forgot to act.

I am a huge Les Mis. fan and went to see the film on Sunday. I thought it was fantastic but had to stop myself clapping after the songs.

showtunesgirl · 22/01/2013 20:11

Well Les Mis in fact owes a lot to Oliver! as it was when one of the composers went to see the show and saw the Artful Dodger that it brought to his mind Gavroche in Les Mis. And then the thought occured that Les Mis might make a good musical.

And the rest is history!

Many Gavroche do indeed play the Artful Dodget such as Adam Searles in the 10th anniversary.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:11

I won't be buying the soundtrack though,because it doesn't work without the movie imho.

I thought HJ's singing wasn't that much better than RC's,but I loved his acting.

mrsjay · 22/01/2013 20:14
mrsjay · 22/01/2013 20:15

the soundtrack is alright DD borrowed her Boyfriends copy but he wants to borrow my dvd

Foggles · 22/01/2013 20:16

I agree MarmaladeSkies about the soundtrack.

I was hugely impressed with HJ's character make-up at the start of the film. I saw the film at the IMAX so could see every pore and he was practically unrecognisable from the good looking chap that he is.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:17

Which dvd,MrsJay? The 10th or the 25th? I'd let him have the 25th.

showtunesgirl · 22/01/2013 20:17

HJ's voice is much better suited to .

RedJeans · 22/01/2013 20:18

YANBU! I liked him too! I thought his version of Stars was kind of sweet and sensitive compared to the usual belting version (although perhaps this was due to lack of vocal strength haha) although I am the only one in my house who would agree with you.

Also agree that the soundtrack doesnt really work by itself, they recorded it live so that it would fit with the film, not so that it would work as a record

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:20

The opening was amazing. I got that tingly feeling,no,not that one,when I saw the ship scene. It had that epic feel I was hoping for.

I thought the cinematography was awful for about half of the film though. I wanted to see some of the beautiful and striking images that were in the film,and the director was changing shots literally every second or two.Angry The wobbly cam parts made me feel ill too.

Figgygal · 22/01/2013 20:20

Javert is my fave character in the whole show and stars my fave song I think he did well with the character but not so much with the song.

I was expecting Pearce brosnan levels of ear bleeding caterwauling so was pleasantly surprised

mrsjay · 22/01/2013 20:22

25th I am looking for the 10th everybody is telling me it is the best

mrsjay · 22/01/2013 20:22

too much FACE eh marmalade

LineRunner · 22/01/2013 20:24

I thought he was fine.

showtunesgirl · 22/01/2013 20:25

mrsjay see the 10th and you won't care who takes your 25th. Wink

And that's from someone who was there at the 25th!

Anyway, the 25th is on sale in Sainsbury's for a fiver!

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:25

It is.You need the 10th. I do prefer the staging of the 25th,but the vocals and acting are generally much better in the 10th. If I could combine the staging of the 25th with the performances of the 10th I'd be in heaven.

Amazon have the 2 disc edition for £7.00.

Foggles · 22/01/2013 20:26

I nearly squealed when I saw Colm Wilkinson in a cameo appearance.

I hadn't read any of the reviews and had avoided all discussions until I had watched the film so I wasn't expecting it.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:27

Yes,definitely too much face.That's another complaint.It worked in some scenes because of the intimacy of it, but I really didn't want to spend half of the film staring up everyone's nostrils.

SorrelForbes · 22/01/2013 20:27

HJ will always be the definitive Curly for me

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:28

I did the same when I saw Colm.That was a perfect piece of casting. There may have been some tears too.Blush

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