I know Les Mis.  I know Les Mis so well that there is scarcely a nuance I am not able to describe in great detail from the original cast recording  which I stole from a family I was babysitting for* when I was 13 and listened to constantly for 4 and half years.  I imagined I was Cosette, Eponine and later Fantine.  I sang “I Dreamed a Dream” for school concerts in America**, London and then for my Leaving Cert.  I cried at least 5 times when I eventually got to see it in the West End, and I think there is still a tiny part of me that wishes evil on every little girl who get’s to play the young Cosette because they are LIVING MY DREAM.  I love Les Mis.

Needless to say I was skeptical when they started talking about a movie, partially because it’s so precious to me, and partially because I just don’t think many musicals have been done justice on screen in recent times.  (Dreamgirls or The Producers anyone?)  I was even less excited when it was announced that Anne Hathaway would be playing Fantine.  I don’t like to go hating on random people I don’t know, especially girls, but she just really gets on my wick with her “I’m really wholesome and just SO SO refined and gracious and clever” routine.  However, the trailer for the film is out and not only does it look pretty amazing, I really buy Anne Hathaway as Fantine in the bits they show us!  I’m shocked, but more than shocked, I’m excited!  Time to break out that CD!***

*I am not proud of this, but so desperate was I for some Broadway in my life that I literally couldn’t resist.  My deepest apologies to that family now and forever, I can only imagine what singalong opportunities I have deprived you of over the years.

**We’ve moved a lot.

***Who the F am I kidding, it’s on my iPhone and I listen to it on the regular.