To think they could've found a better singer than Hugh Jackman?

[Eebahgum]

Went to see les mis last night with my dm. Loved it. Genius casting of Helena Bonham Carter & Sacha Baren Cohen as innkeeper and his wife. But surprised Hugh Jackman got the lead as his singing voice is not that brilliant. He is a fabulous actor though so maybe that swung it for him.

[Zalen]

WakeUpRosemary - I'm sure a quick search on google will find you an appropriate fanfic for that

[TroublesomeEx]

Oh yes, definitely a homo-erotic subtext!

Javert would have given up a long time ago otherwise. It was only a display of grunting strength and masculinity that alerted Javert to the mayor's true identity anyway.

I think I need to lie down in a darkened room...

[showtunesgirl]

Nooooooooooo, not another Les Mis thread.

[mrsjay]

you know you can't showtunes

[FinallyMrsFC]

Samantha Berks played Eponine, she came 3rd in I'd Do Anything.

[LadyEdith]

YANBU. The producers have clearly gone for big names to pull in the crowds, and b*gger their ability to sing. Just like the Mamma Mia film but that was more forgiveable because it is a lighthearted show and poppy Abba music. I thought all the main characters (except Samantha Barks as Eponine) in the Les Mis film were disappointing, such a shame when there is so much talent out there, but greed rules... at the end of the day... Russell Crowe was the worst.

[Clawdy]

But Hugh J. started out as a singer,and a good one too,so that argument doesn't hold water.

[Gingerdodger]

I thought HJ was really good, can't say I had ever noticed him before but certainly will from now on! Thought they were all good but Russell Crowe lacked the power in his voice to truly carry off Javert.

Loved Eponine though, such expressive eyes.

I am reading the book now and enjoying discovering some of the missing links.

[LIZS]

But they don't need to be fabulous singers , isn't that the whole point Most of the cast were ex West End production or had musical theatre experience including HJ and RC

[BOF]

I won't have a word said against him . I agree that the acting takes precedence for the big screen, and I thought they were all pretty much faultless. I loved Enjolras too- I may look him up in Rent, which I've never seen.

[Ellenohara]

I saw Hugh Jackman on Broadway when he was in 'Boy from Oz'. He completely carried a mediocre musical and made it brilliant. His voice and stage presence were fantastic (although he lost a lot of weight doing it so wasn't quite up to his usual standards looks wise). With some good timing and a lot of patience I also managed to speak to him after a later performance (hanging around the stage door like a complete groupie!). I can confirm that he is as lovely as he comes across on interviews - he was charming and friendly and made a real effort to speak to as many people as he could as well as signing loads of autographs.

He also touched my arm?

[BOF]

[chibi]

i have not read this thread but may i just say

how very dare you nothing compares to his uvula all a quiver when he is in full can belto mode - i shrank back in my seat in terrified delight whenever he unleashed the beast, as it were

a proper singer could not possibly have done that overboiled melodrama justice

[TeamJavert]

I wasn't a HJ fan or RC fan when I went to see the film for the first time. I was very skeptical,and not very happy about the casting,but having seen it four times now I'm a complete convert,and think it really worked.

I love Philip Quast and Colm Wilkinson,yes I know he was in the film,but if singers of their calibre were cast in the main roles,they'd really have to tone things down because film is a much more intimate medium than stage.

When I heard some of the songs before seeing the film I wasn't at all impressed,HJ's excessive vibrato particuarly annoyed me,but four viewings in and my opinion has really changed. I loved him in the role,loved the emotion and conviction he brought to the role,and now I'm able to actively enjoy his singing.It wouldn't work on stage imho,though I know he's starred in musicals,but it really does work for the film.

The same applies to Russell Crowe and the rest of the cast. I loved Russell Crowe as Javert. I don't agree that his acting was poor.I love his expressions and body language in the film,which were perfect for his Javert.I loved him even more than HJ.

I loved almost all of the cast. The only blips for me were the Thenardiers.I'm still not convinced by them,though they had their moments,and I loathed MOTH. Also Eddie Redmayne annoyed me as Marius.He sings like a muppet,he really does,and he has some incredibly goofy expressions,much of the time when he's trying to look sad,with the exception of Empty Chairs,he looks half crazed.
Marius was a complete and utter goof in the book though so I guess it was appropriate casting.

[TeamJavert]

The only minor thing about casting RC,and I'm being terribly picky here,is that Russell Crowe is shorter than Hugh Jackman,and Javert is supposed to be taller in the book,but then it is based on the musical and not the book.I still loved him though.

[DowntonTrout]

I have to disagree with most on here. I loved HBCs characterisation, less so SBC, he actually made me feel uncomfortable, although maybe that was the point. I thought their almost pantomime characterisation added a comedy element in what is otherwise a dark and heart wrenching story. The juxtaposition of these two things only served to make them more sinister for me. Just my take on it.

I agree with everything else you have said TeamJavert particularly the Eddie R comments. You heard what I heard in his voice. It almost spoiled the film for me. Almost. There were a couple of moments when I suspected that he had had to re- record parts of the song and have it dubbed in after as the sound didn't quite match what his mouth was doing- but maybe that was his goofy expressions!

[PureQuintessence]

Hugh who?

[NicknameTaken]

i shrank back in my seat in terrified delight whenever he unleashed the beast, as it were

Ah, chibi, I'm getting a very vivid mental picture of that....

[AudrinaAdare]

Eddie Redmayne does have a Kermit-like quality to his voice.

I do like his little stutter in, "A Heart Full of Love" though, when the line, "I'm doing everything all wrong" is gibbered spoken rather than sung. Much better than Michael Ball. I can't imagine him being flustered by a beautiful woman.

[BaresarkBunny]

I didn't like hbc or sbc at all. I don't understand why sbc sang Master of the House in a mixture of a dodgy french accent and cockney.

[Eebahgum]

I was more baffled by the cockey accent of the boy playing gavroche, baresarkbunny. I thought he played the role fantastically, but his accent seemed very Oliver Twist to me. Can't remember whether he was played with a cockney accent in the stage show. Think maybe I need to watch it 3 more times then teamjavert - just to fully appreciate his vocal abilities.

[HavingALittleFaithBaby]

Ah yabu! Don't diss Huge Ackman! He is so very beautiful and I thought he played it well. I definitely think his background from musical theatre served him well. I just watched that clip from Oklahoma! And my unborn DC starting kicking like mad :)

I did feel like some of the casting was more about names than singing ability. Amanda Seyfried was great in Mamma Mia but was really quite reedy at times. The Thenardiers weren't as good as they could have been, I especially agree with the comment about HBC in Master of the house. Needed more punch.

I thought it was quite apparent who were the performers with musical theatre background (e.g. Ponine - she did the 25th anniversary concert with Alfie Bo yes?) and those who were Hollywood names to pull in the audience.

But Russell was the weakest link! He's not a terrible singer but Javert is such a huge part and vocally challenging that I almost felt sorry for him (RC, not Javert!) because he just strained through the big songs. I too wanted to push him I did not think the crunch as he landed was necessary!

Overall, I enjoyed it. I will probably buy the DVD but if I'm listening to the soundtrack I'll stick to the 10th anniversary concert performance because to me, that's the ultimate cast :)

[DowntonTrout]

YY to Gavroche being like something out of Oliver Twist. Exactly my thought.

[Flobbadobs]

I've not seen the film and have only heard a little bit of Russel Crowe singing in One Day More. He released a single a few years ago with his band I think, his voice isn't that bad is it? Very gravelly and rather sexy if I remember rightly but a little quiet, can't really imagine being up to Phillip Quast standards in Stars...

[HormonalHousewife]

Now those pictures have frightened me a bit Punkatheart

Is he... you know ???

I met him in early December when he was in London, we were in the same hotel and he was ever so nice, posed for photos and signatures as did amanda s. Was it the premiere then ? I think it was.