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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2019)
cover story Updating a classic Stars shine bright in ‘Les Misérables’ By Francis Babin TV Media W e are currently living in the era of superheroes — whether on the big or small screen, they are unavoidable. It seems like every month a new se- ries or film is released featuring a costumed protagonist using his or her superhuman powers to save the day. Even if there are many interesting stories being told (see last year’s “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”), it’s easy to see how someone can be afflicted by a bad case of superhero fatigue. How many times can we watch Bruce Wayne become Batman? We may complain about the abundance of superhero sagas, but somehow we are still drawn to them. Some tales are just com- pelling, they speak to us. It’s why Superman, Robin Hood, Tarzan, Sherlock Holmes, Jean Valjean and other famous literary char- acters will never truly go away. The characters and myths are fascinating, timeless and, in the hands of creative people, can be perpetually reinvented. On Sunday, April 21, “Les Misérables” is back with a new episode on PBS. First published in 1862, Victor Hugo’s magnum opus has since been adapted into multiple languages in numerous mediums, including dozens of films. PBS’s new miniseries marks the novel’s return to English television for the first time since 2000 (it has been adapted into Vietnamese and Spanish in the interim, with an upcoming Japa- nese version on the way). Dominic West (“The Affair”) takes a break from playing slimy, unlikable characters to portray the ex-convict Jean Valjean. After serving a brutal prison sentence for stealing bread in order to feed his sister’s children, Valjean struggles for redemption and tries to lead a normal life during a tu- multuous time in French history. Along with West, David Oy- elowo (“Selma,” 2014) stars as Javert, the scene-stealing police inspector who makes it his mis- sion to see that Valjean is never truly free, and Lily Collins (“The 2 | Screentime Lily Collins as seen in “Les Misérables” Last Tycoon”) plays Fantine the world-famous songs from the Thibault, a factory worker and legendary stage musical, but in- mother to Cosette (Ellie Bamber, stead opts to focus on the original “Nocturnal Animals,” 2016) who source material of Hugo’s novel. must resort to menial work in It looks and feels like no other order to survive in post-revolu- adaptation, and is especially dif- tionary France. They are joined by ferent from the last major “Les Adeel Akhtar (“Counterpart”) Mis” production, Tom Hooper’s and Oscar winner Olivia Colman 2012 blockbuster film. (“The Crown”) as Monsieur and At the Television Critics As- Madame Thénardier, respectively, sociation (TCA) Winter Press Tour, Derek Jacobi (“Murder on the award-winning screenwriter Da- Orient Express,” 2017) as Bishop vies spoke to the stunned crowd Myriel and a bevy of other ultra- about his disdain for what most talented actors. consider one of the greatest stage Adapted by Andrew Davies musicals of all time: “I absolutely (“House of Cards”) and directed hated the musical,” he said, add- by Tom Shankland (“The Miss- ing that he wanted to rescue ing”), the latest “Les Misérables” what he considered to be a great miniseries does not include any of book. While the gifted scribe April 17, 2019 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald doesn’t typically adapt stories like “Les Misérables,” he saw some- thing in the source material that called to him, specifically the cat- and-mouse relationship between the two leads. Moreover, he was not intimidated by the renowned novel like many others have been: “I thought I wanted to have a go at it. I’m an old man, I don’t get scared. I’ve faced down many great books. This is just another great book.” The six-part miniseries features a modern take on the French clas- sic. It showcases an ethnically di- verse cast, various British accents, and focuses on rebellion, poverty and the day-to-day struggle of ordinary people, making it incred- ibly relevant to today’s world. These decisions were made not only to differentiate it from its predecessors, but to make the story resonate with audiences. Jean Valjean’s extraordinary journey of redemption during a time of civil unrest has become amazingly important in today’s world. As previously mentioned, PBS’s “Les Misérables” deals with many current problems in our society but also digs deep into themes that dominate our political discourse, such as class, inequality, wealth, the judicial system and the prison industry. “Les Misérables” is considered one of the greatest literary works of all time from one of the great- est authors, and it’s easy to see why. Jean Valjean’s inspirational arc of destitution, struggle and redemption is as captivating now as it was when the novel was published 157 years ago. If we take a close look around us, we will find real human beings that mirror the characters of Valjean, Javert, Fantine, Cosette and the Thénardiers in our everyday life — these characters are not just abstract concepts or caricatures, but depictions of real qualities and struggles found in the lives of men and women that we know personally. On Sunday, April 21, take a trip through time with a new episode of “Les Misérables,” on PBS.
