Postscripts to Les Miserables

[jo]

Hugh Jackman's acting portfolio has been remarkably marked by some of his best interpretations of what being a father meant!

*In Les Miserables, he discovers the epiphany of love through his newly-adopted daughter in "Suddenly". The same love would make him weary ( and jealous) that the young man Marius would take her away...but later on realizes that life without Marius would be devastating for his beloved daughter. He sings of his troubled mind... and later on pleads with God to spare the young man in Bring Him Home.

*In Prisoners, we see a father near-deranged when his daughter went missing. His desperation bordering on near-insanity reaches its peak in the hammer scene in the movie. But then we see his deep feelings at her loss... when he sees the bloodied sock of his daughter - his body trembles and tears well up in his eyes.


*In Logan, he discovers the love of a daughter and finds peace as he dies. The most beautiful dying scene in many a movie.

*In The Son, he is both a father and a son. He is desperate to help his adolescent son troubled by depression. He relives his own growing up experience with his selfish father. But he also did not realize that by trying not to act like his father he is not able to understand or appreciate what is leading his son to depression, that he himself has caused it when he makes him a child of divorce.

*In The Music Man, Harold Hill softens and draws out a young boy devastated by the loss of his father to a happier frame of mind, with the promise of a band that draws out the love of music & a spanking new uniform. But the most telling was the scene of the two gone fishing, as they whisper inanities to each other!


Jo

[jo]

Going through past interviews when the movie Les Mis was first released --

One interviewer told Hugh -- that he had seen it 5 times on Broadway...but he only fully understood the story when he saw the film adaptation!

Did you have the same experience?


Hugh did say that the story is essentially a story of redemption! I finally realized it is a story of redemption after reading the book and seeing the film. Initially when I saw it on stage for the first time, I thought it was all about the story of a revolution. Actually, the revolution phase was only part of the story of Jean Valjean.

That is why Valjean's Soliloquy is a key moment.

Sad to say that it was breezed over in the stage versions, as if they were in hurry to get to the next phase of the storyline.

It would have been appreciated if a director's commentary was given in the home video.

Jo

[jo]

In a sense - the stage version appealed more to the emotion... because of the impact of the many glorious songs, beautifully rendered on a live stage ---



while the film adaptation was more intellectual because it highlighted several key moments of the greatness of man:

*when Valjean realizes it is the grace of redemption (Soliloquy)

*when Javert declares his doubts in Stars, rather than the pompous delivery on stage

*when the contrast between the less privileged and the upper class was better contrasted ( explaining the revolt)

*when Valjean finally matures -- from when he saves the lookalike convict, when he gives up Cosette to the sleeping Marius in Bring Him Home, when he finally gives up his soul to the Creator ( Bring Me Home) and then is met by the man who gave him the grace of redemption.


Jo

[jo]

Amanda Seyfried shares how Hugh Jackman helped her in her scenes in Les Miserables.

HIGHLIGHTS
Amanda Seyfried felt supported and seen by Hugh Jackman during the difficult scene in Les Misérables. His warmth and compassion helped her feel more comfortable and confident.
Seyfried initially had confidence in singing live for the film but later realized her voice wasn't as strong as she wanted it to be. She regrets her performance and wishes she could redo it.
Since Les Misérables, Seyfried has been working on strengthening her voice and improving her vocal technique. She believes her singing has improved and feels she could now play the role of Cosette.
Amanda Seyfried first got the world's attention as Karen Smith in the teen cult classic Mean Girls. Her portrayal of the hilarious, less-than-smart member of the Plastics earned her rave reviews and added to the film's comedic genius.


She won the hearts of audiences again when she starred as Sophie in the film adaptation of the musical Mamma Mia. This time, she co-starred alongside Meryl Streep and showed viewers her singing chops. Needless to say, fans were very impressed.

However, it has been a long time since Seyfried sang by the time she shot her performance in Les Misérables. Her role in Tom Hooper's film adaptation of the famous musical earned her positive reviews. However, Seyfried herself has since said she wasn't happy with her singing voice.

It would be her scene partner, Hugh Jackman, who would help her through the tough shoot.





Amanda Seyfried Said She Felt Seen By Hugh Jackman While Shooting Their Scene Together

Seyfred did rave about working with Hugh Jackman and Hooper's directing, saying, "I love Hugh. Tom Hooper really knew what he was doing."


"I think Tom Hooper just wanted to find the humanity and keep it as grounded as possible, knowing that to start singing is abstract and a bit absurd," Seyfried said. "He was able to marry the two in a way that felt so natural. He created a world that just felt as real as it could get. And it didn't feel so crazy to start singing. We had months of rehearsal and he just got to the bottom of everything. It was so gritty."

"This scene with Hugh, it's very intimate. It's very beautiful and I love working with him. He's amazing. Yet, it was so quiet and it felt almost too quiet for me to feel comfortable singing and confident."

Seyfried shared some details on how Jackman helped her through the difficult scene.

"I wasn't breathing well enough," she said. "And I just remember him being so warm and knowing that I was struggling and just feeling like he was there for me. It's a beautiful scene. There's so much reality happening for me and when you trust your partner like that, even if you're feeling like s***, something real comes through and I'm able to speak-sing, which is a little better than hitting that high E."


"Hugh Jackman is the most present, really kindest person, human being who walked this earth. Everybody who has met him completely agrees. There's nobody like him. He's a good friend, but he's very paternal as well. And I think that I just felt totally seen by him. And when you're scared and the person you're with knows you're scared and accepts that you're scared, you feel less scared. That's his ability. It's his compassion."

"I just remember feeling like it didn't matter how it came out, that he was just right there with me and he didn't agree with me, that I was s***, and that's what a good parent does, a good friend does."

Amanda Said She Was Initially Confident About Singing Live In 'Les Misérables'
In a 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Seyfried discussed her performance in Les Misérables and mentions the unique way director Tom Hooper filmed the musical numbers.

"I thought singing live was the best idea ever," she said. "I knew how tricky it was going to be. I was very scared by it, but I also knew that so much comes out of singing your emotions and it's such a beautiful expression of where you are in your feelings."




"I knew that I was taking a risk by doing it," Seyfried added, mentioning she auditioned six times for the role.

Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried were both nervous about Mean Girls, at least at first.
Despite her confidence in the beginning, Seyfried said that she eventually realized her voice wasn't as strong as it could've been.

"I knew I wasn't where I wanted to be vocally, because I had quit singing for many years. And I had only done Mamma Mia, and that was, like, a session or two. And this was going to be... I needed stamina, I needed strength, I needed to be able to sing in real time."

Amanda Has Since Said That She Regrets Her Performance In 'Les Misérables' And Wishes She Could Redo It
In 2021, Seyfried spoke with fellow actress Vanessa Kirby for Variety's "Actors on Actors" series. During the conversation, Seyfried revealed that she wasn't happy with her performance in Les Misérables, particularly her singing.



"I have had a lot of moments where I just felt complete regret. I wish I could redo Les Misérables completely because the live singing aspect, I still have nightmares about it," she said.

"Singing is more indulgent than acting in some ways," she continued. "I feel like when I have emotional scenes, where I get to really cry and feel what I’m actually feeling and be present in that, it feels really good and cathartic because crying is really cathartic. Singing is the same way. Just like, emoting through music and melody is so magical. When you feel like you’ve gotten there, where your voice is where it needs to be and your voice is as strong as it needs to be. And it wasn’t on [Les Misérables]."



Seyfried was ultimately upset with the way her singing sounded and criticized her vocal performance, saying, "I was very weak."

Still, Seyfried said that she believes her singing voice has improved a lot since, and said she could "definitely play Cosette now."

"I've been working diligently ever since Les Mis to work on strengthening my voice and have some kind of stamina, working on my vibrato, which was just completely lost," Seyfried explained. "From a very technical standpoint, I was very unhappy with my singing."

[jo]

Isnt' February 14 the day that they are re-releasing Les Miserables, with a remastered version?

One of the most memorables scene came from the ending of this film adaptation. As someone said, a movie ending where everyone in the audience cries


Here's the exceptional ending --




To this day -- I cannot accept that Hugh Jackman did not win the Oscar for his interpretation of the Valjean role!


Jo

[jo]

Matthew Rimmer
@matthewrimmer
·
4h
#LesMisérables (2012; 2024 remaster)

Good to revisit at the cinema. The remaster and remix gives greater picture quality and distinctly sharper sound.

The film moves with great fluidity - credit to Director Tom Hooper.

Hugh Jackman is great amongst a strong, starry cast.

JoAB
@joab46466753
This film adaptation should have won the Best Picture Oscar & Best Actor for Hugh Jackman. The story is timeless, the dramatization is impressive & the cinematic vision is well-executed!

[jo]

Post

Kaitlin 🌟💗🌟💗
@kaitiemily
·
53m
At the Les Mis reissue and taking my bathroom break. (Hugh Jackman singing Bring Him Home)




JoAB
@joab46466753
·
23m
I view the new interpretation of BHHome by HughJackman as more faithful to the book by VHugo. Valjean was initially jealous of Marius taking Cosette away. He showed his concern when Gavroche gave him the letter of Marius to Cosette. He went to the barricade with that in mind 1/2



JoAB
@joab46466753
At the barricade he saw how dire the situation was for the young rebels. He thought of how Cosette would feel if anything happened to Marius. Valjean, loving his daughter, ignored his jealousy of Marius and pleaded with God to spare him. BHHome is the contrast in emotions.
11:17 AM · Feb 24, 2024

·

Replying to @joab46466753 and @kaitiemily

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Kaitlin 🌟💗🌟💗
@kaitiemily
·
16m
Oh, I just really hate Bring Him Home as a song and I also had downed a large Dr Pepper in less than two hours.



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
15m
Many key passages in Hugo novel ignored in stage musical brought back in film adaptation: 2nd epiphany(love for Cosette in"Suddenly"),flight to convent where they would spend many yrs(why Cosette was raised gently),Marius social background,Javert's concern about his moral code.etc)

[jo]

Luiz Fernando
@luiz_Fernando_J
#Universal’s #Dolby re-release of 2012 musical movie #LesMisérables starring #HughJackman, #RussellCrowe, #AnneHathaway, #AmandaSeyfried and many others over just 162 Dolby theatres grossed solid 160k at US #BoxOffice on FRI Reissue day, a nice $988 average per theatre, lifting its lifetime US cume to 149M.
Eyeing a 400k-500k 3-day re-release weekend in the US!

[jo]

David H. Montgomery
@dhmontgomery
·
2h
So you're reading LES MISÉRABLES for the first time. Some tips to interpret it:
- This isn't the French Revolution. It's set 1815-1832, after Napoleon's downfall
- Cosette = The Republic. Jean Valjean = Everyman.
- Hugo thinks social forces are more important than individuals



David H. Montgomery
@dhmontgomery
·
2h
- There are extended "digressions" from the core plot. These set up Hugo's core themes!
- Sometimes the language is pretty; just enjoy it and don't worry about understanding it
- If a reference confuses you, Hugo's probably making a complicated pun that doesn't translate



David H. Montgomery
@dhmontgomery
·
2h
This incomplete list compiled by myself and a number of friends in a Les Misérables reading group!



John Quast
@johnsquast
·
1h
I read it my junior year of HS? It was the harder option of two tracks in an AP Lit class. For a long time I could claim I might be the only person in America who had read the book but not seen the musical, but the Hugh Jackman theatrical release got me.





JoAB
@joab46466753
·
15m
I first saw the stage musical on Bway. Bought a copy of the full-text edition of the novel&a copy of the London cast recording.I happened to travel to France - bought a copy of the original Paris recording (1980). Saw the show again in London.Started collecting various albums1/2


JoAB
@joab46466753
·
11m
Bought the book by Edward Behr on how theEngish version stage musical was developed. Eventually went to Paris. Saw a French version at Mogador. Started collecting concert versions. Learned about the film adaptation. Joined IMDB group following the filming.


JoAB
@joab46466753
·
6m
Filming did not follow the timeline of the script...but exciting times. Film's top sound man joined us(he eventually won anOscar for his work).Copy of script was downloaded w/ screeners - we got a copy.Finally saw film adaptation. Wow!Thrilled when it was nominated for an Oscar!


JoAB
@joab46466753
·
3m
Saw the Oscars...incl the reprise of One Day More. Even Spielberg&DDLewis from rival Lincoln camp cheered. Disappointed it did not win Best Picture & HughJackman for BestActor.Came back to Paris - traced places from the story. Saw it live again -in Asia from a new Oz production.



JoAB
@joab46466753
Finally, saw HughJackman before he filmed Les Mis while on Bway for his show BackOnBway. He signed an artcard of LesMis and a LesMis button. Gave him a copy of Complete Symphonic Recording!
Les Miserables will always be a personal favorite!

[jo]

Postscripts:

A footnote: Michael Ball,whom I first saw in ASPECTS OF LOVE, was original Marius. Would eventually sing the Valjean role at a Windsor Castle state dinner & concert for France PM...then Javert role in a concert version in London. Hey, he also sang "I Dreamed A Dream" in 1 of his albums.



JoAB
@joab46466753
·
3h
Own the original French concept album? Basis of the French production in Paris 5 yrs ahead of the English-Mackintosh production. But the novel itself would show us that many passages from it were not shown in the musicalized version although many(were) restored in the film adaptation.

[jo]

Nico di Angelo 🔱
@cdzwest
séria se o Goat hugh jackman não tivesse protagonizado os 2 maiores que existem vulgo, Os miseráveis e O rei do show!!!

Translated from Portuguese by Google:

seriously if Goat hugh jackman hadn't starred in the 2 biggest ones that exist, known as Les Miserables and The Greatest Showman!!!

@vadercomics
·
Mar 13
eu amo la la land, mas existem outros musicais excelentes tbm, dito isto deixo aqui mamma mia como exemplo e o maioral entre eles.

Translated from Portuguese by Google

I love la la land, but there are other excellent musicals too, having said that, I leave mamma mia here as an example and the greatest among them.

JoAB
@joab46466753
·
14m
Mamma Mia! while enjoyable to many is technically not an original musical. In the theatre, it is known as a jukebox musical, because no song was original to the show. All are taken from the ABBA songbook.


JoAB
@joab46466753

LesMiserables is a film adaptation of the VictorHugo novel & its musicalized version. Due to heightened drama of the story, actors who can sing but with strong dramatic skills filled the cast, w/ some B'way & West End talent. Hugh Jackman is a film actor who has starred on Bway & West End.


JoAB
@joab46466753
The Greatest Showman can proudly say it is an original movie musical. Announced in 2009 as a Hugh Jackman project,it took 8 yrs to be developed & released, with original songs written by Pasek & Paul. It is inspired by the story of Barnum's development of mass entertainment (aka showbiz)

[jo]

chloe 🐢
@sadpphicstanza
·
40m
does anybody know what accent hugh jackman is trying to do in les mis? it seems to be different in every song



JoAB
@joab46466753
The original work(by VHugo)is in French. First musicalized in Paris(1980),then an English adaptation in 1985. Film adaptation derives from the Hugo work&the musicalized version. As to which accent - does it really matter 😊
It's the acting choice which the singing complements.

If people want to be technical, they should all be singing with a French accent. First, the original work is in French. The story happens in France at a tumultuous time in its history ( after the French Revolution). The names are all distinctly French ( Jean Valjean/Javert/Fantine/Cosette) but the essence of this dramatic musical is to tell the story, with singing complementing the acting choices.

Jo

[jo]

Added these tweets --

JoAB
@joab46466753
To have an idea of a cast singing in the musical's original French language, Boublil&Schonberg released an original concept album, IIRC after the musical was first staged in Paris. Lucky to have gotten a recording of selected songs from the musical before release of concept album.

·


JoAB
@joab46466753
·
3s
Interesting facts from the album:
*Valjean was written as a baritone role & sung by a French baritone.
*A La Volonte Du Peuple"(DoYouHear...) was the original thematic music.
*The melody of the English "OnMyOwn" belonged to Fantine (" La Misere").

[jo]

Finally, a full-out emotional performance of BRING HIM HOME

(Just like Hugh JacKman sang it in the film adaptation).

Msny people derided the way Hugh sang it because they said that in the stage play it was sung as a prayer.

But in the film adaptation, Hugh Jackman gave it a fuller interpretation --

*Initially, he felt jealous of Marius taking away his beloved daughter Cosette. When Gavroche mistakenly gives him Marius's farewell note to Cosette...Valjean decides to see the situation in which his daughter's beloved was in. Arriving at the barricades, he saw how little the student force was and how not strongly defensible their position was. He looks at the sleeping students, including Marius... and at that moment, pleaded with God to spare the young man. To bring him home!

It was a more alive interpretation of what was going on in his mind... and he becomes emotional as he pleaded for deliverance for Marius,

Here - Hugh's version of BRING HIM HOME --

[jo]

The continuing debate --

fbf | Fleabag θΔ
@femmeboiroy
·
42m
Hahaha I've only ever done comms for the back hit, honey pot 6 and plus side smackdown. Tho PSS got the arti special and me and shrug talked about the best Jean valjean through a set. Pic related


#JKS | ForestFather
@ess_forestfire
·
40m
I’ve never seen the other one but I’m a Hugh Jackman fan through and through



fbf | Fleabag θΔ
@femmeboiroy
·
38m
All I'm saying is the 25th anniversary les mis smokes the movie




JoAB
@joab46466753
The movie is not a filmed version of the stage musical.
Its cinematic vision is to focus on the drama&character development, with singing complementing acting choices.Many passages in the original novel by VHugo were given their proper places in the film (missed in the musical).


JoAB
@joab46466753
·
15m
TheSoliloquy(1st epiphany-the grace of redemption changing a man's life)was breezily treated on stage.2nd epiphany(Valjean finding love thru little Cosette,via Suddenly)was ignored on stage. No Escape to the convent( where Cosette was gently raised by nuns&Valjean finding refuge)


JoAB
@joab46466753
Marius social background ignored on stage. The treachery of the Thenardiers not emphasized, only portraying them as buffoons on stage, the doubts in Javert's mind shown in film which made his suicide more meaningful, the harrowing decline in Fantine, the role of Gavroche, etc


JoAB
@joab46466753
·
11m
Maybe a matter of preference,but while the stage version is also my favorite stage musical(having seen it many times-Bway/London/Paris/Asia&a large recordings collection), I prefer the film adaptation because it highlights the drama of Hugo's novel in a realistic & profound way!



JoAB
@joab46466753

Finally, I like the way the original musical theme (A La Volonte du Peuple in the original Paris version...or Do You Hear the People Sing) was restored in its rightful place in the film adaptation!

[jo]

Many versions of Les Miserables --
*Dramatic but straight dialog
*Sung-thru dialog/recitative

📚Mémo’Art d’Adrien📚
@memoart_dadrien
·
18h
Dans ma vidéo sur mon analyse des Misérables, j’évoque les différentes adaptations de ce roman sur grand écran, en manga, en jeux vidéos ou même en comédie musicale.

Quant à vous, quelle adaptation du chef d’œuvre de Victor Hugo retenez-vous ?


Quote
📚Mémo’Art d’Adrien📚
@memoart_dadrien
·
Apr 6
Ça y est ! Ma vidéo sur Les Misérables de Victor Hugo, ce roman des romans, est publiée sur ma chaîne YouTube !

youtu.be/w90VEvUo4t8?feature=shared
🦓Dominique Hoffman🖋️



@zebras54
Je préfère la version avec Jean Gabin, ensuite celle avec Lino Ventura et enfin celle avec Hugh Jackman.

Un livre remarquable.



Translated from French by Google :


I prefer the version with Jean Gabin, then the one with Lino Ventura and finally the one with Hugh Jackman.

A remarkable book.




JoAB
@joab46466753

HughJackman's portrayal delivered a very credible Valjean!Visibly changed by grace of redemption, strong in his beliefs & humane!

A testament to Jackman's skills that he can sing the libretto while giving an exceptional portrayal of the man fromHugo's novel!
Should have won an Oscar!

[jo]

[jo]

Apr 18, 2024 9:07:16 GMT -5 jo said:

JoAB
@joab46466753

Do you hear the people sing?