On November 23, Les Miserables had its first screening for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. Immediate responses were extremely positive with the screening eliciting a standing ovation.
The film, starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and Amanda Seyfried and directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper, has already been vaulted to being the frontrunner for Best Picture at the Oscars. Right before the screening, director Tom Hooper came out before the packed house to introduce the film, and told the crowd that he had only finished working on the film at 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning.
"You are the very first people to see the film," he said to cheers. He then noted that The King's Speech had begun its theatrical rollout on Thanksgiving weekend two years ago, and that last night, at his first Thanksgiving dinner, everyone was asked what they were grateful for. He said that he can now say, "I'm grateful that I finished it [the film]... I'm grateful to the thousands of people who have been on this journey, particularly the wonderful cast... and I'm grateful to Victor Hugo [who wrote the novel upon which the Broadway play upon which the film is derived], who unfortunately can't be with us." After the film he was joined on stage by his cast for a Q&A.
Journalists in attendance agreed not to review the film but a few offered some of their opinions. InContention journalist Kris Tapley stated that "And the Best Picture landscape will be shaken up one more time this season. Is this the one to take it all the way, two years after Hooper did precisely that? I'm thinking it might just be, but I'll get into my own thoughts on it in due time" while Hollywood-Elsewhere's Jeff Wells stated that "The Universal release is going to win Best Picture apparently, and hats off to Tom Hooper and the gang if it does. If it's over, it's over. I can live with this, and perhaps I'll celebrate it. The proof is in the pudding."
The Hollywood Reporter stated that Anna Hathaway has become the frontrunner for the best supporting Actress award and that Hugh Jackman has found his calling card role.The film becomes the first Universal distributed film to become a serious for the Best Picture contender since 2008 when Frost/Nixon was nominated for Best Picture. If the film is to win it would become the third musical to win best picture after Oliver and Chicago and it would become the first Universal best picture since A Beautiful Mind.It is still too early to know whether Les Miserables is truly the frontrunner with no awards announced yet and with films like Lincoln, Argo and Silver Linings Playbook in the running.
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