Les Mis Movie - Photos and Articles

[Fan2]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 9:58pm

Two articles and new photos ahead of the trailer release:

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-05-28/les-miserables-singing/55253056/1

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/story/2012-05-28/les-miserables-first-look/55253344/1

Photo page:

http://mediagallery.usatoday.com/Les+Miserables-From+Stage+to+Screen/G3938?loc=interstitialskip

[jo]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 10:13pm

It looks like major publicity for the movie is starting, with the release of the trailer on MSN.com, on Wednesday, May 30 and with the movie SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN on Friday!

Great photos - everybody looks beautiful - LOL!

[willep]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 10:56pm

Samantha Barks looks crazy skinny. That shouldn't be humanly possible to be that skinny.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 10:57pm

^ I noticed that too!

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 11:16pm

I am ready for some photos of Aaron Tveit as Enjolras...

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 11:25pm

I really want this movie to be good, everyone seems so committed to it, I love the idea of live singing. Cannot wait to read reviews and, of course, to actually watch it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 11:26pm

The buckle is nearly more wide than she!

[HBP]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 11:34pm

"The tale of love...will feature live performances instead of following the tradition of actors lip-syncing to a pre-recorded track.

Tom Hooper, Oscar-winning director of The King's Speech, wouldn't have it any other way.

"If you are miming to a playback, even if the synchronization is done very well, there is a part of you that knows something is off, something is false," he says. "When it's live, you believe it so much more. The actors have complete freedom rather than following a recording done three months before."

----

That just makes me so excited. I know it's not news, but he is so right. It's one of the reasons I can't watch Sweeney Todd (along with many other musicals) over and over. Tom Hooper did a wonderful job with The King's Speech, I am so excited for what he does with Les Mis.

Regarding Samantha Barks: Her waist is wayyy too thin. She does not look like a young, emaciated Parisian girl living on the streets. She looks like a too-skinny hipster fashion model who was caught in the rain. She's not frail in a hungry way, but in an eating disorder way. Very strange looking in that photo - I hope it was doctored or just a weird angle.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/28/12 at 11:36pm

There's probably a corset in there. She does look way out of proportion.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 1:20am

Samantha naturally has a full face and it gives off the impression she is "healthy," which causes all sorts of WTF reactions when you actually see she is not at all chubby, not even slightly.

She actually reminds me a lot of Frances Ruffelle, who has the same fullness to her face. Both gorgeous gals.

Not crazy about Eponine's costume. Looks too stylish and she doesn't look poor at all. But here's hoping the character isn't like that for the whole film.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 2:19am

Enjolras

[peachesr82]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 3:57am

Regarding Samantha Barks, she is actually quite tiny anyway, but a proper vintage corset really does make you tiny when it's fitted properly. She's been wearing a corset in Oliver too so it's not like she's not used to running about and singing in one. The skirt will have a number of layers too presumably so that'll widen her hips. I don't see an issue with it.
It all looks great to me, shame we haven't got any Aaron though. Looking forward to Wednesday to see the trailer. I think this film deserves plenty of positivity, I hope people really take to on release.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 5:10am

Banks looks healthy to me- honestly that's just what a small framed girl in a corset looks like-the average corseted waist size for a petite young women in the 18th/19th century waaron the area of 20 inches. It's a shocking look to us now but that is period authentic.

Updated On: 5/29/12 at 05:10 AM

[jo]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 5:23am

Quote:

>>>But delays got in the way. Mackintosh, however, believes the wait was fortunate. For one, technology has improved to the point that actors are actually performing the sung dialogue and songs live rather than miming to a pre-recorded track, as is usually the case with movie musicals. For another, there is a whole pool of stars these days capable of carrying a tune.

"We have found actors who naturally express themselves through music," says Mackintosh, who opted for mostly big names. "Did a Hugh Jackman exist 25 years ago, someone with that experience both on the stage and in the cinema?"<<<


**************************************************************

Interesting comment by Cameron Mackintosh on the timely casting of the movie musical. It seems that he is saying that the STARS aligned in the casting of this filmization of the stage musical/novel.

Paraphrasing him -- "Did a Hugh Jackman exist 25 years ago, someone with that experience both on the stage and in the cinema?" ???


Updated On: 5/29/12 at 05:23 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 6:43am

The only actor that comes to mind from the past is Sean Connery, who started out in the chorus of the original "South Pacific" in London. But after he became James Bond and a movie star, that was it.

He did sing in Darby O'Gill and the Little People (pre-James Bond), and he wasn't bad. Just not "musical star" material. Good thing he found the movies and they found him.

I can't think of any other male performers.

Patrick Wilson is a solid working actor in both media, but he's not a star on the level of Hugh Jackman (especially in film).

EDIT: As far as Barks, she just doesn't look period to me the way the others do. I still think it's the hair, even if she doesn't have bangs in that shot. It still doesn't look like a period hairstyle at all.

Updated On: 5/29/12 at 06:43 AM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 7:56am

Great thread

[Dave19]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 8:14am

"Hooper says he hopes the results of the live-singing deliver those "spine-tingling moments" he appreciated when he saw the stage show"

I hope that too. Because everything is recorded live, it's like recording a show, a live performance, it's essential to have magnificent singers.

The crystal clear high Cosette-note at the end of "A heart full of love" is what made my spine tingle.
Also the rising and soaring of the notes in "I dreamed a dream" made my spine tingle.

So let's wait and see.

"For another, there is a whole pool of stars these days capable of carrying a tune"

That does not comfort me at all. "carrying a tune" is NOT enough. Neither is "pretending the emotions take over from beautiful singing so you can get away with not singing the notes right". The music as it is written, the dynamics, the rising and soaring of the notes, is what makes or breaks "I dreamed a dream". The whispered, chirping, clip from Anne Hathaway makes me worried.

Don't get me wrong. I'm really excited about this film and appreciate everyone's dedication and work, but the thing with a musical on film is, that the singing and the way emotions are conveyed through the way the notes are placed is the most important thing. That makes or breaks a film. It's the only thing that counts.

Take Emmy Rossums's "Twisted every way" in the Phantom film. She's broken, she's crying, almost whispering, but it does not work. A good actress that can carry a tune is not good enough for a film like this.
If the singing is not outstanding it is going to feel silly that the character sings. And there are a lot of big ballads in this film.

I think that might be the biggest breaking point for this film. The most important thing is overshadowed by the sets, the stars, etc.

In my opinion you can have a dark, black room with a girl that knows how to place the notes so wonderfully that it can make me laugh and cry at the same time because the note is placed exactly right. Musical theatre singing is an art. If a person does not know how to do that, the singing will only be distracting and the audience is going to think; "why don't you just speak"? That's what I felt when I watched the Anne Hathaway clip.

With that said, I feel that Samantha Barks might be the female star of this movie.

Also, I'm getting tired of Amanda Seyfried's interviews about this project. I feel like she's constantly looking for excuses.
About the singing "not sure, but I will try, but don't blame me if it goes wrong" attitude.
"It is intense, living as a singer." Yes it is, but do we hear Hugh Jackman complain about that? No.
"about the live singing, no one has been tested this way before. We all are doing something revolutionary." Yes, what's your point? That you might fail the "test"? Or what? It's not a test, you have been chosen for this part because you are the one girl in the world that is the most perfect singer that knows how to convey emotions through singing. Please, just focus on telling the story through your notes instead of your excuses.

Updated On: 5/29/12 at 08:14 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 10:02am

Dave, this is very much a test. This has not been done before to this degree. I am sure that even the more experienced people on board are nervous about the outcome here. Not only could this method be disappointing, the actors are also singing for 12 straight hours on set. That is quite different than doing a two hour show or recording a few songs in a studio. Ms. Seyfried has every right to be nervous, taking these things into consideration. She has nervously accepted the challenge and hopes that she meets our expectations, and there is nothing wrong with stating that when asked.

I am also rather tired of your apprehension about the poorly recorded bootleg clip of Ms. Hathaway's singing. I suspect that you have already made up your mind about her performance in the film based on that clip, and you are unlikely to ever change your mind, even if she receives accolades from everyone else in the future.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 10:10am

Oh, FFS, Dave, give it up already.

[michellek45]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 10:10am

Regarding Samantha Barks- I think she just has a naturally small waist. If you look at photos of her from shoulders up, she looks skinny but healthy, but her waist is crazy tiny. Different body type, I guess. She looked that way for the 25th concert, too, though less extreme, which is probably because of the corset. Although, would a girl of Eponine's social standing be wearing a corset in this era?

Also, Dave19, I think you way missed the mark about Amanda Seyfried's comments. Saying that "It is intense, living as a singer" is the same thing as Michael Phelps saying "It is intense, living as an Olympic swimmer." It's not an excuse- it's just a fact that there are a lot of rules that have to be followed to keep up that career/level of performance. The "revolutionary" singing comments make her sound excited- I think everything she's said, especially with her first experience with the show, indicates that she really just wants to do justice to this movie.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 10:14am

Would you rather Amanda be over-confident, and the expectations not be met? Cosette's last note in A Heart Full of Love, as was said, is gorgeous but is high. While sources have said that Amanda is "classically trained," that does not mean she has the high soprano. While I do trust the casting agents and powers that be that cast her, casting agents and powers that be have been wrong before.

I would not be thrilled, but I would not be surprised if the song is lowered slightly, or if that note particularly is lowered. Look at what all was transposed down for Emmy Rossum.



Updated On: 5/29/12 at 10:14 AM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 10:17am

Now that you have mentioned Emmy Rossum's name you will get him started all over again. Thanks for that.

[Wynbish]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 10:30am

^ Yikes

Anyhoo, this is why I'm so glad Samantha was cast (regardless of costuming which is not her responsibility).

They could have cast an unknown as Cosette and a big name as Eponine, since that is the higher-profiled part. While Samantha may not be the best Eponine in the opinion of many, there is no doubt that the notes will be there.

Edited. Thanks, LizzieCurry Updated On: 5/29/12 at 10:30 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 10:42am

*Cosette

[broadway guy]

Posted: 5/29/12 at 11:04am

I loved the pictures! they really look stunning and Tom Hooper cleary knows what he is doing. My only fear with this movie is that it becomes so HYPED up that People wont like it even if it is really amazing.I feel like people have there own little vision of les mis on screen and if the movie is not EXACTLY how they visioned it, they will b angry. On the other hand...ITS LES MIS and ppl's anticipation should be very High.I just dont want another screen version of "evita".
I never really understoood why people are bashing Anne hatheway's IDAD. When i heard her sing it in the trailer i thought it was heart breaking. It seriously made me cry. i wathed that trailer 30 times in one day and was moved by her singing each time. You really felt something for poor fantine.
It was like she was holding onto a thread and that thread was about to break.
I really like that she is not trying to belt her way through the song or try making it "sound pretty". I saw les mis in london a couple years ago the actress playing fantine was great! her voice sounded amazing and she belted the song out of the park! but i wasnt moved by it like i am when i hear it on the trailer. I think a quiter version works for film, and belty works better for stage.Either way both are great.
Sadly i have a fear that they r going to lower the vocal part of cosette. I hope i am wrong.Its not that big of a deal but i just love the last high note she sings during "heart full of love".
Im really excited for Samantha Barks.I think she will be fantastic!!! People say she was a "safe choice" but i think its the exact opposite. This girl has never done a movie before ppl!.She is up against all these well known celebrities.How is that safe?
Im really hoping Les mis pulls a "chicago" and wins best picture and picks up some acting awards also.