Les Miserables: One Thread More!

[Schlosser85]

As unnecessary as it was most of the time, I don't think IDAD would have been as powerful without the unbroken closeup.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Finally caught Les Miz. For next Christmas, we should all chip in for Tom Hooper to get a wide angle lens and a Steadicam. Maybe a gyroscope mount too. The shot and lens choices were completely inconsistent and took me out of the movie several times. Bleck.

Actually, we need to chip in to send Tom Hooper to film school. And that's too expensive, so no way!

 

[Anita18]

The extreme dutch angle where Valjean finally divulges his past to Marius literally made me go WTF.

My favorite sequence was probably Gavroche and his urchin gang running through the streets and carriages.

 

[Anita18]

As unnecessary as it was most of the time, I don't think IDAD would have been as powerful without the unbroken closeup.

I agree. But for "What Have I Dont", it was downright distracting and disorienting. In fact I was sure that Hugh Jackman actually hit the camera with his head at one point.

 

[Earthland]

There is literally nothing I would want to complain about this movie. Or maybe just one thing - when Javert jumped down the bridge, it was really bad CGI. I mean, I could see it was CGI which equals being bad CGI. (I hope I use the right abbreviation! Not really into technical things). I think CGI was just an easy option for them. The other day I watched "Spoonful of sugar" from Mary Poppins on youtube, where they made things fly in the air and it looked completely natural. I guess there was no CGI back these days and they had to use their brains on how to do it ....

 

[Schlosser85]

The THWACK when he hit was unnecessary.

 

[747]

For the most part a wonderful musical film. Teary eyes and goosebumps are never far away. A very intense movie in many ways and it is also perhaps its only fault, that as a whole it is a little bit too intense. Sure there are some slower parts, but it's still intense – intense close-ups, intense emotions, etc.. Otherwise, the usage of close-ups is a very neat visual choice, as it really takes the grandeur of both the story and the songs down to a very intimate level. The few times the camera gets to look from further away you also get some really nice transitions and views. Such moments could have been used more often, as a little more breathing room might have taken this already magnificent film to even greater heights.

And Anne Hathaway MUST get an Oscar for her role as Fantine. Insanely affecting combination of acting and singing.

9/10

 

[747]

I don't get the handheld and close-ups combination hate. And not only with this movie, seems like everyone complaints about that style today, no matter the context. It worked great for the most part in Le Mis imo.

 

[narrows101]

Hugh was the guest performer with the Philadelphia Orchestra last night - one of his numbers was "Who Am I?":

What charisma! Hugh Jackman wows a crowd with song and dance for show with the Philadelphia Orchestra
By Jennifer Pearson
PUBLISHED: 02:37 EST, 27 January 2013

Hugh Jackman really knows how to put on a show.

The Les Miserables star is just as comfortable on a stage as he is in front of a camera, as he easily proved on Saturday as he performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra at one of the city's biggest fundraisers of the year.

Hugh was the A-list attraction at the Academy of Music's 156th Anniversary Concert and Ball, showing off the dance moves and that voice that audiences have come to adore.

Song and dance man: Hugh Jackman headlined the Academy of Music 156th Anniversary Concert and Ball on Saturday and thrilled the audience with his charismatic presence

The Australian-born actor, who is an Oscar nominee for his role as Les Mis' Jean Valjean in the musical film about love, obsession and forgiveness, didn't disappoint.

Hugh, 44, dressed classy for the occasion in a dark pin-striped suit, white dress shirt and dark tie.

He may have been the A-lister, but Hugh made sure the new Philadelphia Orchestra music director Yannick Nelzet-Selguin was the star.

Hugh had everyone in stitches when he pretended to mop the orchestra conductor's brow with a black cloth.

Embraceable Hugh: The Australian-born actor was a class act as he performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the city's historic opera house

Handsome turn out: Hugh looked wonderful in a dark suit and tie, not to mention those shiny shoes

Every year the concert attracts a star performer - back in 1957 it was Danny Kaye and Dinah Shore - and this year the powers behind the scenes wanted Hugh.

'This year we decided to change it up again and looked at other ways to create an exciting concert, and Hugh Jackman's name came up,' Joanna Lewis, president and CEO of the academy, told The Morning Call newspaper.

'He is an exciting, vibrant and talented performer and we thought, "Wouldn't he be great with the orchestra?"

Stage fright? Hugh pretended to mop the brow of new orchestra conductor Yannick NeÏzet-SeÏguin, which had the audience in stitches

Lively: Hugh is a vibrant performer on screen and on the stage

'Yannick liked the fact that we're doing something a little different. We thought Hugh would be well known enough and we knew that Les Mis was coming out.

'But we signed him a long time before the movie came out. We were lucky it is as successful as it is.'

The Academy of Music in Philadelphia is the oldest running opera house in the US, boasting a crystal chandelier 50ft in circumference.

It's also been where the Philadelphia Orchestra has played for 100 years, and is also host to opera, theatre and other cultural events.

Even Britain's royals have been partial to it's exquisite gifts - the 150th anniversary was attended by Prince Charles and his wife Camilla.

No mistake: Hugh, who is nominated for his role as Jean Valjean in the musical film Les Miserables, was a great choice to headline this year's event

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...Philadelphia-Orchestra.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

 

[narrows101]

SAG Awards tonight. Hugh, Anne, Eddie, Amanda, Colm, Aaron, Samantha, Russell, Isabelle, Daniel H., Sasha all there (haven't spotted Aaron, Samantha, Russell, Sasha or Isabelle at the tables but they are there from reports, not sure about Helena). Anne has already won.

Hysterical Hugh interview on the red carpet:

http://www.eonline.com/videos/20166...man?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Aaron Tveit interview on the red carpet:

http://darrenjonasforever.tumblr.com/post/41660417133/aarontve-aaron-tveit-at-the-2013-sag-awards

Hugh and Anne introduced the clip from Les Mis (the trailer) for Best Ensemble this way - they decided to do it in "modern terms" after explaining what the film was about:

[Anne] "Wolverine is being chased by Gladiator, [Hugh] Catwoman gets knocked up and for some ungodly reason goes to see Belatrix LeStrange from Harry Potter and Borat, [Anne] Wolverine agrees to raise Catwoman's baby, [Hugh] and she grows up to be the star of Mamma Mia - check it out, see if we nailed it."

 

[kvz5]

Looks like the writer of the SAG Awards browsed through Tumblr or Twitter for that description.

 

[narrows101]

Anne was the only winner, but the awards were spread around:

Best Ensemble: Argo
Supporting Actress: Anne
Supporting Actor: Lincoln, Tommy Lee Jones
Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, SLP
Actor: DDL, Lincoln

I bet Argo gets Best Picture at the Oscars and Spielberg Best Director since Affleck isn't nominated. I have a feeling the only Oscar Les Mis will get (they are nominated for 8) is Anne's but I hope they get one or two techs.

 

[Kansiov]

Even though I think Argo didn't deserve the win, I am happy SLP didn't win best ensemble. OMG, could Clooney be the next Harvey Weinstein?

 

[AnneFan]

Another award to the collection.

"I'm just thrilled I have dental. I got my SAG card when I was 14. It felt like the beginning of the world. I have loved every single minute of my life as an actor. Thank you for nominating me alongside incredible women and incredible performances."

 

[Earthland]

Funny that Anne was too old to be Eponine but 31-years old Eddie wasn't too old to be Marius ...

 

[narrows101]

Hugh singing "Who Am I?" at the Philadelphia concert on Saturday night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AxAh08_ngI

 

[sueb1863]

Anne would have wasted on Eponine. She's far better suited for Fantine, I think.

The bit between Hugh and Anne was cute, but yeah, that description of the movie's been floating around the 'net ever since it came out! The person who actually wrote it might be a little annoyed that they (or rather the show's writers) ripped it off.

Agree that LM might only get the one award, but we'll see! The Best Picture race is going to be very interesting, Lincoln looks far from a sure thing now.

 

[Earthland]

Funny article about critics

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/01/24/les-miserables-critics/1839145/

 

[Drizzle]

Funny that Anne was too old to be Eponine but 31-years old Eddie wasn't too old to be Marius ...

Eddie looks like he could pass for early 20s.

 

[Anita18]

Eddie looks like he could pass for early 20s.

He does. Anne already looks too mature for early 20s.

 

[Earthland]

I have a feeling the only Oscar Les Mis will get (they are nominated for 8) is Anne's but I hope they get one or two techs.

Don't be so pessimistic ... I think there are quite good chances for sound mixing and production design, and best song is completely realistic, too. And while it clearly isn't frontrunner for best picture of best actor, it wouldn't make jaws to drop if it happened. I still hope.

On a more hypothetical ground, I think in 50 years time, out of all current best picture nominees Les Mis will be remembered most.

And Samantha MUST have a career as an actress ... we don't need another Olivia-Newton John.

 

[AnneFan]

Saw this pic and it's great. These two really seem to get on well.

 

[narrows101]

Don't be so pessimistic ... I think there are quite good chances for sound mixing and production design, and best song is completely realistic, too. And while it clearly isn't frontrunner for best picture of best actor, it wouldn't make jaws to drop if it happened. I still hope.

On a more hypothetical ground, I think in 50 years time, out of all current best picture nominees Les Mis will be remembered most.

And Samantha MUST have a career as an actress ... we don't need another Olivia-Newton John.

Oh, I think Adele and "Skyfall" have it in the bag for Best Song. I agree re sound mixing. In my dreams I wish that Hugh would get Best Actor and watch the audience scream because DDL has won every award so far, but I don't think that will happen.

Here's a very interesting article about the Oscars - it's mainly about "Zero Dark 30" and "what happened to it" and why "Argo" is the perceived leader. No mention of Les Mis, but very interesting reading showing how a lot of it is political.

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/ente...k-thirty-crashed-just-outside-compound/61499/

 

[nite-owl]

I hope Movie 43 doesn't ruin Hugh's Oscar chances.

 

[Drizzle]

I hope Movie 43 doesn't ruin Hugh's Oscar chances.

I think Daniel Day Lewis has already done that. Even if Hugh was the frontrunner, I don't think Movie 43 would have hurt him. It's not like a Norbit situation where he's the star of the film.