Les Miserables (2012)

This film screams Oscar nominations and guessing how the Hollywood elite vote will likely take several home. It's already nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards. I saw it yesterday with my wife and grown daughter. We went out of curiosity since we only knew the story from its reputation as a hugely successful Broadway musical based on the very long and famous book by Victor Hugo. Set in post-revolutionary France it deals with the rebellion and the French penal/justice system and the people caught up in it. The title loosely translates to The Miserable Ones.

All of that said, we did not enjoy it much. We have friends who are big fans of the play (much like gwsat) who convinced us it was worth seeing. At the risk of exposing the Joe Six-pack and uncultured part of my personality I will say that the film is a 157 minute butt numbing spectacle that I doubt I will ever watch again. It's genesis is as an opera but there is no operatic singing in this film, it's already been criticized on that point by people more knowledgeable than I. If you are a fan of the play by all means go, if you're on the fence wait for the video version, at least you'll be able to push pause and go to the bathroom or get another glass of wine (you'll need it).