12/30/2012 00:30

4/4 Stars

A Beautiful and Emotional Film

    Don't get me wrong. I'm not a very huge fan of musicals. I tend to enjoy casual conversations instead of someone making a soap opera about what they ate for lunch, but for this movie, I made an exception. While nearly the whole film was sad and depressing, there are moments of humor and wit, along with scenes of pure joy, redemption, and beauty. Surrounding these elements are gifted actors, noting the very talented Anne Hathaway. Here is a little bit about the story:

    Set during the 1800s in France, people are struggling greatly. Many are starving, desperate, and simply miserable. The story revolves around a feud between prisoner Jean (Hugh Jackman) and captor Javert (Russell Crowe). Jean manages to escape his imprisonment, and Javert who manages him takes notice. Jean is tested much as he is forced to choose a life of crime or of honesty. As the years go by we learn of a poor woman Fantine (Anne Hathaway), who takes up prostitution and other horrendous ways to get money. She has a daughter Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), who she is very concerned to have live. Jean comes into play with Fantine and offers to raise her daughter as Fantine falls ill. This then leads to the complicated love triangle between Cosette, a guy named Marius (Eddie Redmayne), and the daughter of the hilarious comic reliefs (Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter) whose name is Eponine (Samantha Barks) later on. 

    Ultimately this film had a lot to say about redemption, the fragility of human hearts, and the power of faith. There was so much power and depth involved, and that makes it hard not to at least respect. This will go down on my list as one of the most touching, beautiful, and emotional movies I've seen. I cannot give enough praise to Anne Hathaway for her performance and her last scene at the end especially. So pop this one in and make sure to grab some tissues. You're going to need it.