Les Miserables

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter.
Director: Tom Hooper

It is clear to see how this film has acquired such recognition for nominations across the world for various film awards. With a star studded cast headed by Hugh Jackman playing the role of Jean Valjean, the prisoner who has escaped from the hands of the detective Javert ,played by Russel Crowe, and travels across France during the French Revolution.

Tom Hooper has really upped the ante when it come to film adaptations of stage shows from his breakthrough as a director with the hugely successful 'The King's Speech', now to Les Miserables, which is a truly daunting task being the one of the most successful musicals of all time. But clearly Hooper has tackled this task and come out on top with a film that gives one a true sense of power and unity. Having the technique of having the actors sing live in front of the camera really adds a sense of reality and make you feel the true emotion. Especially during Anne Hathaway's rendition of 'I Dreamed A Dream' with which one cannot help but bring a tear to the eye. Or during the cast's rendition of 'Can You Hear The People Sing', one cannot help but join in and feel a sense of empowerment.

Overall, Hooper has created a powerful film adaptation of the musical which really gets one feeling the emotions of the characters whatever their story may be.

Les Miserables 4/5