Fun
Les Misérables
Dear Ann,
You know what’s super fun to do on a gorgeous spring weekend afternoon, with the sun shining and the birds chirping, and the scent of blossoms on the breeze?
Stay inside and knit while watching all six episodes of a new television adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables, that’s what!
If you’re a fan of the long-running Broadway musical version of Les Misérables, aka Les Miz, brace yourself: there is no soaring melody, and precious little redemption of human souls. As the New York Times put it in its headline, “New Version of ‘Les Misérables’ Has Less Singing, More Misery.”
So. It’s not a toe-tapper. Hugh Jackman does not appear, no matter how hard you look for him. But this version interprets the novel with more humanity and nuance, and it’s compelling, even if you know what’s going to happen to the characters. At some places, knowing what was going to happen, I looked away and concentrated on my knitting instead.
Derek Jacobi and Olivia Colman are in it, so not watching it is not an option in this house.
Love,
Kay
Boring. Derek Jacobi yes please!!!! Olivia Colman no thanks. As my ma used to say, remember one mans meat is another mans poison . Enjoy!!!!
Loving this adaptation. So much closer to the novel.
I have only seen the first episode so far and it was difficult to shift from musical to drama in my head but I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to seeing the rest.
My plan is to simply sing the cast album along with the drama. I’m pretty sure I still know all the words.
Hi from the UK! I’m not a huge Olivia Colman fan either, but she is excellent in this (it screened over here a couple of months ago. And Dominic West is SUPERB as Jean Valjean <3
I hurt my back and am staring up at the ceiling…. an icky version of miserable for me
I will most def watch this. This story moves me deeply and I think Olivia Coleman is amazingly versatile. Aaaaand, since I sob uncontrollably every time I watch Anne Hathaway sing I Dreamed a Dream (Every. Time.), I’m relieved there’s no music…I think.
Grim, slow, & dreary. Reminds me why reading the novel was such a chore, even skipping over Hugo’s voluminous digressions. Watched the first segment, won’t be watching the rest. Not even for another too-brief glimpse of Derek Jacoby at work.
We had to read this in seventh grade. All my friends were really grumpy about why we had to read this old, long book. I had read a lot of ‘old, long’ books by then and I campaigned hard for them to at least give it a chance. It turned out that they all loved it and I hated it but I could never admit it to anyone. Maybe I’ll give this a try 50+ years later.
Don’t forget Phil Collins’ daughter Lily as Fantine!
That tooth pulling scene was too much for me, but otherwise, I’m enjoying it. Watching it each Sunday as the episodes are aired on PBS.
Me too! Having just had a tooth extracted two weeks ago, I caught myself telling the TV, “NO NO NO NO—DON’T DO IT”… but she did it …
This is my first exposure to LM, so it’s all new and I’m waiting for the next episode.