Off To A "Miserables" Start: My Entertainment "Resolutions" for 2013

Now that the holidays are behind me, it's time to get shallow and talk about movies and television for a while. Nate and I don't have tons of time to watch television these days, and we don't go to the theater very often either...but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy analyzing the heck out of my entertainment!

Last weekend, Nathan and I (belatedly) celebrated our eleven-year anniversary. There would be no ten-course dinner extravaganza this year; just dinner and a movie. It was a great date; our Chinese food was yummy and the movie wonderful! We saw Les Miserables, the movie based on the Broadway musical based on the Victor Hugo novel. We both really enjoyed ourselves.

from DCMTA.com

While I am familiar with the musical, I don't consider myself a "super-fan" (I've seen it on stage once, and listened to the soundtrack a number of times). Nathan, on the other hand, had never experienced the musical before in any way, and he was quite captivated. He has had the soundtrack on regular rotation in the house during the last week, and he eagerly hopes to see it again soon!

from imdb.com

I liked the movie a lot, but I didn't loooooove it. Les Miserables is a very good musical, but not my favorite of all time. I like good characters and good music in my musicals; I may actually prefer Wicked to Les Mis simply because its characters hold my interest better. My favorite musical of all time is probably Fiddler On The Roof. Besides the obvious "Russia" hook, the characters are all very distinctive and well-developed, and the main themes of Fiddler are compelling, universal and offer no easy answers, despite the deceptively "light" tone throughout much of the show.

 By contrast, most of the characters in Les Miserables (with a few exceptions) are pretty two-dimensional--yes, I'm looking at YOU, Gavroche, Cossette, Thenardiers, Eponine, Enjolras, etc! The plot is very herky-jerky as well, relying on lots of coincidences and conveniences. It also loses a lot of steam early in Act 2, when the Revolution of 1832 enters the picture. The main "love story" is ludicrously thin, and all the new characters in Act 2 are hard to care about (especially since many of them *SPOILERS!* die quickly anyway). Because of this, the story loses focus and becomes uninteresting for long stretches.

THR.com

However, despite the flaky narrative and flat characters, Les Miserables still works like gangbusters on a thematic, spiritual level. The characters and plot succeed when they're viewed as metaphors; Cossette is a symbol of "a better future," Jean Valjean represents repentance/forgiveness, etc. Despite the pain and suffering (and even death) many characters experience, most of them still express faith in God and hope that His tender mercies will wipe away their sorrows. Les Mis has a lot to say about justice vs. mercy; the struggles of the poor and destitute; repentance and self-improvement; the loss of innocence and the shattering of our dreams; etc. If you're not a "spiritually minded" person, I think it might be hard to fully appreciate Les Mis; it wears its religion (and its heart) on its sleeve, in a way few musicals do.

EW.com

For the most part, the movie succeeds at communicating these deep emotions. Director Tom Hooper made the decision to shoot the film with live singing (ie, the actors sing live on set; in most movie musicals, the actors are lip-synching to a prior recording made in a sound booth). Live singing means that sometimes, the singing isn't as "clean-sounding" or as clear as it is when prerecorded; however, it gives the actors the opportunity to act through the singing, and emote in a way impossible to do when lip-synching. This meant that I spent long stretches of the movie completely absorbed by the intense feelings on display.

Guardian.co.uk

Most of the actors really committed to the live singing, and milked it to its full effect. Hugh Jackman, in the lead role of Jean Valjean, gives a fine, nuanced, powerful performance. Of course, I may be a little biased since I have been crazy in love with Hugh Jackman for about a decade now, but most critics seem to agree with me this time! Anne Hathaway was heart-rending as the doomed Fantine; despite her short screen-time, she is mesmerizing, particularly in her gut-wrenching rendition of "I Dreamed A Dream," as she laments her lost youth. Another pleasant surprise to me was Eddie Redmayne as Marius (one of those Act 2 characters I've always had a hard time caring about). He brought a lot of divided emotions and youthful longing to the character, and "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables" was heartbreaking.

anomalousmaterial.blogspot.com

The bad apple in the bunch is, unfortunately, Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe, who plays the ruthless Inspector Javert. I feel bad saying this because I think Crowe is a legitimately good actor, but he was totally out of his league in this movie! Everyone around him is singing "Broadway-style" and emoting all over the place; poor Russell Crowe is standing rigidly in every scene, focusing so hard on hitting all his notes that he's unable to do any "acting." I realize Javert is one of the most "rigid" characters in the story, but the stiffness here is clearly from Crowe's discomfort in the role, not from his interpretation of the character.

I also had a few issues with the direction of the film. On stage (at least the version I saw), Les Miserables  was not the hugest, grandest production ever; the sets & costumes were somewhat minimal. I assumed this was so the actors and the singing could "carry the story." In my heart, though, I'd hoped that there would be more grandeur and spectacle on display in the film; there are many ways the story could be made more cinematic and "grandiose" without taking away from the singing. Instead, the director chose to "ugly everything up," and shot the move mostly in close-up. Sometimes this wasn't a bad thing, since it enabled the actors' live singing to work well. However, I would have appreciated at least a few more wide shots like the awesome shot at the shipyard that begins the film.

vanishedvalkyrie.com

But none of my quibbles ruined the film for me. Les Miserables was clearly a labor of love, and even if it wasn't perfect, it at least succeeded in moving me and helping me appreciate the powerful story once again. It also got me excited to see a bunch more movies this year (some of whom, like Les Miserables, were nominated for Oscars last week!). Yep, this weekend has been my "resolutions" weekend...in which I "resolve" to watch lots of TV and movies!

Now, without further ado, a list of the movies (and television shows) I hope to see in 2013! (NOTE: I realize some of these movies & television series have already aired on TV, or been shown in theaters. I also realize my time and budget is limited. I ALSO realize there are probably many other AWESOME movies and television series that I am not fully aware of yet, and so might not include them on my list. This list represents what my present-day self is both aware of, and most excited to watch, in the coming year).

MOVIES

Looper

This has gotten a lot of buzz in the last six months, all of it good. Nathan and I seem to be overdosing on Joseph Gordon-Leavitt this year (we've seen The Dark Knight Rises, 500 Days Of Summer, and 50/50), but we're not sick of him yet. Plus, we also like a good time-travel yarn, and Looper's premise (Joseph Gordon-Leavitt plays a hit man who assassinates people from the future, then is surprised by a visit from his future self--played by Bruce Willis!) has a lot of intrigue and promise.


Lincoln

Just weeks before Lincoln was released, I finished reading the Lincoln biography used as a primary source for the film (Team Of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin). It was a dense, dramatic, fantastic book that increased my respect for Lincoln as a master politician and a powerful leader of men. The members of Lincoln's cabinet are all colorful, dynamic characters in their own right, and the thought of seeing them play off each other on the big screen is very tempting. With the great cast assembled (Daniel Day-Lewis, Tommy Lee Jones, Sally Field, and Joseph Gordon-Leavitt AGAIN!), I've no doubt that the movie will deliver the dramatic goods.


Zero Dark Thirty

This is not a documentary, but it draws on declassified intelligence from the CIA to reconstruct America's decade-long manhunt (and ultimately, execution) of Osama bin Laden. When bin Laden was killed in the middle of the film's production, the ending had to be scrapped and rewritten. It is a movie that promises tension, intrigue, and no easy answers (answers to questions like: "Did we torture Al Qaeda operatives? Did it ultimately prove useful? Has killing bin Laden made America a better, safer place?"). It sounds pretty awesome.



Argo

 Here's another docu-drama about Americans in the Middle East, only this one is set in 1980, during the Iran-hostage crisis. Ben Affleck plays the leader of a group of Canadian & American operatives who attempt to save the hostages by entering Iran in the guise of filmmakers shooting a documentary. It sounds like one of those "truth is cooler than fiction" stories, and by all accounts, the film is very exciting and well-made. Well done, Affleck...I think I am actually starting to like you.


Moonrise Kingdom

No particular reason for this to be on my list, other than I am in need of a "quirky indie comedy" fix. It's about a couple of twelve-year olds at summer camp who meet and fall in love, and the hilarity that ensues. It has Bill Murray in it, and that alone is reason enough for me to see it (the fact that it's critically beloved helps, but Bill Murray is the clincher!)


Skyfall

Yes, I am one of the few Americans who hasn't seen the latest James Bond film yet. I promise I'll get to it soon! I am a big fan of Daniel Craig as Bond (I own Casino Royale, the only Bond film in our home collection), and I can't wait to see the craziness that ensues when Bond comes out of retirement to kick some butt.


Oz The Great and Powerful

This movie could go either way. It could be a terrible-effects laden awkward bore like Alice in Wonderland, or it could be a fun, exciting romp. Sam Raimi, director of the original Spider-Man trilogy (some of my favorite superhero films), is heading this one up, and James Franco (a guy I never seem to get tired of, for some reason) is the title character. Could be great! I admit my love for alternate-Oz stories like Wicked have me excited for another creative take on this unique fantasy world.


The Great Gatsby

Who better to direct the movie version of the Great American Novel than a crazy Australian? Seriously though, I was lukewarm about this project until I saw that Baz Luhrman was directing it...and until I saw the trailer. And now...sign me up!! I realize Baz Luhrman is *ahem* not everyone's cup of tea, but as a big fan of Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, and Moulin Rouge, I can't wait to see his take on the material. My guess: it will be filled with mashed-up anachronistic musical numbers and will feature characters EMOTING LOUDLY.



The Wolverine

Mmmmmm...remember when I said earlier that I was a fan of Hugh Jackman? Maybe this picture will give you a clue why. Those abs...those veins...ahem, where was I? Anyway, I mostly enjoy the X-Men films (I really liked X-Men: First Class), and I like the idea of Wolverine training to be a samurai in Japan. Hey, it can't be any crazier than Bruce Wayne training to be a ninja, right? Could be fun. As long as there are no adamantium bullets anywhere in sight.


Iron Man 3

Of course I'm excited to see Tony Stark again. The Avengers was great fun, and Robert Downey Jr. is a terrific snarky short sexy superhero. Judging by the trailer it looks like Stuff Gets Real, but I'm sure there will be room for humor and excitement as well.


Warm Bodies

Anyone who knows me will know that I don't like the Twilight books or movies. So when I heard about yet another supernatural teen romance Twilight knock-off (this one featuring a ZOMBIE/human relationship! Whaa?), I was very skeptical. Then I saw the trailer and found myself giggling uncontrollably. This could still be a bad film, but it could also be very cute and funny. It looks like it's not taking itself too seriously at least; that is definitely a good thing.


Pacific Rim

At first glance this looks like a Transformers clone, based purely on some of the visuals. Plot and character-wise, the trailer is pretty vague...lots of ROOAAAAAR GRRRR WHAAAUGH CLANK CLANK POW GRRRRR BOOM SPLASH CRASH SCREEEEE..... However, I am still keeping my eye on it, if only because it's an original story (an increasingly rare thing in sequel- and franchise-crazy Hollywood), and also because the director is Guillermo del Toro, one of the more visually interesting directors I've seen in quite some time (his movie Pan's Labyrinth, which came out several years ago, was one of my favorite fantasy films of the last decade).


Star Trek Into Darkness

As a long-time Trekkie, I'm kind of ashamed to admit I loved 2009's Star Trek, since it was a pretty dumbed-down, incoherent version of the Star Trek I grew up with. Yet the action and the great cast kept me involved, and I had a blast watching this in theaters. Four years later, my hopes are on the rise again, particularly because of the creepy-sounding villain in the new film, played by one Benedict Cumberbatch (more on him in a minute).


Elysium

io9.com

I know very little about this film, other than that it takes place in a post-apocalyptic world in which the "one percenters" live on a paradisical space station above earth, while everybody else suffers on the scorched planet's surface. The premise seems sound enough. Really, though, I am interested in this one because of the star (Matt Damon) and the director (Neill Blomkamp, director of 2009's District 9).

 
Oblivion

This one might be good. Hopefully the trailer isn't giving away the whole film, and there's more mysteriousness waiting to be seen. It kind of looks like the plot of WALL*E, only with humans as the clean-up crew. Morgan Freeman's character looks disturbingly like the Morpheus character from the Matrix films, so for all I know, this entire movie is a dream or something. Visually it looks really cool, and Tom Cruise is usually reliable in stuff like this. We'll see.

Gravity

io9.com

Another movie I know very little about, but am still interested in seeing based solely on its pedigree. George Clooney and Sandra Bullock star, and it's directed by Alfonso Cuaron (director of the best Harry Potter film, Prisoner of Azkaban, and the incredible sci-fi film Children of Men). Supposedly, this film features long, unbroken takes in zero-gravity, and is a masterpiece of science-fiction cinema. At least, that's what the five people who have actually seen it are saying; it's been kept pretty well under wraps for a while, and no one knows exactly when it will be released. I hope soon!




The Hobbit Pt. 2: The Desolation of Smaug

zap2it.com

 I was pleasantly surprised by the first Hobbit film, An Unexpected Journey. The critics were not kind, and I had been very worried by news that the two films (already too many, in my opinion), had now become three films (I guess Warner Bros. needed the extra cash!). Perhaps going in with lowered expectations helped, because I thought it was a fun, light, adventurous (admittedly overlong) romp. The casting, as always, was excellent, and I can't wait to see more of Martin Freeman (my favorite-ever Dr. Watson) as Bilbo Baggins in two more films. Plus, he gets to play mind-games with a dragon in the next film (a dragon played, ironically, by his Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch...there's that name again!)


The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

hollywoodreporter.com

I liked the Hunger Games books, and I liked the first film a lot. So my desire to see the next film (coming next Thanksgiving) is probably a no-brainer. It should be exciting to see Jennifer Lawrence reprise her role as Katniss, and get into all sorts of new trouble. Plus, I finally got Nathan hooked on this series, so he may actually come to watch Catching Fire with me in theaters! Yay.



TELEVISION SERIES

This category is much tougher for me; I have a feeling many of the shows on my list will be shows I won't get to in 2013! Nathan and I have had a really hard time watching TV in the last year; our evenings have gotten busier, and we have almost completely stopped watching first-run television. We have had to work a little harder to avoid spoilers for TV shows, since we realize we will probably watch them "in bulk" on Netflix at a later date. Oh, well...here's a list of shows I am planning on watching someday...even if not in 2013!

The End of  30 Rock

from nbcumv.com

Only a few more episodes to go! I have been a 30 Rock lover for years; it's a shallow, silly show that also happens to be very funny. I am glad it's ending on its own terms and before it gets really stale, but I will still be really sad to see it go. I can't wait to see what all the actors do next.


Community Season Four

from whatculture.com

For the first two seasons, I loved Community more than is probably healthy. Those two seasons were some of the most hilarious, genre-bending, daring stuff I've ever seen in American comedy. Season Three was much more uneven and prone to navel-gazing, but it still had several terrific episodes and I still loved the cast. Now, after having a delayed premiere, Community fans have sweated out the last several months as its original showrunner was fired, one of its main cast members left the show, and virtually all the main writers left the show. Most of us are assuming this next, shorter fourth season will be the show's last. Still, it's been a good ride, and those first two seasons will forever live fondly in my memory (and my DVD collection).



Parks and Recreation Season Five AND Six (Maybe??)

from theatlantic.com

BEHOLD...the show that has replaced Community as my favorite. A great cast, great writers, and a remarkably sweet, warm-hearted spirit (unusual in a lot of modern comedies). I could probably watch the adventures of Councilwoman Leslie Knope and her friends until the end of time. As it is, though, this current season may also be the last season for Parks And Rec, since it has always struggled for ratings. But I'll have no regrets.


Sherlock Season Three (Pretty, Pretty Please?)  

from collider.com

Look...HERE'S Benedict Cumberbatch!! And Martin Freeman, again! I've already waxed poetic of my love for Sherlock before, and I won't bore you by doing it again. Suffice it to say, it's one of my favorite shows (although it should probably count as a mini-series, since each series has only three 90-minute episodes). The actors are crazy charismatic, and the mysteries are thrilling. It's ironic that Sherlock has become a victim of its own success; the actors have gotten so busy that no one really knows when Season Three will be filmed, let alone broadcast. Curse you, Star Trek and Hobbit movies!! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we'll see Season Three by the end of the year...but I'm not holding my breath.




The Rest of Arrested Development (perhaps even Season 4 on Netflix?)

from geektyrant.com

Nathan and I finally started watching the legendary comedy series in early 2012, and we've only made it through Season One so far. Hopefully we'll finish it up this year, but life (and other movies and TV) keep conspiring against us. I really respect and enjoy the show, but (I hope I won't be tarred and feathered for this) it has not grabbed me the way other shows have. Maybe because the characters, while all very funny, can sometimes be a bit too annoying? Regardless, I plan on finishing the whole show before passing final judgement.


The Legend of Korra Season Two (I Hope!)

from geekti.me

I haven't written much about Avatar: The Last Airbender yet, but trust me...it's one of my favorite shows, animated or not. The world and the magic system are truly incredible, and the characters are all funny, warm, dynamic people whom you root for and love to spend time with. I was excited for another series that was set in the same universe (this one takes place many years in the future, in a sort-of "steampunk" version of the original medieval world), and luckily it didn't disappoint. Korra was a very different sort of main character from the original series' Aang, but the differences helped keep the show fresh and it was mostly successful. Season Two is currently in production, and I hope they don't drag their feet getting it to television.


Downton Abbey

from amazon.com

 I am not normally a "British costume drama" lover, but I do enjoy a good one once in a while, and if all my girlfriends on Facebook are correct, this is an excellent, high-quality British soap. I have patiently awaited its debut on Netflix Instant Streaming, and also for a sizable gap in my television-watching schedule, and then off I go!


Friday Night Lights

from imdb.com

I really enjoyed the book Friday Night Lights...well, by "enjoyed" I mean "I was impressed by," since it was a depressingly bleak look at high school sports and football culture. I am not expecting warm fuzzies from the TV series of the same name, but I am expecting some compelling drama and maybe even some good football, a sport of which I am a fan.




Mad Men

from trendland.com

All the awards heaped upon Mad Men has convinced me to give it a shot, but I'm not sure when that "shot" will be, exactly, since there are other shows higher up on my list. But there is at least one crazy-good-looking man in this show (Jon Hamm), plus a few veterans of some of my favorite Joss Whedon shows (Vincent Kartheiser, Christina Hendricks), so those are also sufficient reason to check it out.


Breaking Bad

from screeninvasion.com

 Everyone I know who has seen Breaking Bad has raved about it. I'm sure I'll get to it sometime. I am carefully avoiding spoilers online by its rabid fans, who are eagerly anticipating the show's final season this year. I still can't get my head around the fact that the crazy befuddled dad Hal from Malcolm In The Middle is now a cancer-ridden meth-cooking crime lord. I guess I'll get used to that reality eventually.


Fringe

from tvtyrant.com

Another show I am looking forward to checking out sometime; it seems to combine the sci-fi/government conspiracy creepiness of The X-Files with the labyrinthine plot and character-arc twists of LOST. Hopefully that'll be a good thing!

Well, as you can see, we have a lot of work cut out for us in 2013. Do any of our loyal readers have any suggestions for us?