4.5 out of 5.

Les Miserables follows the life of Jean Valjean, also known as prisoner 24601, who is released from French prison after 19 years on the chain gang. He breaks parole to start a new life for himself while trying to evade the grip of Inspector Javert. The movie is set in the background of the June Rebellion.

The movie brings together an all-star cast that includes Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Russell Crowe. Although much of the cast has never had Broadway experience, the musical talents that each star possessed excelled.

Throughout the movie, you are given comic relief from a band of misfits called the Thenardiers. Monsieur Thenardier and his wife(played by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter) are essentially con men who run a dilapidated inn and are hell bent on taking every possible penny from their guests.

Overall, the movie pollowed the plotline of the Broadway perfectly. Audiences approved of the new song entitled  “Suddenly” that was added to the movie. It fit very well into the movie and helped with translating from one scene to another.

Although, one critique is that Hugh talked through much of his ringing roles and that was annoying because there is so much emotion behind the lyrics of Valjean’s songs and that emotion failed to come through. Even so, this movie is highly recommended.