Les Miserables, the movie adaptation of the well know musical, sang its way into theatres and into people’s hearts Christmas day. As a musical snob myself I tried to keep a critical eye to the masterpiece known as Les Mis and I failed. I stared at the screen in awe and wonder from the very first song, wiped away many tears, and ended the movie with my jaw dropped.

The movie is already nominated for 8 Oscars and over 40 other awards. Les Mis also won 3 out of its 4 Golden Globe nominations, which was no surprise because of the phenomenal actors who executed each song live for every shot.

Hugh Jackman who played the lead of Jean Valjean took on the role by losing a substantial amount of weight and growing a long scraggly beard for the opening scenes as a prisoner. Then he gained it all back and had a nice shaved look for the rest of the movie as a wealthy businessman. Jackman had to sing the majority of the movie, which I’m sure was a change for the actor who plays Wolverine and is more accustomed to being a part of the X-Men.

The character with the most buzz is definitely Anne Hathaway who played a working woman trying to pay a way for her daughter who, after getting fired, has to indulge in a personally scarring occupation to make any money at all. Though she put on a very convinc-ing performance and sang what may be the most well

known song from the show almost perfectly, there were a few directors’ decisions that I though took away from the beauty of her character.

Russell Crowe, who is a well-known country singer, played the tough, by the law Police Inspector Javert. There is a bit of controversy whether his voice fit the part just right but putting that aside, I think he was fantastic choice for the main antagonist of the show. He got the meaning of his role in the storyline and hit home with the emotion he portrayed.

One of the most enchanting parts of this musical is the love triangle between my three favorite characters Cosette (Amanda Seyfried), Marius (Eddie Redmayne), and Eponine (Samantha Barks). You could see it in his eyes that the second he saw her, Marius fell in love with Cosette. She has long blonde hair, wide eyes, a small smile, and would be hard for any man to resist. The heart clincher is that a friend of Marius, Eponine, is in love with him too, so much so that she helps him find Cosette and witnesses as they both admit their instantly present love for each other. Marius does find out how much he meant to Eponine when hearing her plea to him at the end of a horrific fight scene.

The director Tom Hooper took a risk trying to execute this monster of a musical movie right and I think he defi-nitely did it justice. Though the whole musical is about the French Revolution, you don’t feel like you’re watching a history movie. He brought life into all the characters in his almost three-hour masterpiece. Whether you like historical musicals or not this is the must see movie of the year!

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By Kali CoatesStaff Reporter

With each step into the relaxed eatery, a potent and authentic Italian aroma stimulates the senses and pre-pares them for a large meal. Located in the Rockbrook Village, Pasta Amore serves authentic Italian food to the Omaha area and has for the last 27 years. Chef and owner Leo Fascianella was born in Sicily before moving to the Midwest and opening his own thriving business. He has worked with some of the most prestigious chefs since he was 17 years old. Pasta Amore serves dozens of dishes, including a variety of pastas and multiple homemade pastas made from scratch.

My first though when I took a step through the doors was the authenticity

of the atmosphere. Casual Italian music was playing, a rich scent surrounded me right as I took a step through the doors, and it felt like I took a step into Sicily. Although I know little about Italian culture, the waitress spoke with accuracy when telling me the specials and describing each entrée very well. I had a variety of options to choose from such as pasta and lamb. When I received my meal, it was presented very well and lightly garnished with cheese and basil. It tasted very good and was so plentiful I needed to take it home to finish another night. Another dish I enjoyed was the gnocchi, which exploded with a bold and hearty flavor.

The service was excellent for a restaurant of this caliber. Although there was quiet chatter and music in the background, I enjoyed the solitary

tranquility that allowed me to enjoy my meal without mindless chatter surrounding my table. The waiter ap-proached me at very appropriate times and very infrequently (A trait I prefer in waiters) and my water was constantly filled while eating my meal. The chef was very polite and sincerely thanked me for my patronage to his restaurant after I had finished.

Pasta Amore is a fantastic destina-tion for authentic Italian food that isn’t too far from the Millard area. The food is flavorful and the service is unsur-passed, but the price is most likely out of the price range for most high school students. But with price aside, this is easily the place I would go for authen-tic food in the nearby area.

Les Miserables ain’t so miserable

Tortellini that tickles the tastebudsBy Tanner Holder Editor-in-Chief

Linguini amore is a seafood medley that keeps the tongue wanting more. Photo courtesy of John Fascianella