New Look at Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert in ‘Les Miserables’
I love Russell Crowe as an actor and I’m sure his casting as Inspector Javert was an inspired choice. However, I always had someone more sinister and quietly intimidating in mind than the brawling Aussie. Just Jared has some new pictures from the set of Tom Hooper of Les Miserables which show Russell trying to take down Eddie Redmayne, who plays Marius.
The scene depicted in the pictures is most likely from the fourth volume where Marius takes to the barricades during a popular uprising, distraught over Cosette’s sudden disappearance. Javert, the man of the law that he is, is hell-bent on taking down Marius and the leaders of the uprising and it isn’t long after that Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) re-enters the fold.
Take a look below and let us know what you think! Was Russell Crowe a good choice to play Javert? Who would have been better?
Les Miserables opens on December 25th.
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.
11 Comments
OK, Russell Crowe as Javert does look intimidating. I’m for this!
I don’t know. I always pictured Javert as more skinny and with angular features. Not nearly as obviously badass looking as Russ I guess ahah
Really? Christmas release? How depressing.
Very
Yeah, Castor, I see what you’re saying. I thought of him as skinnier too. But I’m loving the costumes. One film I’m very much looking forward to!
Ah glad you agree
It’s just something I pictured while reading the book 
But I’m sure the Russ will be excellent.
No new post on your blog?
The definitive Javert will always be Philip Quast in the 10th Anniversary Concert. Gine figure of a man. Menacing and stern but able to show vulnerability. Tall too. Crowe is too squat, to sulky, and too doughy in the face. Feel he mumbles lines too. No matter how many ‘takes’ they mash=up, how high they turn the auto-tune or how many lessons Crowe has….he will never be able to sing like Quast. Personally wonder why they cast him. Its not as if he’s a BO draw anymore either. In the crowd scene above he looks like Jim Braddock from Cinderella Man about to start a shift at the docks. He just doesn’t have the aura for this role. He is past his best and won’t do the role of ‘Stars’ justice. Bad choice.
Crowe will be just fine. Will Jackson be the “same” as Colm Wilkinson, Of course not. Will Bonham-Carter be the “same” as Jenny Galloway? Of course not. So why hold Crowe to some impossible standard which you don’t choose to use on the rest of the cast? You like Quast. Great. That was in 1995. This is 2012. So no one else should play the role if Quast doesn’t ? Nonsense. Time to move along.
He had to pass two auditions to get the role and has been having daily voice lessons from a voice coach. Plus he’s working out daily and is at his Maximus weight of 190 lbs. Squat ? He doesn’t look squat and he certainly doesn’t look at all like Jimmy Braddock.
The differenc is those cast members can sing. Jackman has a track record on stage and can sing these kind of numbers. Crowe hasn’t.
Strangely Quast is only a few years older than Crowe and actually the correct age for the part. (He was too young really back in the 90′s) I’d quite like to see Quast do it on film, but failing that, someone who actually can sing this kind of operatic song and doesn’t need a voice coach would be nice. What the hell Crowe’s workout routine will bring to the table God Alone knows. Javert is…in the book….a tall dominating figure that strikes awe. (Hence some of the actors who have played him on stage) Crowe doesn’t look All That in that picture.
Yep time to move on. And that includes from Crowe. One day someone could reprise Maximus…and then you’d sing a different song. (Whether you’d need a coach or not only you can say.)
Crowe, like all movie stars, will play the part of being someone who can sing. Its not the same and won’t fool audiences and critics who actually are not besotted by his looks.
Do you really think that Quast never used a voice coach ? LOL . That’s unrealistic. Everyone on Les Mis has or has had a voice coach. And Crowe’s workout routine is relevant because you absurdly said he was “squat”. (According to IMDB he’s 5’11″) You seem a bit obsessed with his looks too.
“Javert is…in the book….a tall dominating figure that strikes awe.” Seems to me Crowe does’t usually have a problem in that area. Seen Master and Commander ? Or for that matter Gladiator? Even in the scene after the Barbarian Horde battle his height certainly wasn’t an issue ; he was clearly and obviously the leader .
If you choose to be obsessed about a 17 year old cast recording that’s fine. I’ll just wait until the movie comes out in December before judging and condemning.
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