Best Supporting Actress Nominee: Anne Hathaway

          I remember seeing the trailer for Les Misérables so many months ago. I thought that it was quite awkward to see Anne Hathaway seeing in the trailer. In fact, her singing voice plays throughout the trailer. It has become the musical score of it. It was weird seeing her sing. I felt like the trailer did not really give away much of the story, especially if you do not know what the play is about. Admittedly, I have never even heard of Les Misérables before, even in its play form. At first, I was reluctant to watch the film. When I found out that it was going to be a musical, I was dumbfounded, considering Russel Crowe, Hugh Jackman, and Anne Hathaway are among the actors and actresses featured in the film. It is just an odd thought to consider either of them singing for an extensive amount of time. However, I decided to watch the film anyways and I do not regret it.
      
         Anne Hathaway plays the character of Fantine. She becomes a prostitute, not by choice, but because it is necessary. Her daughter is sick and she needs the money to support and provide for her child. Though her part in the film is really small, it is essential to the story. She then manages to get Jackman's character, Jean Valjean, to adopt her daughter.

         When Hathaway sang "I Dreamed a Dream," I was captivated. I have to admit, though, that she does not necessarily have the best vocals in the world, but it does not matter to me. I don't care what anyone else says. Hathaway just has this thing about her that captures any person. In all the films I have watched her in, I just could not help but fall in love with both her and her character. This film was no different. The way she sang the song was just heartbreaking. She manages to project a character that has just completely given up on the life. The unshed tears in her eyes. The deep sadness and hopelessness. The quiver in her mouth as she sang. It all added to such a phenomenal performance. But despite Fantine's weaknesses, Hathaway also captures her character's sarcasm and biting attitude. It is almost as if Fantine and Hathaway have molded into one. Hathaway clearly sunk into her character the way any actor or actress should.

         I feel like Hathaway has a pretty good chance of possibly winning the Oscar. She might even be Les Misérables only hope, because I highly doubt that Hugh Jackman would win against the other nominees in his category. She did a fantastic job. Compared to Jacki Weaver, whom I felt played a rather passive character in  Silver Linings Playbook, Hathaway deserves the award more. Although I have not watched the other films nominated for the category, I still strongly feel like Hathaway has a pretty good chance. Her vocal abilities should not define the fantastic job that Hathaway did, but rather, her ability to sink her teeth into a very well-rounded character.