Film

5.

Breathtaking. As a huge fan over this musical and the melodies within it, I am very protective over people’s views and misunderstandings of the storyline. I was very excited to say the least when I first saw the trailer of it. Even snippets of the songs give me shivers and goosebumps. So the first week its out and I went to see it. All I can say is to definitely take tissues. I cried literally the whole film, and this poor woman was sobbing very loudly on my row. At one point towards the end, I thought she was laughing and I looked over in disgust, when actually it turned out she was just crying so much that her sobs sounded like laughing.

It moved me, upset me, and uplifted me onto a level, which I cannot explain. I was in awe of the acting, and surprisingly (contrary to what I had heard previously) I thought every inch of the singing standard was perfect. It isn’t meant to be exactly in tune, because of the singing as speech approach. Hugh Jackman as Jean Val Jean was magnificent and the character’s kindness rubbed off on me, as I walked out of the cinema (on the coldest night of the year, -6 degrees celcius) a homeless man was begging, and I gave him all the change I had in my pocket. I feel my new year’s mentality should always refer back to, what would Val Jean do?

The songs and lyrics are nostalgic for me, as I was in two Les Mis productions as a child and played young Cosette and young Eponine, therefore it is a musical very close to my heart, and I am so proud to have seen this fascinating collaboration of stories captured into three hours. Which wasn’t long enough if you ask me!