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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:
Foggles · 22/01/2013 21:52

No Elphaba, I thought that too. Why should only some ghosts be allowed?

SirBoobAlot · 22/01/2013 21:55

I think he both can't cope with his view of the world being turned upside down, but also the fear that he might have been wrong throughout the years.

Javert is such a complex character. Stars is a wonderful song, but the musical does not do him justice at all.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 21:55

I thought that too,Elphaba.Why shouldn't Javert be there too? He isn't a villain.He isn't evil.He was misguided.

gaelicsheep · 22/01/2013 21:57

Russell Crowe studio version linked to earlier in the thread. Not too bad. He ain't no Philip Quast though, that's for sure.

Just listening to Bring Him Home from the soundtrack, again on YouTube. Works better for me this time.

gaelicsheep · 22/01/2013 21:59

Hugh Jackman is very fond of repeating notes, rather than actually following the line of the melody. Particularly noticeable in this track - kind of irritating.

elizaregina · 22/01/2013 21:59

I thought the way Russell died at the end was interesting;

The sound of him hitting concrete was a shock. Shock

elizaregina · 22/01/2013 22:01

"Why shouldn't Javert be there too? He isn't a villain.He isn't evil."

But he is! He has purseud this man and made his life a misery - loads of times he could have dropped his pursuit - he saw him save the guy under the cart - helping Fontine etc....and he just kept on going, Morally he was an evil villan.

gaelicsheep · 22/01/2013 22:01

Now listening to Stars. Oh god it is awful, but it's definitely not all RC's fault although his voice is flat as a pancake (not in pitch, I guess autotune sorted that, but totally emotionless). He reminds me of someone, can't for the life of me think who at the moment.

I always loved the harp in the orchestration (hope I'm right there?) but didn't mind the original. This is awful.

CollectorofCookbooks · 22/01/2013 22:01

Thank you! So what you're saying is that I'm right and DH is wrong? Grin

Have put the book on my 'must read' list

gaelicsheep · 22/01/2013 22:02

I think he wasn't there at the end because he didn't want to be. It was not what he stood for in any way.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 22:02

Hugo didn't write him as a villain imho.He wrote him as a misguided but good man. He seems to have a lot of sympathy for him.

gaelicsheep · 22/01/2013 22:03

Now purging myself of the dreadfulness with the 10th anniversary version Grin

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 22:06

I think Rusty could have got away with it more if he'd spoken his way through some if the songs a bit more (I don't want to say a la Philip Quast...but hell, I just did) e.g. 'and so it must be, for so it is written' as an example. RC tried to sing through it with a legato line which he's incapable of doing. Acting is his strength, not singing, so I'm surprised he/director/musical director didn't play to his strengths a bit more.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 22:06

He obsessed with the law.He believes it should be followed to the letter,and that it can do no wrong.He does harm while attempting to do good,but he's definitely not evil imho,and was never intended to be such. His world is black and white,but he is doing what he believes is right.
The Thenardiers are the real evil imho. They have no redeeming qualities.

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 22:11

Javert = definitely not evil. Committed to the letter of the law and devoutly religious. Has been played as a bit of a Vaudeville villain by some not our Philip of course but that is not correct. In that sense, I think RC was spot on. He just needed better vocal coaching.

gaelicsheep · 22/01/2013 22:11

Elphaba - I totally agree. Russell's problem is he was concentrating so much on singing he forgot to act. The only bits of his singing that really work are the ones where he was HAVING to act - eg the sword fight. I read somewhere some famous person saying that if he had an actor who couldn't really sing he would give them action - that way they stopped concentrating on the singing. Russell could have got away with a fairly rough and ready singing performance if he had acted it, and got some grit and menace into his voice. He did neither unfortunately.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 22:11

I didn't feel the part where he hit the weir was necessary either.He's going to drown,surely that's enough without having the poor guy's body broken practically in two?

Uppermid · 22/01/2013 22:13

So we're all agreed that Anne Hathaway should walk away with the Oscar. Something very wrong if she doesn't.

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 22:14

Does anyone know what the age difference is between Valjean and Javert is? In the book/musical?

MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 22:14

Ignore the second is.Blush

ElphabaTheGreen · 22/01/2013 22:15

I don't think it's specified. Similar age, I would guess.

Foggles · 22/01/2013 22:15

I always thought they were the same age. Don't know for sure though.

gaelicsheep · 22/01/2013 22:16
MarmaladeSkies · 22/01/2013 22:17

I'm sure dates are given in the book,but I can't remember.I was flicking through it on my Kindle last night,but it's not all that easy to find a particular part on a Kindle.

elizaregina · 22/01/2013 22:18

well i dunno the Thernandiars are amusing arnt they......

I am not convinced on Javert i havant read that book, however - he inflicts tremendous suffering on a good man and impacts his life...deeply. The Thernandiars are swhallow petty thieves....do they tremendoulsy destroy peoples lives? I doubt it. I also bet Javert put away loads more who had stolen bread...( never got the Thernadiars did he!!!)

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