Tea with McNair

• les miserables - the musical on the big screen

 

Universal has released the first teaser trailer for the new film version of the big musical Les Miserable. For the first time, in a long time*, all the singing was recorded LIVE on set, NO lip-syncing! This is rarely done in movie musicals. Fortunately for us all, producer Cameron MacIntosh waited to assemble a cast of vetran actors who can really sing: Hugh Jakcman in the leading role of Jean Valjean; Russel Crowe as his nemesis/antagonist, Inspector Javert; and Anne Hathaway as Fantine (Yes, Ms.  Hathaway can sing. Watch the trailer, below.) For the popular role of Eponine, new commer Samantha Barks—a native of the Isle of Man, UK.

[Photos: Jackman, Crowe, Hathaway, Barks]

 

 

The original Valjean, Irish tenor Colm Wilkinson will step into the pivotal role of Bishop Digne who teaches escaped prisoner Jean Valjean his first lesson in forgiveness. Directing "Les Miz" will be Tom Hooper who directed 2010's Best Picture Oscar winner The King's Speech for which Hooper also recieved the Best Director statue.

Though the film is not due in theaters until 7 December 2012, there is already a full cast, crew, listing on IMDb, HERE. Based on Victor hugo's epic novel of the same title, Les Miserable was a music first written and conceived in France.

USA TODAY, yesterday had two stories on the film and the internet full of the nine photos released, so far, by Universal.

*As I mentioned in the opening, this is the first movie musical in a long time to record the singing LIVE on camera, rather than the traditional lip-sync method. Most actors feel they spend more time trying to match their own recorded performance than actual being their character on camera. This is very rare. When the film version of Broadway's Camelot was made in 1967, Richard Harris (King Arthur) annoyed producer Jack L. Warner by insisting on singing the musical numbers live on camera rather than lip-syncing.

The interesting point about recording all the singing on camera, live, for "Les Miz" is that not only songs, but all the dialogue in "Les Miz" is song

Here's the first trailer, which will begin previewing in theaters this weekend (June 1st)

[To view full screen click the full screen icon at right below frame.]  -->

 

The film's dedicated website is linked HERE: or just www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/

[ For hard core "Les Miz" fans there are frequent behind-the-scenes updates and photos on Facbook HERE (www.facebook.com/LesMisMovie) ]

• cosby's commencement address for us all

Bill Cosby—my favorite comedian since 1964—is still making us laugh. He has also become a contreversial voice in the on-going "race deabte" here in America.

His latest words of wisdom were delivered in his commencement address to graduates at the Catholic University of San Francisco. I had originally thought to excerpts my favorite salvos, but the local news rag, San Francsico Chronicle, has an apt bit of repotage on their website, SFGate.com. The "Cos" has something in his words (and mind) for us all HERE.

You can watch seven minutes of the address in a "raw feed" posted on KTVU channel 2 (Oakland) HERE.

And ...YouTube has numerous Cosby commencement addresses.

• maurice sendak

Here is a fascinating documentary film conversation with author & artsit Maurice Sendak—very candid, personal, and biographical in a way thet reveals the stories behing the man and his creations.  He died om 8 May 2012, one month and two days shy of his 84th birthday.  The film—made at his home over the course of hi slast few years—is candid, insightful, and moving. Watch ALL of it ...especially the last five minutes. ( Be sure to click the "full screen" icon, lower right, for optimum viewing.)

PARENTAL ADVICE :: If you have young children, may I advise you to watch the entire piece before deciding to let them watch it.