We commenced the year with Sacha Baron Cohen playing a French cop in HUGO, we conclude the year with Sacha Baron Cohen playing a French crook in LES MISERABLES.

After storming the barricades of the theatrical box office, LES MIZ looks set to storm the turnstiles at the cinema with truly wondrous performances from Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

Directed by Tom Hooper, Oscar winning helmer of THE KINGS SPEECH, this musical based on the novel by Victor Hugo is a cross between Oliver and Jesus Christ Superstar without the memorable toe tapping, go home humming tunes.

Jackman plays Jean Valjean, a convict who has served and survived 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to sustain his infant nephew. But even on release, he is on eternal parole, and attaining a job is denied him. To resurrect himself he must re-invent himself and he does, becoming a model citizen and a local mayor.

But the law, pitiless and unjust, personified by police inspector Javer, played with pugilistic pugnacity by Russell Crowe, does not forgive or forget, rehabilitation no excuse for breaking parole. He hounds, harasses and harangues Valjean, who is busy bringing up Anne Hathaway’s bastard, Cosette, played by Amanda Seyfried.

True to its title, Les Miserables is about miserable people in miserable times and light relief is mercifully supplied by Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as cutpurse couple, the Thenardiers.

At 2hours 37 minutes, it’s a tad too long, but there’s no denying the dazzling star power of Jackman, Hathaway, Crowe, Baron Cohen and Bonham Carter.  You might also be witnessing the birth of another star Samantha Barks as Epinine.