Les Misérables becomes an even more intimate spectacle on home video

When I reviewed Les Misérables back in December for its theatrical release, I commented on how this epic production was surprisingly intimate because of director Tom Hooper’s use — some might say over-use — of extreme close-ups during some of the movie’s big musical numbers. The film version of the beloved stage musical certainly divided fans of the show because of its not exactly strict adaptation from stage to screen, and a lot of movie-goers felt that the close-ups were more than a little over-powering on a giant movie screen. Of course, the biggest complaint came at the expense of Russell Crowe’s singing ability, or lack thereof depending on how you felt about him, but I still defend his voice. It’s not a “Broadway voice” by any means, and that fact alone set him apart from the rest of the cast who did have the ability to belt their tunes to the back of the house. He wasn’t bad, but his voice just didn’t mesh well with the others or the material. But kudos to him for giving it a shot. It certainly wasn’t enough to ruin the movie, for me anyway.

And now, with the movie newly released on a variety of home video formats, viewers can re-assess their initial thoughts about the film experience, good or bad. Theatrically, I had more of an issue with the thinness of the orchestra. Having seen the show live many times, I didn’t think the film score had the same oomph as a live orchestra. I don’t know if any major remixing has been done for the video release, or if perhaps the cineplex just had a lousy sound system, but the aural experience with the Blu-ray’s 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio let the voices shine front and center (with some nice directional effects corresponding to a character’s placement on screen) while allowing the orchestra to swell powerfully through the surround speakers, along with the directional sound effects (waves, gunfire, crowds). I really found the audio mix to be much more pleasing than the theatrical experience, even as it emphasized some of the limitations in the actors’ voices … but that also gives the performances another level of realness. The fact that all of the singing was captured live during filming is a major accomplishment and the process is very well represented on the video release. For the record, the DVD’s 5.1 Dolby Digital mix is just as good.

The film image on Blu-ray is an accurate representation of the film, nicely highlighting the shift from darkness in the first half of the movie to a brighter future by the film’s conclusion (even if the ending is more than a little bittersweet). The color palette Hooper employed is also represented well, with colors very muted in the first part of the movie, becoming more vibrant as the story progresses. Best of all, the close-ups during Anne Hathaway’s and Samantha Barks’ single-take songs, are less over-powering, more intimate, giving you much more of an emotional punch as the actors are closer to life-size than they are on a movie screen. Hooper’s choice to give the film this kind of intimacy that isn’t possible with the stage show now seems to be a much better decision than it was originally. The DVD’s standard definition, 16×9 image is also very acceptable.

Fans of the movie (and the book or show) should be interested in the extras included on the Blu-ray and DVD. At the top of the list is Hooper’s audio commentary. It may be a little dry at times, but it’s very informative as he explains some of his directorial choices like adding scenes to help bring more emotional depth to a character’s journey (the dinner scene with Valjean and the Bishop, for example, that was not in the show, or the scene where Valjean brings young Cosette home for the first time … a scene that is in the book and required a new song to be written by the show’s original team), and changing or cutting some lyrics and rearranging the placement of Anne Hathaway’s “I Dreamed a Dream” number (which may have even helped her win that Oscar) thanks to a suggestion by Eddie Redmayne. It’s a very informative track that also talks about the whole process of recording live, the locations, working with the original writers, and some of the cast’s acting decisions (Hathaway wanted to lose weight and have her hair cut on-screen, while Jackman had to bulk up over the course of the film, which required a lot of it to be shot in chronological order).

Also included on the Blu-ray is a one-hour behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production, “Les Misérables: A Revolutionary Approach,” which can be viewed in six separate segments or in its entirety. The segments are broken down in the following chapters:

• The Stars of Les Misérables (11 minutes) — A look at the casting for the film, including Jackman’s regime to prepare for the role (including some behind the scenes looks at his rock hard body), and Hathaway’s desire to lose weight for the role and have her hair cut on screen.
• The West End Connection (8 minutes) — The producers discuss the importance of including original Jean Valjean, Colm Wilkinson, in the film, and Samantha Barks’ journey to the role of Eponine. The piece also highlights some of the West End and Broadway cast members who appear in small roles. (Blu-ray only)
• Les Misérables On Location (9 minutes) — A look at shooting on locations like the dry dock that opens the film, and all of the various locations that give the film its epic scope. (Blu-ray only)
• Creating the Perfect Paris (4 minutes) — A look at rebuilding the Paris of the story which no longer exists in reality.
• Battle at the Barricade (5 minutes) — Creating the barricade scene and how most of it was shot in real time with the cast actually building the structure in about 10 minutes. (Blu-ray only)
• Les Misérables Singing Live (23 minutes) — Tom Hooper and the cast discuss the decision and process of recording the actors singing live on set, and takes a look at a particularly trying moment during the recording of the film’s score. (Blu-ray only)

The Blu-ray and DVD also include the 11-minute “The Original Masterwork: Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables” which is a short bio of the author that tells how his work inspired the actors, and how the character of Marius was inspired by Hugo himself. It gives a nice historical account of Hugo’s life and the inspirations for the story.

Overall, if you were a fan of the movie, you will definitely want to add this to your video collection, and even for those who love the show but hated the movie, it might be worth giving it a second look. I know I have definitely come away with a new appreciation for the movie and for all of the hard work that went into its making.