Thoughts on Les Mis (Part II)

-There are many extreme close-ups for prolonged times. I don't know what this was trying to accomplish. It is safe to say I never felt extra-sensitive or connected by Anne Hathaway being huge and belting directly at me. On the contrary, I kept being pulled from the experience thinking, "Why does this keep happening?" Perhaps the filmmakers were thinking in exchange for the tangible aspect of a stage show, they would highlight the micro-possibilities of movies. But, for me, at least, the two were not comparable. I will say it was cool to see actors' emotional transformations so distinctly--read: so many tears. But, then again, while the shots made me appreciate the acting, I was so aware of them, I couldn't be fully appreciative of the story.
-Eddie Redmayne. Yowza.
-Thenardiers--perf, great fun, Sasha Baron forevah.
-It's nice they got the original Valjean into the film as the priest, but it bothered me they beefed up the part so much. Well, I'm actually not sure about this. The film hugely emphasized the religious undertones of the story, which, I suppose, are important. I actually had never truly understood how much the story is about God's grace until watching the film--mainly because of all the angled crucifix shots and ol' priesty wandering around extra scenes. I must admit, it was refreshing to see a movie that spoke to the importance of God. I don't generally believe religious views should be pushed on people, but I find it strange that religion is a huge force in society, and it is so infrequently involved in storytelling unless it is the point of the story.
-Russel Crowe. Woof. Guy can't sing for beans, or should I say...A LOAF OF BREAD.
-One of my favorite parts of the musical is the three-part harmony between Eponine, Fantine, and Valjean in the finale. Bummed they cut Eponine, but then in hindsight...why would she be welcoming Valjean to heaven? They didn't know each other. Oversight, lyricist.
-Loved Enjrolas dying in classic stage pose. A lil something for the old school fans.
-"One Day More": did not dig it! This is when I really missed the theatre. Seeing each person on their own journey feet from each other onstage is so much more exhilarating than cuts.
-New Number? Why? Why why why? So dumb. Did not y'all get the memo this musical is long and right on the cusp of boring? I mean, if it had been a song to highlight some character who wasn't originally--NO, another solo for Hugh. Pass.
-Many times words would be switched around in a lyric for no apparent reason. IE Jackman singing "I am the mayor of this town. I run a business of repute" instead of the other way around. This obviously tripped my mental record player and I wondered if these were line flubs or re-written for some minute reason.
-Loved loved loved the finale of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Beautiful, epic, comforting, chilling.
-Also loved how film began on a ship chain gang in dirt and darkness and ended on that gorgeous golden ship. Pretty inspirational. Victor Hugo started the original "It Gets Better" movement.
-Speaking of the novelist, the main thing I kept realizing during the film is that the story in itself is...not that good. I'm sure the book is much more satisfying in terms of development, but most of the story is rather shallow. The young love triangle is vapid. We get introduced to characters just in time to watch them die. We don't really get a sense of what the barricade is seeking to accomplish. (Although I did appreciate Gavroche's new verses in "Look Down" that at least set up the monarchy in France). In the words of Henne as we discussed it yesterday, "Like, get an editor, Hugo."

B

Look down, Javert, he's standing in his grave.

Thoughts on Les Mis (Part I)

First of all, I have an extremely deep connection to Les Mis. "Yeah, yeah, we all do," you think. "I sang 'On My Own' in the shower on the reg." Look, it's cute you think you have a serious bond with Les Mis, but what we have IS THE REAL DEAL, so do not even.

-I knew most of the music since early childhood, thanks to a cassette soundtrack in my mom's car. My favorite song was "Master of the House," which I would sing at the playground when I was on top of the jungle gym.

-At age nine I went to an open audition for young Cosette, which I failed horribly, missing my entrance cue and having to ask to start over. Shame forever. Needless to say, I spent the next three months replaying standing in front of the casting directors and nailing "Castle on a Cloud" until my best friend Fran offered me, "If you had gotten the part, your sticker collection probably wouldn't be as good because you would be on tour." For some reason this comforted me.

-I decided to make up my disastrous audition by performing Cosette's ballad at the 4th grade talent show. But when they called my name, I got so nervous I bolted out of the gym. The principal had to come get me hiding in the bathroom. BUT I DANG FINALLY SANG THE SONG, and peeps loved it (or at least they said so to prevent me from running into oncoming traffic idk).

-I saw that touring production I wasn't in, and my creepy obsession grew tremendously. You have no idea how many nights between 1998-2002 I biked alone to fields to sing concerts of all Eponine's music. No big, just crooning in the middle of an abandoned baseball diamond pretending I was bleeding to death in my true love's arms. MIDDLE SCHOOL, AMIRIGHT?

-My freshman year in high school, I was excited to be part of the musical, but when I found out the show would be Les Mis?! I flipped a lid. I knew I was too much of a pipsqueak to get one of the real coveted roles, so I set my sights on Gavroche. This time when I auditioned, I at least glossed over the mistake I made (saying "Inspector Valjer" instead of "Javert" during "Little People") and whatever YOLO I got the part!!!!! Thank the Lord I was flat-chested and my voice is that of a little boy's!

-You guys, I am pretty sure if you would have cut me during that fall, I would have bled sheet music. I literally ate, slept, and breathed Les Mis. Had lunch with my musical girlfriends, dinner with the cast on our breaks, in school constantly sang through my part (which wasn't very hard, so, pretty unnecessary). ULRA CREEP STATUS: I listened the soundtrack every night before bed. Yeah, all three hours or whatever of it. At 9 PM I'd be like, "cool, time to rage with Val Jean." I am sure could never forget the lyrics to any song if I tried really really hard and got Alzheimer's.

-I started dating my first boyfriend during the show. He was nice and cute, but more importantly, HE WAS PART OF THE BEST THING THAT WOULD EVER HAPPEN TO ME AND I NEEDED TO HANG ONTO THAT. He was a junior, but I guess not that cool since he kept dating me despite the fact I never wanted to kiss but always wanted to, like, reminisce about the choreography of the high school musical that had closed weeks ago. It genuinely did take me months to get over the end of that show, and when I did, I ditched the guy. You don't have to be Freud to realize that I literally tried to have a committed relationship with a musical in lieu of a human. Okay, to give myself some credit, the guy also loved Korn and was in show choir. I mean, not a match made in heaven.

And then something happened. I went on to see three more productions of Les Mis over the years. Each time I left slightly more disconnected than I had the time before. When it toured this year, I didn't go. I was even offered a free ticket, and I declined. Did I overdo it?

No. I still love Les Mis with all my red the blood of angry men heart. In fact, I've had "One Day More" on repeat as I've written this post. It's just that this is a personal love. A nostalgic collection of music and lyrics. To see a group of strangers performing it as I sit in an even bigger group of strangers watching doesn't feel right. This show moves me. I know so many people who hate musicals on principle, and it is scores like this that prevent me from understanding that viewpoint of taste.

In short: I am a certifiable looney tune. So get amped for my thoughts on the movie. Coming tomorrow.