Russel Crowe vs. Paul Bettany...

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 3:29pm

Who do you want to see as Javert?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 3:32pm

Are those the only two choices?

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 3:35pm

Secret option c: Jeremy Irons.

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 3:38pm

Jeremy Irons would be amazing, but sadly, I think these two seem to be the main contenders. I would prefer Crowe. Bettany doesn't seem to have the emotional power for the performance, and we know Crowe can sing already.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 3:43pm

Why is Chaz Bono automatically out of the running? Because he used to be a woman? This thread is SEXIST!

[willep]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 3:49pm

I don't know if he can sing, but my choice would be Gary Oldman.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 5:47pm

Steve Guttenberg!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 6:56pm

Steve is busy with THREE MEN AND A BRIDE (which I'm actually excited about!)

[jo]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 7:37pm

Russell Crowe will probably be a better match-up against Hugh Jackman's Valjean!

When we were first discussing the possibility of a movie musical of LesMis on this board, I have always thought Hugh and Russell can portray either Valjean or Javert and even interchange them, but the pairing would be an inspired choice.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 7/22/11 at 7:46pm

Russel Crowe should have been Valjean, with Hugh Jackman as Javert. So they already messed it up...

[jo]

Posted: 7/23/11 at 3:30pm

Quite a number of music videos of Russell Crowe on YouTube --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjiOHMIxk2o

[jo]

Posted: 7/23/11 at 3:31pm

Here's another one --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNqgGk-9mNg&feature=related
Updated On: 7/23/11 at 03:31 PM

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/23/11 at 7:06pm

I'd pass on all those mentioned, and choose Christian Bale as Javert.

[jo]

Posted: 7/23/11 at 7:09pm

Have you seen NEWSIES?

Sadly, Bale has been quoted as saying he would not like to do any musical again. But he and Hugh were excellent antagonists in THE PRESTIGE.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/24/11 at 9:25am

Even assuming he could sing it (??), I don't see Bettany in any major role in Les Mis. If Russell Crowe can sing, I agree he is perfect for Valjean and also agree that as Javert he would be better matched with Jackman than Bettany would.

But Crowe is really right for Valjean. He looks like he's been through 20 years of jail and can still pick up a wagon. Jackman would also be more interesting as Javert, showing a very different side of him.

[JP2]

Posted: 7/24/11 at 9:30am

Michael Fassbender.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 7/24/11 at 9:55am

Will Crowe please just go away.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/24/11 at 10:21am

"But Crowe is really right for Valjean. He looks like he's been through 20 years of jail and can still pick up a wagon."

Exactly! Jackman looks to healthy and focused. Even when he's grunged-up. He'd be a good Javert, though. Plus I can't stand the idea of hearing his voice singing Valjeans songs. It's too grating.

I'm not sure Crowe has the vocal range for the part. In those song clips he sings all of three notes. Nice voice though, and he's right for the role.

Paul Bettany is kind of a cypher. He's always good, though. If he can sing it, he'd be a good Javert, but I still think Jackman is wrong for Valjean.

And we all know how important the casting of the leading man is in a musical (see "Nine" for an example of everything right on paper with one exception: he's wrong for the part).

[mamaleh]

Posted: 7/24/11 at 2:32pm

I think if you had seen Jackman's one-man concert in either San Francisco or Toronto, you'd be more optimistic about his casting as Valjean. His "Soliloquy" especially blew everyone away. I am so looking forward to the LES MIZ movie. Either Bettany or Crowe will do fine as Javert.

[jo]

Posted: 7/24/11 at 7:15pm

>>>His "Soliloquy" especially blew everyone away<<<

And it wasn't just the notes, it was the way he acted out the lyrics which blew everyone around!

I would hope that the movie singing Valjean does not sound as if he is singing to an opera audience - I am expecting dramatic nuances in the acting while the songs or recitatives are sung...or when dialog is spoken.


Updated On: 7/24/11 at 07:15 PM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/26/11 at 2:41pm

I saw Jackman with Audra in Carousel at Carnegie Hall and loved them both. I hope he is great as Jean Valjean, but I have trouble seeing him in the role and also don't see his voice as being a good match for the part.

It's not that Jackman isn't a good singer, it's that his voice is much better suited for Javert - an equally commanding role vocally - than for Valjean.

My favorite Jean Valjean of all time is the great Harry Bauer in the 1934 French film version, totally convincing as a rough, simple man who has a spiritual epiphany. Crowe has the exact same qualities.

It also boils down to how exciting it would be to watch Russell Crowe play a good man tormented by Hugh Jackman's self-righteous cop. The chemistry is perfect. The other way around it's a bore.

IMHO, of course.

Updated On: 7/27/11 at 02:41 PM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/27/11 at 12:12am

I agree that Hugh Jackman just doesn't fit Valjean that well. He looks gym buff, not like a strong, stocky peasant. And, yeah, Russell Crowe looks far more like he's spent years on a chain gang.