Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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 20:28

I will get it soon

showtunesgirl · 22/01/2013 20:29

I agree SorrelForbes. I didn't like HJ singing Sunset though, his voice is not right for Joe Gillis.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:30

I only have the one disc edition of the 10th,so I may treat myself and buy the two disc.

I hope that they release a filmed version of the stage show,like they did with Phantom,and not 'just' the concert version.

mrsjay · 22/01/2013 20:32

DD told me the year above her are going to see the stage show this year she is Envy

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:33

I'm Envy too.I haven't seen it live either. I did have tickets booked for the tour a year or two back,but a family member became ill so I couldn't go. I'll have to remedy that situation soon and take a trip to London.

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 20:39

YANBU - saw it for the second time today (musical theatre geek here, as my MN name may indicate) and, after initially thinking he almost wrecked the film, he's grown on me. Stars was pretty shite both times, though.

Hugh Jackman...fuck the voice, the PORTRAYAL. Talk about completely inhabiting the character. It just shits me that he's been nominated for the Oscar for it in the year that Daniel Day Lewis is going to walk away with it. Yeah...Bring Him Home Confused Don't care. Otherwise extraordinary.

Anne Hathaway. I Dreamed a Dream. The End. Everyone else, thank you for your time. Please close the door on your way out. If she doesn't get the Oscar, I shall swear loudly and passionately.

Amanda Seyfried? Naff character, innit?

Eddie Redmayne - sounds a teensy bit like a muppet, but was generally lovely and wonderful.

Aaron Tveit as Enjolras...preeeettty Grin

Colm Wilkinson aka Jean Valjean the First as Bishop of Digne. Genius, genius casting. Genius. Not to mention a bit clever.

Samantha Barks as Eponine. Oh dear. I so wanted to love her but I just don't think she managed the transition from stage to screen. Too embedded in her stage portrayal to bring something fresh the way the rest of them did. Please talk me out of my position on that.

Cried like a girl both times I saw it, even though I've seen the stage show six a couple of times and listened to several cast recordings yep, even the French one literally hundreds of times. And I LOVED the cinematography - tight in on the faces while not losing track of the scenes in the background. The opening turned me into one enormous goose bump which never receded. I shall be getting the DVD and wearing it thin.

ProPerformer · 22/01/2013 20:42

foggles I did let out a little quiet 'squee' when I first spotted Colm (even though I knew he'd be playing the part!) and let out a big happy sigh when I heard him sing. Was ok though as the lady next to me did the same! Grin

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:42

Stars both times?Confused

ProPerformer · 22/01/2013 20:44

"Anne Hathaway. I Dreamed a Dream. The End. Everyone else, thank you for your time. Please close the door on your way out. If she doesn't get the Oscar, I shall swear loudly and passionately."

Agreed!!

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 20:46

I'm going to see it again this weekend.I enjoyed it but I didn't come out with the buzz I was hoping for.However I do want to see it again,just have to keep my eyes closed during Master of The House,and the more I think the back,the more I think I liked it.

Original poster
Lottapianos · 22/01/2013 20:50

Totally agree the leader of the revolutionaries was brilliant. Have never seen him before either. Wasn't expecting the acting to be as great as it was - thought it might all be a bit hammy like the stage version. It was great that they were able to be more subtle on film

OP posts:
MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 21:01

Just watched the trailer again,and I'm feeling that little thrill again.I'm a sucker for anything with men in uniforms,swords and horses.I love that there's so much they can do with the film that isn't possible when seeing the stage version.

I've had the soundtrack stuck in my head for over a fortnight now though.I keep going between 'You at the barricade,listen to this' 'Who am? 24601!' and 'You know nothing of Javert!'. I adore Les Mis but I wish I could find a new earworm.

loverofwine · 22/01/2013 21:02

Eponine - what happened to her waist?

Got so fixated on this was able to ignore RC's catterwauling. almost certainly dodgy spelling

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 21:05

The 'you at the barricade listen to this' guy in the film looking horrified/shattered after Gavroche gets shot...lovely. Even if he did have a bit of a silly moustache.

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 21:06

YES! Eponine's waist! Tight lacing?! WTF?!

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 21:07

I am lmao at 'sounds a teensy bit like a muppet.' He did rather. Bless him. I loved his Empty Chairs,but I didn't think he was all that good generally. I'm not fond of Marius in general which probably didn't help.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 21:07

What waist? She had a waist?

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 21:09

I didn't realise that the army officer was played by Hadley Fraser.He was in something that didn't also feature Ramin Karimloo.Is that even legal?

SirBoobAlot · 22/01/2013 21:10

He ruined STARS. That is one of the best songs from a musical EVER. And he bloody ruined it.

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 21:12

Yes, Marius...no one really likes a champagne socialist though do they? At least he and Cosette end up annoying each other til death do them part and not anybody else. Poor old Eps would have got fed up of him sharpish.

loverofwine · 22/01/2013 21:14

I think she might have had a couple of ribs removed to get the part. it couldn't have been because of singing talent

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 21:14

Now I can't picture Marius without thinking of him as Kermit's lovechild.

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 21:15

Concur, SirBoob. I came out wishing they'd just got Quasty in. He's not too old for it (just).

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 21:18

I enjoyed Samantha Bark's performance.I thought she was excellent.

Amanda Seyfried sounded like a chipmunk in a blender though.

lurkedtoolong · 22/01/2013 21:24

RC wasn't bad at the singing mostly. He didn't deliver on Stars which was a bit of a bugger but I forgave him everything for the moment with the medal. That's when I went from quietly crying to myself to full on sobbing.

This is the first time I've really loved I Dreamed A Dream. If Anne Hathaway doesn't get an Oscar there will be such a hissy fit in my house....