We’ve been giddy with anticipation for Tom Hooper’s upcoming film version of Les Miserables for quite some time, wondering how much it will differ from the beloved musical.Well, to paraphrase Stephen Sondheim, now we know — since we got a gimipse of William Nicholson, Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Herbert Kretzmer’s film screenplay. (You can find it too if you know where to look.)
True, a few songs are in different places, but the screenplay appears surprisingly faithful to the stage version, and even goes the extra mile to add certain details from Victor Hugo’s original novel.
We’re also anxious to see how Hooper filmed such tantalizing stage directions as “Whore 3 bites her fingertip and applies her blood to rouge Fantine’s cheeks,” during the song “Lovely Ladies.” (As we all know, Fantine is played by the lovely Anne Hathaway, who shaved her head for the role to play the tragic character –who sells her hair (and teeth!) to make money to feed her young daughter.)
In addition to Hathaway, the star-studded cast includes Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, and Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen as the Thenardiers.
As for actually “seeing” the film, this trailer will have to do for now — until Christmas Day, when the film hits theaters.
