DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Les Misérables: Best Musical, Full of Faith
© NaimaLett.com/blog
©Universal, Les Misérables: Fight. Dream. Hope. Love. (source)
My husband doesn’t really like musicals…
but he loved Les Misérables!
Not just because Tony/Emmy Award winner Hugh Jackman aka The Wolverine rocks!
But because unlike most movie musicals, Academy Award®-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) filmed Les Misérables where “over 90 percent of the singing was shot ‘live’ and not prerecorded, many of the songs done in one take. I didn’t want any barriers between emotion and realism and truth, so for me it was very important that the actors playing these characters were producing these songs out of the depths of their souls in that moment.”
Brilliant idea! It worked.
They sang from the depths of their souls and we felt it.
Les Misérables
Les Misérables started as one of the greatest epic novels in history. Written by French poet and playwright Victor Hugo in several volumes and originally published in 1862, it became an international commercial success, even though it boasted over 1400 pages (1900 in French).
The stage musical version of Les Misérables is touted as the “world’s longest running musical” seen by over 60 million people in 42 countries in 21 languages. It first opened in Paris in 1980 and ran on Broadway from 1987-2003, winning 8 of 12 Tony Awards it was nominated for including Best Musical & Best Original Score. It also won a Grammy for Best Musical Album.
The Story
Les Misérables focuses on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his experience of redemption.
The official film synopsis reads:
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption—a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Hugh Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Oscar® winner Russell Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Anne Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.
Best Musical, Full of Faith
This is, hands down, the BEST musical I have seen that exemplifies the story of our faith and what it means to be redeemed by God, changed, and set apart to do good works.
The most powerful theme is the examination of the nature of law versus the nature of grace and the juxtaposition of the two. Romans 5-7 is clearly personified between the two main characters and we see the struggle of following the law and living by grace.
I don’t ever want to hear another Christian say that Hollywood does not distribute “faith-based” films. Universal is not only distributing a spectacular faith-based film, but it’s one with:
– A-List Academy Award caliber actors
– an Academy Award winning director
– a top-notch production company: Working Title (Anna Karenina, The Tudors) and
– a boisterous $61 million budget.
This is film-making and storytelling at its best and Hollywood does not dumb down the faith element. Folks are praying. People of God are actually people of God. The story of redemption is the backbone of this entire shindig. Time after time we see John 15:13 personified: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
One Caution, Maybe Two
Les Misérables is Rated PG-13 for “suggestive and sexual material, violence and thematic elements”. I’d hesitate to take young children.
Also, please know that every single word is sung. If you are not a fan of singing, take note. But if you are a fan of some of the most beloved songs in musical history – “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and “On My Own” – this is your show!
Bring Tissue
You’ll likely need it. It takes a lot for me to cry in a film, yet I found myself misty-eyed more than once. If you allow yourself to go on this fascinating cinematic journey, you’ll find that a tear or two is actually cathartic.
Onward & Upward,
Naima
Have you ever seen Les Mis?
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© 2012 Naima Lett. All Rights Reserved
This is so good to hear. I LOVE musicals, and I LOVE Les Mis…saw it on Broadway when I was still in high school. Can’t wait to see the film–I cried at the trailer alone! 🙂
YAY, Avril! You will not be disappointed. This production stays very close to the story and plot and doesn’t skimp on the quality. It was very moving. Enjoy, Lady! And let me know what you think once you see it.
Thanks for the reviews. I am making my ‘must see’ list. We did see someone’s production of Les Miserable since the book is a classic. We found the movie boring. I’m reconsidering giving it another chance. I definitely hope the musical might be something the entire family can watch.
This one definitely isn’t boring, Patrice. Yes, give it another go!
And I think it’s appropriate for the whole family, considering you have older ages.
Enjoy!
Naima, Thank you for reminding me this is a film I def want to see on the Big Screen.
You’re welcome, Diana!
You will not be disappointed.
I hope all is well. Have a beautiful Christmas.
Lots of love your way! :=)
Finally saw it! Two thoughts…
1) Having a passion for musical theater and *hope* for the movie musical (many of which I have cringed through, although with some exceptions…) – I really feel that this film adaptation is on the right (and STRONG) track! Mainly because, of what you said – the director’s choice to film 90% of the singing live.
The reason I enjoy musical theater is because of the live singing AND live emotion. For me – what takes me ‘out of the moment’ in most movie musicals is when the dubbed track clicks in. It shakes me out of the building emotional momentum… especially when auto-tune is apparent!
With Les Miz…. the seemingly live Emotion Train came chugging through, and I was RUN. OVER. Bawled my eyes out!!
2) I wholeheartedly agree about the undeniable theme of redemption (esp. versus the Law). Yeahhhh… having seen the show a million times onstage, I was not prepared for the impact it would have on me while viewing it on film.
The reminder of His Grace actually made me gasp for breath in the theater. I pray this film’s message of God’s redemption spreads throughout the world in epic proportions.
Go Hollywood!! What a win, on this one!!!! 😀 😀