to think that Russell Crowe is really not that bad in Les Mis?

(165 Posts)
Lottapianos Tue 22-Jan-13 16:33:19

Just back from seeing the film and I LOVED IT! I saw the stage show about 10 years ago and it was great hearing all the songs again. I thought all the singers were absolutely fabulous apart from Russell Crowe - but I had been led to believe he was a total disaster and massacred all the songs. I thought he did fine - apart from 'Stars' which was a real disappointment (such a beautiful song). He really looked the part and super hunky in his lovely uniform. I don't think he disgraced himself with his singing at all. He was hardly Pierce Brosnan in Mamma Mia grin

Thought Hugh Jackman's voice was about 90% great, a few wobbles though. The start of 'Bring Him Home' was not good.

BinkyWinky Tue 22-Jan-13 17:06:34

Lets face it, with a face like that he could sing like a dying cat and he'd be really quite good.

I thought he was pretty good, though as you said, Stars could have been better. Over all though, I was very impressed with the whole thing!

bea Tue 22-Jan-13 17:22:59

although I wouldn't voluntarily listen to him singing stars on a cd... it's okay in the film... and dare I say not bad? It sorts of fits in the film...I actually like his Javert... his Javert in the film fits and although he doesn't belt it out... belting out the songs wouldn't have been right in the film... although I do really miss the violin riff (for want of a better word) at the beginning of stars....

Loved loved the film... am trying to see it Imax as that would be amazing!!!

Otherworld Tue 22-Jan-13 17:26:35

Take me home had me wanting to leave / wishing it would end soon. By the end of it I was starting to giggling. I think they call it vibrato but it sounded awful to me.

Thought RC was OK but then I'm a philistine who had never seen the stage show so I have nothing to compare it too.

Otherworld Tue 22-Jan-13 17:27:23

Argh. I meant compare it to.

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE Tue 22-Jan-13 17:28:06

TBH I'm just impressed they sang them all live! I think that's great.

Zalen Tue 22-Jan-13 17:28:30

I went to see it on Friday, I'll admit that 5 minutes in, watching Russell Crowe and Hugh Jackman singing to each other in the bottom of a dry dock I was thinking I'd made a huge mistake and wondering if I could get my money back if I left then.

I didn't though, I stayed and I absolutely loved it, I was close to tears for probably half the movie (always the sign of a good movie in my opinion) and it was the suicide that actually set me off and I then cried for the majority of the rest of the film. As I was driving away I desperately wanted to turn around and go back to watch it again, I'll definitely see it again before it finishes in cinemas if at all possible and will be pre-ordering the dvd asap. I've listened to the soundtrack album about 5 times since getting home.

Lottapianos Tue 22-Jan-13 17:30:07

There was lots of sniffing and a bit of sobbing in the cinema at the end when I watched it. I didn't cry but the whole thing was very moving. It must have been so exhausting to film and perform!

The lady sat next to me quietly cried through the entire movie!

puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE Tue 22-Jan-13 17:32:21

That will be me Im grin

I cry just listening to the songs on youtube.

ProPerformer Tue 22-Jan-13 17:32:53

I think he was just fine in the part! I'm afraid I'm not brill on the actors names, but I thought the worst singer was the girl playing Cosette. Don't get me wrong, she was perfectly in tune and had a sweet voice, but her whole technique seemed to be everything my vocal teacher keeps telling me not to do! Might be because I'm going for a more rounded 'chest voice' rather than the more reedy 'head voice' that she uses. Her voice is, as I said, fine, just not the timbre I personally like to listen to! I'm happy for other's to disagree though.

Hope that all made sense - I'm currently sitting shivering and sipping hot choc after being caught in a snowstorm picking DS up from nursery!

GaryBarlowsPants Tue 22-Jan-13 17:33:27

I absolutely loved it and thought Russell was great. Hats off to all the actors who sang live throughout the film.
Not sure I would buy the CD though.

ProPerformer Tue 22-Jan-13 17:35:39

Of course, the best singer, hands down, was Colm Wilkinson as the bishop! I won't be disagreed with in that!! Lol (but then I'm his no 1 fan! )

Jojobump1986 Tue 22-Jan-13 17:38:01

Overall he was fine but all the way through Stars I was just waiting for it to swell & getting v frustrated. It's my absolute favourite song & he ruined it. Hmph.

I agree about Cosette. Her voice really grated on me - made me think of Snow White. Far too warble-y!

Loved the film & can't wait to get it on DVD, lock myself in a room & show RC how Stars should be sung! wink

SirBoobAlot Tue 22-Jan-13 17:46:50


He was hopeless.

Have seen better amateur performances.

WilsonFrickett Tue 22-Jan-13 17:48:00

YABU. He murdered Stars. Absolutely murdered it. Flat and nasal.
Amanda Seyfried was pretty good I thought, but Cosette is such a mimsy part there's not much you can do with it.
Hathaway. OMG The Lady Hathaway.
<crumbles just remembering I dreamed a dream>

I've just got back from seeing it and it was ok. Anne Hathaway was fabulous! If I never hear Amanda seyfried sing again ill be happy. Russell Crowe did better than I thought he would and I didn't know Hugh jackman could sing. Yes it was a bit dodgy in places but he did pretty good.
I've never seen the stage show so can't compare. I thought it was good not brilliant. I have a feeling seeing it on stage would be a hundred times better.

MrsWolowitz Tue 22-Jan-13 18:22:03


I loved him as Javert. Yes his singing was the weakest but it wasn't bad stars was pretty poor though I thought he played Javert really well and showed his conflicted heart and head really well in the suicide scene.

I dreamed a dream was amazing but I actually wept at Empty Chairs. Until then I had been a bit meh about Marius but his performance in that song was amazing and so moving. <sob>

I bought the soundtrack and its on loop in my car apart from Stars which I skip grin

WilsonFrickett Tue 22-Jan-13 18:39:33

Bring him home floored me and it's normally one I skip over. Think it was it being so close and because it was cinema he could just sing it without having to project it. Agree re Marius too.

I thought Russell did Javert ever so well. I'd had my doubts about him in the part, but thoroughly enjoyed it when I saw it. The bit with the medal had me sobbing (well, most of the film had me sobbing blush) and his voice was decent enough - he's never going to be Elvis or Pavarotti, but he did what he had to do.
The only other thing I've ever liked RC in was Romper Stomper and he basically plays a thug in that so it suited him down to the ground grin so Les Mis was a pleasant surprise, I was worried he would spoil it but nothing could be further from the truth, he helped make it so GOOD grin

bea Tue 22-Jan-13 19:30:36

this is actually quite nice!

first impressions... wasn't keen... but now? i'm actually warming to him!

toboldlygo Tue 22-Jan-13 19:36:33

That studio version is pretty darn good.

skaen Tue 22-Jan-13 19:43:14

I agree Op. I've never seen the stage show or listened to the CD (and expected to hate it but DH wanted to see it...) but I have read the book.

RC's singing wasn't as good as the others but he is a very good actor and got the relentlessness of Javert over; I thought Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne were fantastic. Absolutely brilliant. Especially AH having to sing 'I dreamed a dream' and make it sound real and not Susan Boyle esq. I hope they get the oscars.

Marius' friend who led the revolution was also really good but I hadn;t seen him in anything before.

RC wasn't bad, but he wasn't good either at the singing and he knows it! He played Javert extremely well I thought, just lacked power in the voice.

Fantastic film version.

Join the discussion

Join the discussion


Register now