I have been a sucker for musicals since my family took me to New York at age five, and I saw my first Broadway performance of Beauty and the Beast. So, when I heard that Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Miserables, was being made into a movie, I knew that I had to see it. Better known as Les Miz, the film was mesmerizing.

Taking place in France about 25 years after the French Revolution, Les Miserables is a tale about political injustice, redemption, unrequited love, and lost dreams. The story centers on Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman), a downtrodden man, who is paroled after serving a 19-year prison sentence for stealing a loaf of  bread. The film chronicles his trials and triumphs as he works toward redemption. Along the way, he encounters characters such as Javert (Russell Crowe) the relentless police inspector, Fantine (Anne Hathaway) an unwed mother, and the Thenardiers, played by Helena Bonham Carter and Sasha Baron Cohen. Needless to say, director Tom Hooper pulled together an A-List cast. Anne Hathaway shocked me with her amazing vulnerability, and the raunchy comedian, Sasha Baron Cohen, has redeemed himself.

The film’s soundtrack is sure to please. The classics, “I Dreamed a Dream” and “On My Own,” are sure to provide chills to listeners. These songs have been stripped down of the usual theatrics, and the lyrics truly resonate, so that the audience can fully empathize with the characters. You’re definitely going to want to bring tissues. There are also campy tunes, such as “Master of the House,” which was stuck in my head for days. This song provided some much needed comic relief.

Another thing that I enjoyed was the spectacular costumes and make-up artistry. I felt like I was sitting in the middle of the students’ revolution. Because the film covers a large span of time, all of the characters had to age realistically; Hugh Jackman is virtually unrecognizable at times. I would not be surprised if there is an Oscar nomination in the costume designers’ future.

Les Miserables is a truly epic production. It was heart-wrenching, touching, uplifting, and an all-around emotional roller coaster. Thematically, the film offers a powerful portrayal of the poor and the wretched during a pivotal point in French history.  I give Les Miz four stars, and rate it as quite possibly the best movie of 2012.