The movie Les Miserables brings the popular musical and classical novel to life on the silver screen with its soaring score, grand scenery, and talented cast of A-list actors.

The backbone of the story focuses on Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), an ex-convict who is on the run from policeman Javert (Russell Crowe). In his quest to rise above his past, Valjean encounters Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a young woman who is struggling to provide for her daughter Cosette (Amanda Seyfried). Valjean becomes a fatherly figure to Cosette, and they travel to Paris during the beginning of a student revolution led by Enjolras (Aaron Tveit) and Marius (Eddie Redmayne). Marius and Cosette spark a budding romance; however, the immediate danger of the revolution endangers their relationship.

The predictable plot and overwhelming sentimentality become slightly cloying throughout the film. Fortunately, much needed comic relief by the thieving Thenardiers (Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen) as well as impressive acting of the cast save the movie from drowning in tragic melodramatics.

Additionally, the choices made in filming the movie and designing the set add a new layer of meaning to the storyline. Some scenes are paralleled, allowing viewers to see the changes in each character over the course of the movie. For example, Javert soliloquizing while pacing the edge of the wall in both the church and the edge of the bridge are both shot the same way, with the camera panning towards his feet. The first scene shows him firmly swearing to hunt down Valjean, while the next one depicts him questioning the law and his own character moments before his suicide.

While the acting in Les Miserables is excellent, controversy surrounds the quality of music presented. Director Tom Hooper takes a significant risk by having the actors sing live on set rather than record in advance. From the stirring anthem of the revolution “Do You Hear the People Sing” to the ballad “I Dreamed A Dream,” each actor recorded at the filming site with a piano accompanist who followed the specific tempo the actor chose. An orchestra later replaces the piano, but the music still does not match up well with the singing part. Although the decision made the end result imperfect, it gave the actors the freedom to blend their acting and singing, resulting in a breathtaking film score that harnesses the raw emotion of the story.

Les Miserables undoubtedly lives up to its spectacular renditions both on paper and on the stage with its powerful performance and delivery.