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Created Dec 25, 2012 02:22PM PST • Edited Dec 25, 2012 09:04PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Really Great 4.5

    
   This movie was epic, stunning, and uniquely fresh, and you should absolutely see it. Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean), Anne Hathaway (Fantine), and Eddie Redmayne (Marius) give three of the most emotional and raw performances I’ve ever seen. How they were able to convey such emotion and still sing is beyond me, and the physical commitment all three made to their parts was also very commendable.

   Case in point: the audience in the theater Christmas morning (opening day) applauded at the end of the movie.

   Be warned, though: if you love the Broadway version, do not compare that to this movie. While they’re nearly the same, there are slight differences. Also, you’re not going to hear singing like you do on Broadway.

   SEE IT!

4. Acting

   Great 4.0

    
   I really want this rating to be a 4.5 because of the performances given by Hugh Jackman, Eddie Redmayne, and, especially, Anne Hathaway. The three of them we just brilliant. Unfortunately, as the 4 shows, their performances were held back a little by some of the supporting cast. See the full breakdown for a more detailed analysis.

5. Male Stars Really Great 4.5

    
   Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean is absolutely stunning. His rendition of “What Have I Done?” is truly showstopping — I’ll be damned if he hasn’t, at some point in his life, actually been “a thief in the night … a dog on the run.” That being said, his singing is not top-notch; however, his superb acting more than covers the less-than-stellar singing, no problem.

   Eddie Redmayne as Marius is also brilliant. As with Jackman, Redmayne’s singing isn’t perfect, but his acting is so far beyond great that you won’t mind his singing at all.

   Unfortunately, Russel Crowe as Javert is simply terrible. Horrible. The choice to place him in such a critical role constitutes one of the worst casting choices I’ve ever seen in a movie. Case in point: while leaving the theater, The Wife turned to me and asked, “Why Russel Crowe? Whyyyyyyyy?”

   For Jackman’s superhuman performance, and Redmayne’s outstanding contribution, I give this a 4.5, even though Crowe’s performance did its best to drag this review much lower.

6. Female Stars Really Great 4.5

    
   Anne Hathaway as Fantine deserves every award it can win. Hathaway’s physical and emotional investment in the roll is apparent in her total commitment to the role: she looks the part 100%, and you forget that she isn’t the destitute mother-turned-prostitute you’re seeing before you. She’s not acting — she’s absolutely living the part.

   Sadly, Amanda Seyfried as grown-up Cosette is not good. A slight step above Russel Crowe’s miserable attempt at portraying Javert, Seyfried’s voice cannot hold up to the part she sings. Her solos lack emotion AND breath support, and her acting does not make up for that shortcoming.

   Although Seyfried’s lead role was lackluster, I still give this section a 4.5 because Hathaway’s performance was just SO incredible that it totally washed away Seyfried. Forget Princess Diaries and Alice in Wonderland, Hathaway has now shown her awesome acting ability in its most raw form!

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

    
   Samantha Barks as Éponine was great.

   Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier (the innkeeper’s wife) was forgettable.

8. Male Costars Very Good 3.5

    
   Aaron Tveit as the revolutionary students’ leader was really good.

   Daniel Huttlestone as the boisterous and wise-beyond-his-years Gavroche was also great.

   Sarah Baron Cohen as Thénardier (the innkeeper) was disappointing.

10. Film

    Great 4.0

11. Direction Great 4.0

12. Play Very Good 3.5

13. Music Perfect 5.0

     
    It’s Les Miserables. Anyone who doesn’t give the score a Perfect 5 will have their human card revoked.

14. Visuals Really Great 4.5

     
    Epic (though from time to time it’s pretty apparent that we’re looking at CGI, not real life).

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

17. Sex Titillating 2.0

18. Violence Savage 4.0

19. Rudeness Polite 1.5

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0