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| Fantine (Anne Hathaway) is one of many characters who change the life of ex-convict, Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman). |
At the 83rd Academy Awards, Tom Hooper took home the top
prize for directing The King's Speech
and in just a short time of two years, he's already managed to surpass his own
success with a more confidently directed adaptation of the beloved Boublil
Broadway musical, Les Misérables. The
musical and this big screen version are based on the classic 19th century Victor
Hugo novel of the same name.
Les Misérables spans
nearly two decades chronicling the life of ex-convict Jean Valjean (Hugh
Jackman), who stole a loaf of bread to provide for his family. An insignificant
crime perhaps, but Valjean constantly finds himself at odds with police
inspector Javert (Russell Crowe), whose by-the-books mindset disrupts his
gradual reformation in becoming a respectable member of society. In the guise
of a well-off factory owner, Valjean's compassion is put to the test when one
of his employees (Anne Hathaway) is unjustly dismissed. Regretting his initial
ignorance of the situation, Valjean promises to adopt her mistreated daughter
child from a couple of exploitive innkeepers.