We were supposed to read the abriged version of Les Miserables in high school, and I'm pretty sure that not only did I not read a single page of the book, but I know I saw the play when I was in high school, and I'm also pretty sure I don't remember any of it.
So when the previews for the movie first came out, I asked Matt to explain the plot to me (he was a good kid and read about 2/3 of the abriged version before he gave up). And what I want to know is, how did I NOT read this book?? His description sounded all dramatic and awesome and like the kind of thing I would enjoy, so I don't know how I totally missed it.
Anyway, we're several weeks later than everyone else, but we finally saw the movie over the weekend. I really enjoyed it! I actually did recognize most of the songs once I heard them. The music was gorgeous, and I was quite impressed that several of the songs appeared to be filmed in a single take (go Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway!). I'd heard complaints about Russell Crowe's vocal performance as Javert, but I thought he did a good job and that he fit his role well. Everyone seemed so well-cast. I especially loved Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen in their roles; I normally can't stand him, but apparently he is a great actor when he's not playing idiotic characters.
While we were walking out of the theater, Matt and I were trying to determine if anyone was auto-tuned, specifically Russell Crowe (Matt mentioned that some of the notes in his songs are higher in the original musical) and Amanda Seyfried (since she had some really high notes, though I reminded Matt that she was also in the Mamma Mia! movie musical, and therefore probably could sing that well). But I looked on IMDB and there wasn't any mention of messing with the audio. All the more impressive if there wasn't!
Have you seen the movie? What did you think?
I loved that they recorded the actors singing as they did the scenes, instead of dubbing it in later like a lot of other musicals. It made it so much more realistic-sounding!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I think it made it more powerful too.
DeleteDitto ^^^. I always get peeved when I end up watching a tv show/movie with "dubbed" in vocals--it's so obvious! The actors all did such a good job with the songs--who knew they all had such incredible pipes, right?
ReplyDeleteI knowwww, Hugh Jackman kind of blew me away. I mean, all of them did, but it was surprising to me that such "traditional Hollywood" actors could keep up with professional vocalists and do such a fantastic job.
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