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AirTalk

Les Mis and the future of movie musicals:

By AirTalk Staff
Published Dec 26, 2012
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 10: General view of the atmosphere at the "Les Miserables" New York Premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on December 10, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
General view of the atmosphere at the "Les Miserables" New York Premiere at Ziegfeld Theater on December 10, 2012 in New York City.
(
Larry Busacca/Getty Images
)
Listen 16:57
Les Mis and the future of movie musicals:
The highly anticipated musical-cum-movie Les Miserables opened yesterday, breaking box office records for the highest advance ticket sales for a Christmas day release and taking in $18 million in one day

The highly anticipated musical-cum-movie Les Miserables opened yesterday, breaking box office records for the highest advance ticket sales for a Christmas day release and taking in $18 million in one day, according to Deadline.com. But that apparent enthusiasm has been dampened by reviews like this one from Gawker, which referred to it as “banal schmaltz” and “a nonsensical, emotional vampire of a movie.” Some people will just never like musicals, but is that just generational? Whatever happened to the crooning days of Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire? Are they never to return? Are modern audiences beyond reach when it comes to musical movies?

Guest:

Wade Major, film critic for KPCC and boxoffice.com