Les Miserables
Film Review by Kam Williams
Published by Victor Hugo in 1862, Les Miserables is generally recognized as one of the most important novels of the 19th Century. The socially-conscious, 1900-page opus explored a plethora of themes, particularly power, justice, monarchy and religion.
The moving morality play specifically shed light on the plight of the poor, especially women and children, with the hope of raising awareness about the insensitivity of a callous legal system. I digress by way of introduction only to remind readers that Les Mis' source material was a relatively-profound examination of France's prevailing issues of the day.
Directed by Academy Award-winner Tom Hooper (for The King's Speech), the screen adaptation is based on the long-running Broadway production which won 8 Tony Awards back in 1987. The film version has landed just as many Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Hugh Jackman), Best Supporting Actress (Anne Hathaway) and Best Original Song ("Suddenly").
Understandably, the novel's labyrinthine plot has been simplified considerably into a tale of love and redemption. Unfolding in Paris in 1815, the movie basically revolves around Jean Valjean (Jackman), a recently-paroled ex-con intent on turning a new leaf after serving 19 years in prison for the theft of a loaf of bread.
On the road to redemption, he promises a prostitute on her death bed (Hathaway) to raise her about to be orphaned young daughter (Amanda Seyfried). Meanwhile, he finds himself mercilessly haunted by a ruthless policeman (Russell Crowe) intent on putting him back behind bars. Officer Javert believes once a crook, always a crook, and accordingly devotes his days to a dogged pursuit of Valjean.
Les Mis is a cinematic rarity in that virtually every line of dialogue is sung. Furthermore, I suppose it might mean something to theater purists that the director eschewed dubbing in favor of having the cast sing live on set.
Entertaining enough to garner this critic's stamp of approval, Les Mis nevertheless pales in comparison to so many of those enchanting classics from my childhood like West Side Story, My Fair Lady and Guys & Dolls. I guess they don't make musicals like they used to anymore.
Very Good (3 stars)
Rated PG-13 for violence, mature themes and suggestive material
Running time: 158 minutes
Distributor: Universal Pictures
To see a trailer for Les Miserables, visit
The Pirogue
Film Review by Kam Williams
Senegalese Peasants Set Out for Spain in Seafaring Tale of Survival
You might find the title of this movie a little misleading, since to most people a "pierogi" is a puffy Polish delicacy stuffed with potatoes, sauerkraut and ground meat. However, the similar-sounding "pirogue" is also the name of the flat-bottomed, wooden boat used by West African fishermen for centuries.
Directed by Moussa Toure, the fact-based drama revolves around 30 Senegalese peasants, 29 men and 1 woman (Mame Astou Diallo), who make a break for Spain by sea in search of a better life. Because of their country's bad economy, even the fishing industry is dying, which means some ship owners have turned to using their vessels to smuggle needy refugees to Europe.
The story was inspired by the over 30,000 souls who attempted the transoceanic voyage between 2005 and 2010, and it is dedicated to the 5,000 of them that perished in the financial freedom flotillas. The captain of the pirogue at the center of the adventure is Baye Laye (Souleymane Seye Ndiaye), a married man who requests that his wife be paid his fee of a million Francs before his departure on the dangerous journey.
The boat is outfitted with a radio, a GPS device, 260 gallons of gasoline, 80 gallons of water and 300 pounds of rice. And the passengers have brought along musical instruments like bongos, bells and a kalimba to break up the monotony of what they expect to be long boring days.
Not so fast, kimosabe. After passing the point of no return, they encounter a host of horrifying ordeals ranging from homesickness to madness to sexual tension to infighting to a hurricane to leaks to starvation. Ultimately, their plight becomes so overwhelming that they end up praying to Allah for divine intervention.
A compelling cross of Life of Pi and Lifeboat, a seafaring tale of survival sans the Bengal tiger and Tallulah Bankhead.
Excellent (3.5 stars)
Rated: Unrated
In French with subtitles
Running time: 87 minutes
Distributor: ArtMattan
To see a trailer for The Pirogue, visit
2013 Golden Globes Recap
by Kam Williams
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association jumpstarted the 2013 awards season Sunday evening with its annual recognition of the best in film and television. An early indicator of Academy Award potential, the Golden Globes have established Argo and Les Miserables as favorites in the Oscar race, much to the chagrin of fading-fast Lincoln. That much-ballyhooed historical drama prevailed only in an acting category (Daniel Day-Lewis), attendee President Clinton's stamp of approval notwithstanding.
Les Mis won for Best Musical, with Hugh Jackman and Anna Hathaway's performances also being feted. And Argo won for Best Drama and Best Director.
Meanwhile, in terms of television Homeland, Girls and the made-for-TV movie Game Change, walked away with the most trophies, with 3, 2 and 3, respectively.
The Globes were marked by its trademark, champagne-fueled informality, starting with co-hostesses Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's taking potshots during their dialogue at everyone from their predecessor ("Ricky Gervais could not be here tonight because he is no longer technically in show business.") to Quentin Tarantino ("The star of all my sexual nightmares.")
Some of the presenters proved to be just as hilarious, such as when their fellow, SNL alums Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig feigned familiarity with the Best Actress nominees' performances. Later, Sly Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger exchanged barbs about each other's poor command of English before opening the envelope for Best Foreign Language Film (Amour).
As for acceptance speeches, Lifetime Achievement Award-winner Jodie Foster came off as uncharacteristically-uncomfortable in front of the camera during a rambling rant during which she complained about her lack of privacy, came out of the closet, announced that she was available, and retired from show business. The camera caught several audience members crying in response to her emotional dump, although most appeared nonplussed.
As for sore losers, Taylor Swift frowned after losing to rival Adele as if the Best Original Song-winner had rushed to the stage and just pulled a Kanye West on her. Fey reacted equally-ungraciously to being beaten in the TV comedienne category when 26 year-old Lena Dunham thanked the also-rans for getting her through middle school.
In the end, co-host Poehler proved to be a better sport when she brought down the curtain on the festivities with the suggestive, less-catty sendoff, "Goodnight! We're going home with Jodie Foster."
Complete List of 2013 Golden Globe Winners
FILMS
Picture, Drama: "Argo"
Picture, Musical or Comedy: "Les Miserables"
Actor, Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis, "Lincoln"
Actress, Drama: Jessica Chastain, "Zero Dark Thirty"
Director: Ben Affleck, "Argo"
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Hugh Jackman, "Les Miserables"
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Jennifer Lawrence, "Silver Linings Playbook"
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, "Django Unchained"
Supporting Actress: Anne Hathaway, "Les Miserables"
Foreign Language: "Amour"
Animated Film: "Brave"
Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, "Django Unchained"
Original Score: Mychael Danna, "Life of Pi"
Original Song: "Skyfall" (music and lyrics by Adele and Paul Epworth), "Skyfall"
TELEVISION
Series, Drama: "Homeland"
Series, Musical or Comedy: "Girls"
Actress, Drama: Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Actor, Drama: Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Actress, Musical or Comedy: Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Actor, Musical or Comedy: Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Miniseries or Movie: "Game Change"
Actress, Miniseries or Movie: Julianne Moore, "Game Change"
Actor, Miniseries or Movie: Kevin Costner, "Hatfields & McCoys"
Supporting Actress, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"
Supporting Actor, Series, Miniseries or Movie: Ed Harris, "Game Change"
CECIL B. DeMILLE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Jodie Foster
Marlon Wayans
“A Haunted House” Interview
with Kam Williams
Multi-talented Marlon Wayans graduated from the prestigious High School of Performing Arts in New York and Howard University’s Film School. He is best known for getting his start in Hollywood as a cast member of the Emmy Award-winning comedy series, In Living Color. Marlon then went on to create executive produce and star in The Wayans Bros on the WB.
Together with brothers, Keenen and Shawn Wayans, and producer Rick Alvarez, he formed the successful production company, Wayans Brothers Entertainment. Some of his noteworthy credits include: The Ladykillers, directed by the Coen Brothers; the record breaking Scary Movie and Scary Movie 2, Little Man, White Chicks, Norbit, Behind the Smile and Dance Flick.
Marlon’s compelling dramatic performance as a drug addict in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream proved he could do more than comedy. Most recently, Marlon was seen starring opposite Channing Tatum in the box-office smash, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.
Projects in development include: Super Bad James Dynomite, based on his comic book series of the same name, Pretty Ugly, The Year of Living Biblically, and an animated series for TBS entitled The Black Family.
Next, he will be seen playing the title role in Sony Pictures, Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? Marlon will also star in the upcoming Harmony Korine film Twinkle, Twinkle.
Marlon continues to publish books under the 101 Ways title including 101 Ways to Know You're a Golddigger, 101 Ways You Know It's Time to Get Out Of Your Mama's House and 101 Ways to Know You’re Having a Ghetto Christmas as well as the children’s series Boo Crew which stemmed from the animated series the Wayans’ created for Nickelodeon.
Here, he talks about his latest film, A Haunted House, a spoof of the Paranormal Activity franchise.
Quartet
Film Review by Kam Williams
Sometimes a gem of a movie slips through the cracks that really has no business getting lost. Such is the case with Quartet, a delightful dramedy directed by Dustin Hoffman and starring Maggie Smith.
Since the film was released in late December by the esteemed Weinstein Company, one would naturally expect it to generate a lot of Academy Award buzz. But it was overlooked entirely, which means moviegoers might now be tempted to pass on the picture in favor of Oscar contenders. I just hope audiences don't dismiss Quartet because it lacks the Academy's stamp of approval.
The story is set at Beecham House, a sprawling estate in England which serves as a retirement home for accomplished classical musicians. At the point of departure, we are introduced to three of its residents Wilfred (Billy Connolly), Cecily (Pauline Collins) and Reginald (Tom Courtenay), opera singers who once shared the limelight as members of a famed quartet.
Melancholy Reggie is rather reserved in contrast to the comic relief coming courtesy of slightly senile Cissy and ladies man Wilf, a frisky codger quick to flirt with anything in a skirt. Otherwise, Beecham House is busy preparing to put on an annual concert, staged each year on Verdi's birthday.
The plot thickens when Jean Horton (Smith), a very demanding, former diva, moves in unannounced. For not only was she responsible for the breakup of the aforementioned quartet, but the adulteress was also to blame for the failure of her brief marriage to Reggie.
Jean is so narcissistic that she's initially oblivious to the effect that her arrival is having on her ex, who ostensibly never fully recovered from their divorce. Instead, she spends her time complaining about having to adjust to the relatively modest circumstances.
Will the two reconcile, let alone be able to even share the same space? And can the quartet be reunited to perform as headliners at the recital, a fundraiser suddenly critical to Beecham's remaining afloat? These are the pivotal concerns that will keep you entertained and engaged every step of the way to the glorious resolution.
A charming, romantic romp revolving around a couple of unexpected encores.
Excellent (4 stars)
Rated PG-13 for suggestive humor and brief profanity
Running time: 98 minutes
Distributor: The Weinstein Company
To see a trailer for Quartet, visit