Les Miserables (2012) 8/10

Starring : Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen
Director : Tom Hooper
Running Time : 158 mins

Escaped criminal Jean Valjean (Jackman) finds himself on the run from single-minded Inspector Javert (Crowe) for eight years, soon taking a new identity and the role of mayor in a small French town. Having failed to help a working class woman named Fantine (Hathaway) after she is fired from her factory job, Valjean takes it upon himself to take care of her orphaned daughter against the background of the French Revolution.

I was actually surprised that this was quite enjoyable, not being a huge fan of conventionally dramatic musicals (I do have a soft spot for comic musicals such as Little Shop Of Horrors and A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum). The actors perform wonderfully in this overly-long movie which, if you can sit through the almost three hours of practically non-stop singing, remains entertaining with lyrically pleasing songs that easily depict exactly what is happening without creating too much exposition.

You’ll like this if you liked : The Phantom Of The Opera