Movie Hitlist

Okay, my end-of-year movies to watch are growing. So far, the main contenders are:


- The Great Gatsby
- Les Miserables
- Life of Pi


I am beginning to feel unsure about Gatsby since the trailer was released. I mean, I know Baz Luhrmann's style from the red curtain trilogy was uncoventional and I found it effective in Moulin Rouge, but how can he give that kind of voice to Gatsby? I am curious to see what he makes of it and how he will turn it to his advantage because I have never imagined Gatsby filmed in this way.

Life of Pi is a must. It's being directed  by Ang Lee, possible one of my favourite directors. His "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was very beautiful and I am eager to see a film adaption of one of my most beloved books. I am interested to see how he will display the conflict between Pi and the tiger and how he chooses to interpret it because the beauty in the book is the reader's own ability in needling out their own interpretations. Obviously, with a movie, that is a lot harder to do because everything we see is how the director sees it. It takes a skilled director to give the film the same amount of ambiguity that the book has, but I have great faith in Lee. The Trailer has not yet been released.


It only recently came to my attention that Les Miserables was getting a remake this year after I wikipedia-ed it after I watched the fantastic 25th anniversary concert. I have been let down by all previous versions of the musical - my favourite musical of all time - and I am pleasantly surprised by the ensemble cast line-up. Here, just to name a few:


Javert - Russell Crowe
Valjean - Hugh Jackman
Fantine - Anne Hathaway
Cosette - Amanda Seyfriend
Eponine - Samantha Barks
Marius - Eddie Redmayne
Master Thenadier - Sacha Baron Cohen
Madame Thenadier - Helena Bonham Carter
Enjolras - Aaron Tveit


I KNOW ALL THESE PEOPLE! It must be a first for a movie where the many leading roles are all being played by people I know! This is because I am not very pop-culturally diverse. I think the cast has been spot on. Admittedly, I was hoping that the role of Eponine would go to Lea Michele just because she sings so beautifully and actually did one of Eponine's songs (On My Own) on Glee and she just looks like how I imagined Eponine. But Samantha Barks sang the part of Eponine in the 25th anniversary concert and I was blown away. I am still very happy with the casting. 


Anna Hathaway sang "I Dreamed a Dream" in the trailer and from what I can see from the clip montage, the acting looks very promising and Hathaway does this rendition very poignantly. I think the best casting decision of all goes towards Master and Mme. Thenadier. The roles are perfect for the two actors! They previously worked together on Sweeney Todd and the performances they gave to their roles in that film more than convinces me on their performance here. I am bursting with excitement just to see their rapport with each other and with the screen. In no version, musical or film-wise, have I ever liked Cosette. She's always too good and too sweet and has everything to be likeable. I much prefer Eponine whom I can empathize with. But I like Amanda Seyfried and she's proved she can sing with "Mamma Mia!", so who knows? Maybe she can change my mind. Eddie Redmayne I know from "The Other Boleyn Girl". He also starred in the acclaimed biopic "My Week With Marilyn", but I've really only seen him in a very minor role. But he looks as I imagined Marius would, so there is much potential in this character. Aaron Tveit comes from "Gossip Girl". I greatly enjoyed his character on the show, and heard him in clips where he played Roger in "Rent", another musical and one I really enjoy. He has a strong voice which will fit nicely with the passion and vigour of Enjolras, I think.


And as for our two leads - well! Russell Crowe has the stern look DOWN. He will be a fantastic Javert. I've never heard him sing, but from his many roles (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind), he will have no problem showing Javert in a relatable way so the audience will be able to understand his fragility and reasons for being so rigid. As for Hugh Jackman, Mr. Wolverine will be tackling the role of 24601. I must say, I never really had an idea of what Valjean was supposed to look like, so Jackman fits it as nicely as many other diverse actors. I can easily believe him as Valjean. I haven't seen that much of his work, so I don't know how he will portray him, but honestly I do not think the character of Valjean is as complex and Javert.

It looks like a great Christmas and New Years for 2012!