Les Misérables

Les Misérables

One of the must top 3 must watch musical in the world.

Les Misérables

It was one of the best live recorded movie musical I've seen thus far. However good it is, there is still something lacking. The actor and actress singing in this musical move was alright, however I could still able to hear some out of tunes and wrongly phrase singing. 

But job well done, Anne Hathaway was absolute awesome and outstanding in this, I reckon an Oscar is in her belt!

Rating, 7 out of 10

Synopsis:
In Bagne prison in Toulon, France, in 1815, the prisoners work at hard labour ("Work Song"). After 19 years in prison (five for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family, and the rest for trying to escape), Jean Valjean, "prisoner 24601", is released on parole by the policeman Javert. By law, Valjean must display a yellow ticket-of-leave, which identifies him as an ex-convict ("On Parole"). The Bishop of Digne offers him food and shelter. Valjean steals silver from the bishop, and the police catch him. The bishop lies to save Valjean and helps him begin a new life ("Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven"). Humbled by the bishop's mercy and kindness, Valjean follows the bishop's advice and breaks his parole ("Valjean's Soliloquy" / "What Have I Done?").

Eight years later, Valjean has assumed a new identity as Monsieur Madeleine, a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. One of his workers, Fantine, has a fight when the other workers discover she is sending money to her secret illegitimate daughter who lives with an innkeeper and his wife ("At the End of the Day"). The Mayor breaks up the conflict but asks his factory foreman to resolve it. The other women demand Fantine's dismissal, and because she had previously rejected his advances, the foreman throws Fantine out. Fantine reflects on her broken dreams and about her lover, who left her and her daughter ("I Dreamed a Dream"). Desperate for money, she sells her locket, and her hair, before becoming a prostitute ("Lovely Ladies"). When she fights back against an abusive customer, Javert, now stationed in Montreuil-sur-Mer, arrests her ("Fantine's Arrest"). The Mayor arrives and, realising his part in the ruination of Fantine, orders Javert to let her go and takes her to a hospital.

Soon afterwards, the Mayor rescues Fauchelevent, who is pinned by a runaway cart ("The Runaway Cart"); this reminds Javert of the abnormally strong Jean Valjean, whom he has sought for years for breaking parole. However, Javert assures the Mayor that Valjean has been arrested recently. Unwilling to see an innocent man go to prison in his place, Valjean confesses his identity to the court ("Who Am I?—The Trial"). Before returning to prison, Valjean visits the dying Fantine and promises to find and look after her daughter Cosette ("Come to Me" / "Fantine's Death"). Valjean asks Javert for three days to fetch Cosette, but Javert refuses to believe his honest intentions ("The Confrontation"). Valjean knocks Javert out and escapes.

Meanwhile, in Montfermeil, the rascally innkeepers, the Thénardiers, have been working and abusing little Cosette, while indulging their own daughter, Éponine. Cosette dreams of a better life ("Castle on a Cloud"). The Thénardiers cheat their customers in various ways ("Master of the House"). Valjean finds Cosette ("The Bargain") and pays the Thénardiers 1,500 Francs to let him take her away ("The Waltz of Treachery").

Ten years later, Paris is in upheaval because General Lamarque, the only man in the government who shows mercy to the poor, is ill and may soon die. The young street urchin Gavroche mingles with the prostitutes and beggars on the street, while students Marius Pontmercy and Enjolras discuss the general's imminent demise ("Look Down"). A street gang led by the Thénardiers prepares to ambush Valjean, whom Thénardier recognizes as the man who took Cosette ("The Robbery"). Éponine sees Marius, whom she secretly loves, and warns him to stay away; Marius bumps into Cosette and immediately falls in love. Javert thwarts the Thénardiers' attempt to rob Valjean and Cosette, not recognising Valjean until after he escapes ("Javert's Intervention"). Javert vows to recapture Valjean ("Stars"). Meanwhile, Marius persuades a reluctant Éponine to help him find Cosette ("Éponine's Errand").

At a small café, Enjolras prepares a group of idealistic students for a revolution ("The ABC Café—Red and Black"). When Gavroche brings the news of General Lamarque's death, the students march into the streets ("Do You Hear the People Sing?"). Although Valjean realises that Cosette has grown up, he refuses to tell her about his past or her mother's ("Rue Plumet—In My Life"). In spite of her own feelings for him, Éponine leads Marius to Cosette, who returns his love ("A Heart Full of Love"), and she prevents her father's gang from robbing Valjean's house ("The Attack on Rue Plumet"). Valjean, believing that Javert was outside his house, tells Cosette that they must flee the country.

On the eve of the 1832 Paris Uprising, Valjean prepares to go into exile; Cosette and Marius part in despair; Éponine mourns the loss of Marius; Enjolras encourages all of Paris to join the revolution; Marius joins the other students as they prepare for the upcoming conflict; Javert briefs the soldiers under his command while he reveals his plans to spy on the students; and the Thénardiers look forward to robbing the corpses of those who will be killed during the battle. Everyone ponders what this "tomorrow" will bring ("One Day More").

As the students begin a barricade ("At the Barricade—Upon These Stones"), Javert, disguised as one of the rebels, volunteers to "spy" on the government troops. Éponine has disguised herself as a boy and has joined the revolutionaries. Marius sends her to safety, carrying a letter to Cosette. Valjean intercepts the letter, promising Éponine to tell Cosette about it. In the letter, he learns about Marius and Cosette's relationship. Éponine walks the streets of Paris, lamenting that her love for Marius will never be reciprocated; nevertheless, she decides to rejoin him at the barricade ("On My Own").

After the students defy an army warning that they surrender or die ("Back at the Barricade"); the disguised Javert tells the students that the government will attack ("Javert's Arrival"). Gavroche exposes him as a spy ("Little People"), and the students detain him. Éponine is shot as she returns to the barricades and confesses her love for Marius before she dies in his arms ("A Little Fall of Rain"), leaving Marius devastated at the loss of his friend ("Night of Anguish"). Valjean arrives at the barricades in search of Marius, as the first battle erupts, and saves Enjolras by shooting a sniper ("The First Attack"). He asks to be the one to kill the imprisoned Javert, but instead he releases Javert and even gives him his address. As the students settle down for the night and reminisce ("Drink with Me"), Valjean prays to God to save Marius from the onslaught that is to come ("Bring Him Home").

As dawn approaches, Enjolras realises that the people of Paris have abandoned the rebels. He sends away women and fathers of children but resolves to fight on ("Dawn of Anguish"). Gavroche is shot dead ("The Second Attack / Death of Gavroche"). Enjolras and the students realize that they will probably die. The army gives a final warning to surrender, but the rebels refuse, and all are killed except Valjean and Marius ("The Final Battle"). Carrying a wounded Marius on his back, Valjean escapes into the sewers. Thénardier, also in the sewers, has been looting bodies ("Dog Eats Dog"). He takes a ring off Marius's "corpse" as Valjean is dozing, and then escapes when he sees Valjean getting up. When Valjean reaches the sewer's exit, he runs into Javert, who has been waiting for him. Valjean begs Javert to give him one hour to bring Marius to a doctor, and Javert reluctantly agrees. Because Valjean saved his life, Javert can't bring himself to arrest Valjean. Ashamed by his failure to execute his duty to the law, Javert commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine ("Soliloquy - Javert's Suicide)".

Back on the streets, women mourn the deaths of the young students ("Turning") as Marius mourns for his friends ("Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"). As he wonders who saved him from the barricades, Cosette comforts him ("Every Day") and they reaffirm their love. Valjean confesses to Marius that he is an escaped convict and must go away because his presence endangers Cosette ("Valjean's Confession"). Valjean makes Marius promise never to tell Cosette, and Marius makes only a half-hearted attempt to hold him back. Marius and Cosette marry ("Wedding Chorale"). The Thénardiers crash the reception in disguise as "The Baron and Baroness du Thénard". They tell Marius that Valjean is a murderer, saying that they saw him carrying a corpse in the sewers after the barricades fell. When Thénardier shows him the ring that he took from the corpse, Marius realises that Valjean saved his life. Marius strikes Thénardier, the newlyweds leave, and the Thénardiers enjoy the party and celebrate their survival ("Beggars at the Feast").

Meanwhile, Valjean prepares for his death, having nothing left to live for. As the spirit of Fantine arrives to take him to heaven, Cosette and Marius rush in to bid farewell and Marius thanks him for saving his life ("Epilogue - Valjean's Death"). Valjean gives Cosette his confession to read, and the souls of Fantine and Éponine guide him to Paradise, where those who died at the barricades ask once more: "Do You Hear the People Sing?" ("Finale").

Check out the trailer

Good movie right?!
=D