Zut Alors! Russell Crowe Is Inspector Javert In Tom Hooper's Les Miserables, So Let's Listen To Him Sing

[Hannah Shaw-Williams]

French criminals, stand in awe of Russell Crowe and his fearsome pipes, as Empire Online reported today that the Aussie actor and sometimes pop star has signed on for the role of Inspector Javert in Tom Hooper's forthcoming big screen adaptation of Cameron Mackintosh's big stage adaptation of Victor Hugo's big page ultra-depressing novel Les Miserables. For those of you who have forgotten, this is what Russell Crowe's singing voice sounds like.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNqgGk-9mNg[/youtube]

Right. Well, at least he's not writing the lyrics this time. For those not familiar with the musical, this is a snippet of what Crowe will be required to sing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROr4vdRZxpU[/youtube]

He's been in talks for the role for a while, primarily up against Paul Bettany, and he joins a cast that already boasts Hugh Jackman and may soon be joined by Anne Hathaway, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter. Les Miserables is set during the French revolution and follows the trials and tribulations of Jean Valjean (Jackman), a man who ends up on a chain gang after stealing a loaf of bread to save his family, escapes and reinvents himself as major and business owner, only to find himself relentlessly pursued by the ruthless Inspector Javert and caught up in a doomed revolution.

It's really, really depressing. But the songs are good!

My main concern is that they're picking actors with powerful names rather than powerful vocal chords, but if it comes to it then they can always auto-tune the whole thing. While they're at it, they should get Rebecca Black to play the young Cosette.

"It's Fri-day, Fri-day, gotta die of tuberculosis on Friii-day."

I'd watch that.

[Drew Melbourne]

Yikes! I had to stop watching that video mid-way through. Is Russell Crowe really singing to a little boy, asking whether he's ready for "The Weight of a Man"? Where's Chris Hanson when you need him?

[Evan Meadow]

<cue Def Comedy Jam music>

Increable!

[The Mirrorball Man]

Les Misérables is not set during the French Revolution. It happens 40 years later.

[Peter J Poole]

Les Misérables is not set during the French Revolution. It happens 40 years later.

Meh... The Revolution period is generally accepted as ending in 1799, Valjean is imprisoned in 1796 and Les Mis opens with his release in 1815...

If not set during it's certainly 'rooted in', or set 'during the aftermath'...

Cheers

[The Mirrorball Man]

Meh... The Revolution period is generally accepted as ending in 1799, Valjean is imprisoned in 1796 and Les Mis opens with his release in 1815...

If not set during it's certainly 'rooted in', or set 'during the aftermath'...

It's a very lengthy novel, and most of it happens in 1832, years and years after the French revolution. It's like saying that "All the President's Men" happens during World War II.

[SirGodfrey]

The June rebellion of 1832 was the tail end of the July revolution of 1830 - so technically it takes place during "a" Fench revolution - maybe?

[Peter J Poole]

It's a very lengthy novel, and most of it happens in 1832, years and years after the French revolution. It's like saying that "All the President's Men" happens during World War II.

Fair comment... I think it's maybe a bit nitpicky when the news is about the casting of a role in a musical, but still, fair comment...

Cheers

[The Mirrorball Man]

Fair comment... I think it's maybe a bit nitpicky when the news is about the casting of a role in a musical, but still, fair comment...

It is indeed a little nitpicky and probably more than a little annoying and for that, I apologize.

[Dave Doty]

It is indeed a little nitpicky and probably more than a little annoying and for that, I apologize.

For what it's worth, I also came into the comments thread to point that out. I don't think it's a grevious error, but I also think it's not a bad thing to put the correct information out there.

Part of why it matters is that the revolutionaries aren't "The French Revolutionaries," they're the 19th century French equivalent of college kids who are disappointed they missed out on the 1960s and try to recreate the hippie movement. And these kids wound up walking into their own recreated Kent State, but the Age of Love is over, and no one really cares.