Les MiserablesAside from films that rely on CGI, it's been many years since I've been as surprised by film-making brilliance in every regard as I was by this film. (To me, the advancement of CGI places CGI films in their own category.)
I watched "Les Miz" with my sons last night, and I want to see it again, right away. It was that good from top-to-bottom, beginning-to-end.
Career best performances by brilliant actors: Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, and Amanda Seyfried. Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen were also excellent in their less prominent roles. Every extra was awesome, child and adult. Every line of the movie was sung. The few instances when a line was spoken, it was within the context of dramatic effect inside a song.
Biggest surprise: Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, and Amanda Seyfried are all world-class vocalists. Second biggest surprise: Although Russell Crowe is not, it didn't matter a bit. His performance was breathtaking - but they all were, with special recognition for Jackman, Crowe, and Hathaway.
I was in constant amazement at the fact that having every line sung did not detract or distract from the acting one iota. If anything, it enhanced it. I usually despise musicals. I almost forgot this even was a musical, it so fully enveloped me in the story.
It is a sad tale. Nothing uplifting about it whatsoever; hence the title. But damn, what an excellent movie.
ETA: I found it beneficial to watch with the subtitles on. Hearing every word being sung is difficult, at least for me, especially with the European accents. Subtitles ensured that I didn't miss a thing.