Musical Theatre Coach Reacts (EDDIE REDMAYNE), Empty Chairs At Empty Tables, Les Mis

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In this video Musical Theatre Coach Marc Daniel Patrick discusses Eddie Redmayne's performance of Empty Chairs At Empty Tables from Tom Hopper's film musical Les Miserables.

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Reaction Videos: LES MIS “All I Ask Of You”, ARIANA GRANDE “Wizard & I” and many more - LIVE NOW on our PATREON PAGE. www.patreon.com/marcdanielpatrick

[@frednich9603]

I respect that the actors in this movie were not afraid to look ugly when the song called for it. This shot, clammy, blotchy skin, eyes that look like they have gone to hell and back, but it works

[@Hannah-ly3ec]

But he didn’t even look ugly lol. He looked like an angel while portraying that sad look

[@frednich9603]

@@Hannah-ly3ec he looked like his skin was made of wax. Very unflattering

[@yriverspelle]

The director in this version was a sadist and put the actors through hell their voices were exhausted and shattered it it was take after take until he had the raw ugliness the gorgeous music tends to mask

[@hardwoodfloor3464]

thats cause they did go to hell and back... when looking deeper into the movie, the movie is quite the mess, yet they still pull it off

[@AwareWokege]

@@frednich9603 me, being too much of an eddie fan: “he looks beautiful what are you guys talking about😭”

[@ms_scribbles]

Eddie Redmayne is so underrated. His performance in this scene is so raw.

[@ms_scribbles]

And yeah, I would also like to see more musicals where the performers are expected to act as well as they sing. Which is probably why I love Hamilton so much.

[@ragnokulfbhert]

There's only a few times I've ever cried watching a movie but with context the 1st time I watched this the scene hits so dam hard

[@AthenaNike71]

@@ragnokulfbhert and it hits hard every single time.

[@kelseybelle895]

Agree. He is absolutely incredible

[@jadecampbell3965]

I can practically see him going through all the stages of grief during this song and it made me cry so baddddd.

[@zoharsarig9474]

Eddie doesn't get enough recognition for this film- honestly robbed of a best supporting actor nomination. He's so talented

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Seconded.

[@tmh-jts7022]

literally.

[@sailor_anna9924]

yesssss. when him, amanda, and samantha came into the movie it blew my mind... like holy shit those 3 stole this whole movie in my opinion. at least the second half lol

[@giuliapicchiotti]

@@sailor_anna9924 Anne also

[@christophekeating21]

@@sailor_anna9924 They really did. Probably because they didn't starve themselves or dehydrate themselves for three days prior to filming.

[@purple3388]

Fun fact: those are his real tears and he did 23 takes of this song, the 23rd take is the one that was put in the movie, maybe why you can hear the strain on his voice. Love Eddie Redmayne, thanks for doing this video!

[@gazmondo]

Yep. Real tears. The reason he did so many takes was not that they were cracking the whip. Eddie is a huge perfectionist. He wasn't happy with all his other takes. Each time he asked to do it again. It's certainly safe to say that he NAILED this last one. It's the acting highlight of the movie!

[@beckyc8104]

@@gazmondo yeah I heard the director was happy with like the 3/4th take, or something like that. But Eddie wanted to keep going, convinced he could do better!

[@TinyTorah]

@@gazmondo , well the director actually did crack the whip quite a bit for the process, perhaps it was more Eddie for this scene, but Tom ran his performers through the ringer filming this either directly, or indirectly by ALLOWING certain things to happen. There’s a great KZbin video out there revealing why the vocals for most of the show weren’t up to par, including, yes, many, MANY consecutive takes with the actors going all-out each time, and for example, Hugh decided for some reason to dehydrate himself for 3 days or something to cut back on water weight to look leaner for the role. Which is weird for him since: 1. He’s been in excellent shape for other films without going to such an odd and unhealthy extreme. 2. He has a background in musical theatre, and should know just how important staying hydrated is as a singer.

[@TinyTorah]

Found the video! It’s long, but SERIOUSLY worth watching when you have the time. The guy absolutely knows his stuff.

[@wrenwhite8402]

@@TinyTorah can you link it, or give me the title? I wanna watch the video.

[@reganellewhite]

eddie redmayne was perfectly cast. marius is supposed to be an awkward, dorky guy-not the romantic and suave leader he's usually portrayed as in the musical. people dog on the movie a lot, but i personally think it's incredible. eddie is one of many highlights in the movie

[@nonyabusiness2510]

except for not being able to sing the role well and it being a musical. Other than that he was perfect. Good grief.

[@felicialovesnkotb]

One thing I like about this version, is you can hear the stages of grief through the changes in his voice.

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

💕

[@Macygal]

all just with his vice, he was brilliant.

[@pixistix831]

So many people fault this film because its not always sung as "beautifully" as maybe the stage show is. But its what i love about it. Like Marc mentioned the actor forward approach. I think especially in something like Les Mis which is sang through. These songs are the lines, the story.

[@Broxios]

It sort of makes this movie version more believable for me.

[@DarthRayj]

I do have issues still with a couple of the actors not having enough vocal training to quite pull off their numbers, but overall I agree that when it does work, it works extremely well. Both this song and I Dreamed a Dream made me cry when I saw it in theaters on release- I guess that was basically 8 years ago (minus 2 days)

[@DarthRayj]

For stage performance, though, I think they often have to prioritize different things, and I've seen the live show on the West End. The experience of live theatre is still nearly always better than this movie IMO, but if I can't go to a live show this would be the choice.

[@magickelfgirl]

I remember the director saying in an interview that he chose to have the actors sing live when filming instead of recording the songs later precisely to make it more real, he wanted the actors' voices to break and feel raw.

[@MsJubjubbird]

It's because they are beautiful songs that are hard to sing and there are lots of people who can sing- yet they went for star power instead. A lot of the actors weren't even in time with the music or keeping with the structure of the song. Eddie did well but most of them sucked royally.

[@tammymoseley1348]

Cossette was actually in the scene, but "forgotten" by the stairs. This is him telling her what happened. It's also a study in dissociated survivor's guilt. It started as a "Well, here's what happened..." and evolved into a man processing the loss of almost everyone he held dear in an event that he survived. At least that was what I feel when I see/hear this scene.

[@kristenkeys3273]

I had no idea who Eddie was when I saw this, and this scene took my breath away. Best part of the whole movie. One of the best performances I’ve seen in a movie, period. Thanks for recognizing the amazing emotion of this scene and not criticizing his lack of classical training.

[@aylavieland7803]

I love eddie so much he also plays Newt Scamander in Fantastic Beasts!

[@joannecheckley1280]

Check him out in the Theory of Everything, The Danish girl and My Week With Marilyn

[@lauragagalutton593]

Eddie Redmayne was everything as Marius in the film version. He is such an incredibly versatile actor and his voice is beautiful. The raw emotion just grabs you and draws you in to Marius's story.

[@adannunez8540]

Eddie Redmayne is so underrated. His performance in this scene is so raw.

[@seagurll]

I completely agree. When you’ve seen this and then you see Eddie in the movie Hick, it’s just a whole showcase in itself of how huge his acting range is.

[@natashamorais6264]

I'll take a emotional performance over a technically perfect any day of the week. Eddie hit it in the head with this. You can feel the pain of his loss in his voice, face and posture. Beautiful.

[@cutecheerfreak1]

There’s a haunting raw emotion to this rendition. It evokes survivor’s guilt in a way in a way I didn’t think was possible.

[@DesmitskesUnplugged]

Unpopular opinion: this is one of my favorite performances of this song. 🤍 No, he's not trained, but he brings emotion! And to me, that's much more important. This performance gets me every single time.

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

💕

[@hallieharvey4073]

He is trained he went to a performing arts school from like 10 and preformed in musical theatre and also got a Choral scholarship to college. I feel like everyone forgets most famous British actors are extremely well rounded, highly skilled, and well trained in all types of performing arts.

[@lilywilliams5141]

I remember watching this in the theatres, having seen the stage musical multiple times. just, trying to stay silent through hitching breaths in such an intimate, emotional moment as everyone in the room just held the weight of what had happened. one of the strengths of this movie was keeping every emotion inescapable. not allowing any reprieve from the horrors of what happened

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Well said.

[@austynhl9484]

I remember watching this in the theater and immediately saying "he's going to win an Oscar one day." This performance was absolutely masterful.

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

He just had to play a character with a crippling nerve disease to get it, but an Oscar winner he is.

[@poterd2123]

I’m so glad you didn’t just bash him for his lack of vocal training! So many times people claim “MT coach reacts to Eddie Redmayne” and then just talk about the vocals and not at all about the acting. Very good video. 10/10

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Perhaps I'm just an outlier, but I'd take an emotional story over perfect vocals any day.

[@sunny70299]

Eddie Redmayne has heaps of vocal training. He went to stage school, was in the Eton Choral Choir and on top of that had months of coaching for this film.

[@ilsaruthen5478]

@@MarcDanielPatrick Is there anyone you can think of who delivers both?

[@RSZ229]

@@sunny70299 Yes! And he had a Choral Scholarship to Trinity College!

[@BbGun-lw5vi]

@@ilsaruthen5478 Lea Salonga “On My Own”

[@amyw6808]

I love how the movie version of this musical allows for a more intimate relationship with the characters. You’re right that this approach wouldn’t work on stage, but also because there is a physical distance between the actor and the audience, but in a movie, we are there, right up at his face, feeling it with him. It’s incredibly powerful and gives a layer of depth to the character that can be often lacking on stage.

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Much easier to play subtlety on film than stage, for sure.

[@ayreseatsdubia]

this version of empty chairs and empty tables never fails to make me cry

[@Catherine_Longstaff]

In my opinion, the actors in this version do the best job showing the characters as I understand them from the book. You can tell they did their research on their characters, and I love it.

[@amyw6808]

Yes absolutely. I find stage performers can have a lovely voice but the depth of emotion and character isn’t there. The book is extremely powerful and Victor Hugo had a talent for creating characters with layers. This is often not translated into stage acting.

[@TheCrayonMaster]

Yes! I also thought Eddie did a wonderful job! He and Aaron were my favourites in this film. And I was shocked, because before this film, I had no idea Eddie could sing.

[@thenextwritedream1580]

He's so dorky and adorable...exactly how Marius should be

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

YESSS!

[@iamtheassassinofjoy]

This is definitely my favorite rendition of Empty Chairs At Empty Tables. I love that Eddie suggested beginning the song acapella, it adds something wonderfully raw and introspective to the scene, and Eddie's performance of it - right up there with Anne Hathaway's rendition of I Dreamed A Dream. Just stellar.

[@jeremysmith9694]

Man I love this song. This was one of my favorite parts of the movie. And Redmayne one of my favorite actors in the film. Super impressive.

[@polinadenisova8665]

1. Samantha Barks 2. Eddie Redmayne 3. Aaron Tveit The three reasons why I could rewatch this movie an ungodly number of times. The old guard though... Idk, but I was very disappointed with Hugh Jackman. I wanted to like him as Valjean, but I couldn't.

[@madelinejensen2157]

From my understanding the reason Hugh Jackman, for example, (and others) didn’t sound very good singing certain parts is because of the conditions they were in and what they put their bodies through to at/look the part for the movie. I have heard some of them (Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe for example) singing the songs they sang in the movie in different settings, and they sounded pretty good singing them compared to how they sometimes sounded in the movie. But, even so I still liked how the 2012 version of the movie turned out.

[@polinadenisova8665]

@@madelinejensen2157 yeah, the movie turned out fine. I would just prefer Hugh Jackman sing instead of showing his exhausted frame (same goes for Anne Hathaway)

[@megwyn1611]

I always tell myself that he sounds like that because they knew that Crowe wouldn't be able to match Jackman so that they made him hold back. That's the only way I can deal

[@polinadenisova8665]

@@megwyn1611 lol that's a great perspective to take! I'll adopt it, thank you :)

[@quietstarsilence7038]

@@megwyn1611 Crowe has a band. He can sing, but again, the massive strain on having to sing the same song over and over again for 10 hours at a time puts alot of strain on the voice. It's honestly surprising none of them did major damage to their throats

[@Seriphina]

Of all the times I've seen Les Mis. The first time I watched this movie was the first time I ever cried at this song. Eddie's performance was criminally underrated.

[@AthenaNike71]

This song is one of my grieving songs. It hits the nail right on the head. I lost someone very dear to me, many years ago. He was like my twin brother. Next year it will be 30 years without him. There truly is a grief that can’t be spoken. And the pain does go on and on.

[@avynera]

Eddie Redmayne is incredibly talented person. He's amazing actor and singer. He can make you cry and laugh. He always gives 100% of his heart to his performances. And in all of this, he's still so shy and doesn't feel well when he's really in the middle of spotlight. I still cannot understand why he has only one Oscar.

[@nonyabusiness2510]

he is an "ok" singer at best.

[@jamiemcclure8937]

I love that the actors in this movie were not all perfect classically trained singers but could still make the emotions resonate so well. I connect more with actors who "perform the song" rather than just sing it perfectly, because it makes them seem more real and relatable to real people who are not perfect. This is part of the reason why I love Russell Crowe as Javert (unpopular opinion, I know 😂). He is most definitely not a really great singer, but it makes his character feel more believable to me because Javert is very flawed, even though in his mind, he is really trying.

[@kuliimjulischreiben]

I agree! Unpopular opinion but I thought Russell did a great job, too!

[@peterlewis2178]

I don't understand why people hate so much on less professional sounding/classically trained singers in musicals. To me, if they can sing in tune without noticeable autotune necessary, and they're good at acting and displaying the necessary emotion, then there's not really anything to fault. I don't need the most technically perfect singers in the world in order to enjoy songs, I just need someone good, with a meaningful delivery. And all the actors in this movie meet those requirements several times over. I feel like a lot of people are kind of just snobby, and are unnecessarily limiting their own ability to enjoy things, just because they aren't "as good".

[@ilikeyoutube836]

This is honestly the best performance of this song that I have ever seen, even if not the best vocals I've ever heard. This song always made me emotional, but Eddie's portrayal of Marius's grief in this scene absolutely gutted me. I couldn't stop crying long after he stopped singing. Absolutely brilliant performance

[@hilaryelphick1353]

Eddie’s rendition is really underrated, the emotion and pure voice, it’s beautiful

[@karinfuire8450]

Eddie Redmayne was a highlight of this film. Your breakdown of his performance was spot on. Samantha Barks’ singing “On my Own” should be in your ‘to do’ list. Separate topic...gotta move that white t-shirt behind you! The hanger gives you a funny “hat” 😂

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

I believe you emailed me about this as well...Haha. Thank you for the concern Karin.

[@12cowwoman]

This song had me crying so hard - what an amazing & raw performance - I could just feel his loss, his pain and how much he is torn between being grateful to be alive but also feeling guilty for being the last one standing *sigh*

[@richardthomas7839]

This is the most emotional performance of ''Empty Chairs at Empty Tables' by Eddie Redmayne that I have ever or will ever see. It is simply magnificent. It tears me up every single time that I see it. A performance that I will never forget.

[@migorenghed]

Eddie Redmayne is a terrific actor. I loved him in les mis and the approach he took. I think he is one of the best actors working at the moment.

[@jal2550]

Eddie KILLED it here. Beautiful!

[@laytonpro8655]

Eddie is so underated, yes his voice isn’t as powerful as someone like Michael Ball but my god the emotional performance is spot on

[@yanaraymundo]

Eddie Redmayne is an incredible actor! He's one of my absolute favorites. Thank you for this video!

[@suhseal]

Eddie Redmayne's rendition of Empty Chairs was the first moment watching this movie that I finally wasn't annoyed/outraged. LOL His acting is superb and his mix of singing and emoting is so on point. Such a great payoff.

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

wow, you sat through so much of the film before letting go of those clenched fists then...haha

[@gabegonzalez9057]

I love the song. Fell in love with it when I first heard it sung on stage. Watching Eddie do this performance truly brought the emotions of the moment to life. Each time I watch it, it brings tears to my eyes. One of my favorite scenes in the whole movie.

[@queenslanddiva]

Eddie Redmaine is a star! I think this is my favourite recording of this remarkable song. Love it

[@Moconnor834]

Urgh. I bawled at this. How are you not in a puddle on the floor 😂

[@TinyTorah]

Yeah, this was absolutely one of the three times I found myself leaking while watching this in theaters. 😅

[@elizabethdonner5240]

I was crying through this video because ahhhhhhhh this song is so sadddd

[@ToolGirl616]

This was my favorite scene in the movie, he had the most powerful scene here imo

[@theaselby6064]

I want Eddie to watch this bc I'm watching him saying how he doesn't think he did very good and this man is giving him the credit he deserves to hear

[@jennifersulsar5346]

This is one of my favorite performances ever!! Thank you for doing this one.

[@caroleknowles828]

Thank you; I've always believed that Eddie Redmayne is a genius, and this song cements it. The emotion conveyed in the lyrics tears your heart out. Thank you for your appraisal. 💓

[@katiesaccount1]

When I watched the film for the first time I was quite disappointed, but this scene came and I thought, “it is worth watching the whole film to understand this number”. I loved the interpretation and to this day it’s on my top 3 for this song.

[@juliamellett]

You continue to cover ALL OF MY FAVORITES! Thank you!

[@annatabner8459]

The Les Mis movie honestly gives me so much anxiety! The actors were in awful conditions, many of them were on strict diets to make them look more skinny (as if they were starving in poverty). Anne Hathaway talked about how the amount of weight she lost so quickly was really unhealthy and dangerous. Hell, Hugh Jackman VOLUNTARILY deprived himself water for something like 2 days before he started filming to loose all of his body fat - HE THEN HAD TO SING LIVE ON SET! The actors were on set for up to 12 hours a day just singing through scenes over and over - imagine the damage that must have done to their voices! The only thing that saved this movie was Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried and (the queen) Samantha Barks!

[@Hannah-ly3ec]

I rewatch this all the time and I bawl my eyes out every time

[@toritricamo8964]

great video! just watched this movie yesterday, they put it on netflix!!

[@hosbrutality7451]

I was today-years-old when I realized that it was Empty Chairs AT Empty Tables instead of Empty Chairs and Empty Tables. Oh well.

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Hahah. the honesty.

[@alizamyers165]

...I’ve been in this musical (not this number) and I just realized this 💀😅

[@alexagomez111]

Omg I just realized with this comment 😂

[@shifra1967]

I...I just realized that

[@lynnettesue6240]

Omg! 🤣 Thanks for pointing this out! I've never noticed either!

[@ZipperheadSmudge]

I grew up loving Musicals, and this song by far especially by him made me feel everything he felt in the moment. It was a great song sung well and they way he preformed it makes you feel his hurt.

[@cindykennedy7068]

I love this movie one of my favs! I absolutely love everything Eddie Redmayne does he’s is a great actor so underrated!! and yes this scene one of my favs I do love his voice it’s pure and raw I love the emotion the pain and how it’s focused just on him voice, expressions and all nowhere to hide so powerful!!

[@professormurder3691]

Thank you for doing this! I had requested it a few weeks ago! I had the worst couple of weeks and coming home to this today made me feel so much better.

[@sandrastanley1363]

Thank you for requesting this!

[@caroleknowles828]

Thank you, thank you so much for such an insightful analysis of Eddie Redmayne's performance ; I have to agree with every comment you made. With 'Les Mis' it's all about the historic, heartbreaking tragedy, and when I listen to Eddie telling this story, it's so personal, so intimate that you cannot fail to feel Marius's pain and despair. I loved all of the singing in this movie; it sat very comfortably within its space. Who'd have thought that actors, rather than trained, renowned singers could pull off such a masterpiece as this! ❤❤❤

[@kimesch9698]

Goosebumps. Highest praise I have for any music.

[@gillianarmstrong955]

I love Eddie Redmayne’s.acting, and he portrays this song so movingly.

[@MissLaurenLipstick]

At the time, seeing it in theaters, I was confused by the casting of Eddie in this role. As an Aaron Tveit fan I thought they maybe should’ve switched roles. However, I was blown away by Eddie’s rendition of this song. He both sang it beautifully and also acted the HELL out of it. I agree with you 100%.

[@sharennyberg7795]

Thanks for the video. Eddie did a fantastic job on this number, it gives me goosebumps when i hear it

[@marxsescondo1352]

One of the reasons why I love your videos is it gives me pointers on singing and internalizing the songs I love better. ❤️

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Aww, thanks so much Marxs

[@aliecat199]

Nice Analysis Marc. This is one of my favorite scenes from the film “Les Miserable.” Eddie performed this role beautifully and being not classically trained, I feel emoted Marius loss with his voice and showed us his remorse in surviving while his friends died. It’s always been one of my favorite songs from the musical too. I look forward to your other reactions. I would love to see your reaction from others shows like Oklahoma, Into the Woods, Show Boat, Carousal, South Pacific and My Fair Lady. I would love to get your opinion of Hugh Jackman as Curly from Oklahoma. He’s not my favorite Valjean but I like him in this role. They recorded a stage version on Australia and I really enjoy it. Keep up that good work Marc!!!

[@TheARGblue]

This is my favorite version of this song and every time I hear it I cry. You can hear the pain of his loss. Eddie did justice to this roll.

[@laineyg6]

One of the greatest songs ever, and I absolutely cried my face off when I watched it in the theater. Really well done. So excited to see you reviewing this movie. I also want to see you talk about the ones you did not like..

[@missyjanehale57]

amazing one of my favourite pieces . love all your tips.

[@andreaebeling6320]

I watched this movie and I can tell you I truly felt his emotions through his voice and his facial expressions!

[@juliecaouette5376]

Thank you for this video! I was just watching the movie last night (again) and this number never fails to turn me into a blubbering mess, what a gut wrenching performance. Do you hear the people sing? also gets the waterworks going for me. As criticised as this movie is it holds a dear place in my heart. Man... I'm emotionally destroyed everytime I see Javert pin his medal on Gavroche.

[@sweetass0711]

I would love to see you walk through Anne Hathaway’s performance of ‘I dreamed a dream’ from the film. These are the two songs that got me with the emotion.

[@theresaditz6271]

Instant cry, everytime i hear this song. No other song makes me so emotional. Eddie Redmayne is such a great actor and singer!

[@sandymount1973]

I watched the movie with my sister who doesn’t speak English. But the emotions really came through and especially this scene really hit her hard. I think this shows, it’s not about perfection, but how well a performer can bring across the emotion of the story.

[@gavinneate9057]

Yesterday at the age of 54 I took my first ever singing lesson. My family is musical but I had only ever whistled a tune. I was so lucky to find a singing coach who suggested this song for me during the lesson. I struggled my way through it but for the first time in my life I heard the lyrics and was instructed to feel them. OMG, I didn’t know this was what music was for. Im cursed for never having realised but now blessed before it was too late. Thank you Marc for giving me a “coach reacts” piece to help me understand what I was feeling and why 24 hours later.

[@lorikodama8212]

Love your reaction to this scene. I think the biggest difference that I've noticed between film and live performances is that in the film, they seem to focus more on the visuals and the acting because everything is up close and they have the freedom to manipulate camera angles and we only see what the camera wants us to see. The vocals aren't always the reason why people watch the film. In a musical theater performance, the music and vocals are everything because not everyone is sitting up front to see the performers faces and the fine details of the set. I find that the performers have to "over emphasize" everything so that the people in the back can see and hear, whereas in film, the acting is much more toned down and "normal".

[@jbmusician2007]

You have to sing to the back row of the theater. That's why I like Michael Ball soo much. This was a good performance still. I agree with his reaction to it. This is my favorite number of the whole show. As a musician, I'm biased to the stage version because of the music, melodies, and vocals. I respect film versions when done well like this.

[@ilsaruthen5478]

@@jbmusician2007Even singing to the back row there are performers who can bring great acting to their parts as well as great singing. Just take a look at Michael Ball and Lea Salonga singing "A Little Fall of Rain". Absolute perfection on both their parts.

[@jbmusician2007]

@@ilsaruthen5478when I say sing to the back for, I'm not talking volume or even protection. Every seat in a theater has to be made to feel they are frontcroute center and brought in. I don't get that in this film version. This feels closed off to himself (self reflexive) and that's fine too. It's just a personal taste thing. I prefer live performances for their rawness. Again, this was a good rendition.

[@ilsaruthen5478]

@@jbmusician2007 I understand what you meant about singing to the back row. That's why I used Michael Ball and Lea Salonga as an example. I, too, did not feel involved in the movie and I missed the exhilaration that the score brings when it is sung well. The movie is ok for what it is, but if it had pre-dated the stage show Les Mis would never have been the phenomenon it has become.

[@linlopez7388]

I really appreciate your videos ❣️ I mean, you know exactly what you are talking about. Acting in musicals isn't about singing beautifully and no more... You have to feel it, to express everything 👏🏻

[@Enidan]

man, I am still unable to watch this part without crying and I've watched it dozens of times

[@jcleivaamoros]

Simply beautiful. Stunning performance, delivers the message, a man on grief "that can't be spoken", which is per se an emotional state which means "voiceless, speechless". This is a performance which shows that all techniques are there to serve to deliver the message. This being said, I love the idea of seeing a performance where vocal, musical and acting techniques would meet to render this song.

[@jessiemacdonald3436]

This is one of my favourite musical numbers and this is my favourite performance of it. You believe he can see and hear his friends and the amount of loss and regret he has.

[@sparrow8534]

I love Les Mis reaction videos! More please!

[@briannapinkney4966]

Not sure if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I was so captivated in the film. Because this is such an emotive and raw story, AND going on the “big screen”, it was a smart financial and creative choice to cast a large majority A-list actors (some who happen to be Oscar nominees and winners). A lot of people saw this film BECAUSE of the actor(s), and it obviously swept the Oscar season with performances and nominees. A lot of people don’t like musicals, but this was done exceptionally. I sobbed like a baby whenever I see it. Especially this performance with Eddie.

[@nonyabusiness2510]

except for Russell Crowe how literally makes the movie almost unwatchable because he is literally atrocious.

[@beckyhalvorsen2126]

I sobbed during this song while watching the movie. Eddie did such a great job.

[@Waterflame]

The first 3 notes, and I get chills. Every. Single. Time.

[@gracehowell.]

The one version of 'Empty Chairs' that actually gets me crying.

[@juliescott-crane5800]

A very talented actor who can also emote through song. A great scene and performance.

[@edenakasha7574]

This whole film is incredible. I bawl from start to finish every time.

[@vickyfromtheblock3385]

Just watched your entire video list and then you posted!!! It pays to stay up past midnight!!!

[@MarcDanielPatrick]

Wow. Thanks so much Vicky.

[@davidbangtson3109]

I cried throughout the song at the movie and I did so again listening to it here. How can that possibly not be the way to do the number? I'm deep into music, but making me feel this scene so deeply is way, way, way more important than having it be muscially pure.

[@ladivahermosa04]

First comment! 😊 I can’t watch this scene without sobbing. It’s a very notable difference between the stage and movie interpretations. As you have said, the live staged shows depend heavily on the orchestra. I remember very clearly the first time I saw Les Mis in London - and I will never forget the way I felt, and sobbed, completely undone during the instrumental interlude where the set turns and Enjolras and the young men of the barricade are seen to be dead, with their flag of rebellion streaming about them. That scene was my takeaway from the live show. To this day, a decade+ later, I can replay that scene with the orchestra in my mind, and it makes me tear up. This scene with Eddie was my takeaway scene from the movie version. The comparable movie scene with Enjolras was not nearly so affecting, and instead Eddie’s performance carried the weight of that experience. His emotion was palpable, and carried the weight of the rebellion’s tragedy, even without the gravitas of the orchestra.

[@courageousmisfits]

I always had a musician’s respect for this song, but ER’s interpretation made me fall in love with it. Or with him. Ok, both.

[@sheilahill6415]

I saw the remastered film the other night. I took my 18yr old Grandson with me as he has never seen Les Mis in any form before. He absolutely loved it. As he is doing film and media at Uni I knew he would love it. I hope to take him to the theatre one day to see it.

[@tacom1]

I so agree with you, especially in this movie THIS is how you perform a song like ECAET . Eddie is a phenomenal actor , and I agree with most of the people here, he deserves much more recognition.

[@irvinelady]

I love watching your videos. Learn so much.

[@abbeybercasio2283]

This is my favorite scene in the movie. And I agree with your POV. He tells the story beautifully.

[@evawurttemberger4994]

I agree in every way. This song, how it us done by the actor breaks everyones heart. It's about telling a story, transport the feeling. Even the reduced camara shot nails it. Great actor!!!

[@marie-pierrobillard9554]

This is one of my favorite performance in the whole film. It's so well done and I've always loved how they approached that number specifically. Regarding the comment about starting a song acapella. It reminds me of a song in the musical Anastasia called "Stay, I Pray You" and there's only five notes played by the violin before the actors sings the whole first verse acapella. As accompaniement, you only have the other actors vocalizing in the background and then singing with him. The orchestra doesn't come in until you're a whole minute into the song and I remember, it just gave me chills when I heard the piano and all the other instruments join in and it added, to me, that much more emotion to the whole thing. Giving the characters time to reflect on what they were leaving behind and coming to terms with it. It's similar in Les Miserables in the sense that Marius still has to come to terms with what happened to his friends, what happened to him and all this grief and guilt he's feeling and I think, justl ike it did in the movie version, would make the song even more emotional.

[@alleng.paquiz1525]

This performance was one of my favorites in the movie! (And still is)

[@cricket778]

This is a beautiful song about survivor’s guilt & I wish the musical had time to round that out before moving to the wedding, but at 3.5 hours, I get the fast forward. This song always makes me ugly cry when I see the live performance. When my sister & I (both Les Mis fans) took my 12 year old niece to see the movie, she didn’t really cry at any point. In the car sis & I were talking about how heartbreaking this song is and my niece asked why. In the previous year they had lost a dog to cancer. I asked my niece to remember the first few days she’d come home & there’s a brief moment her mind expected her dog to be there, until reality settled & she had to remember not only was he gone, but he’s gone forever. She cried all the way home, and I kind of felt bad, but at least she understood why this song (and musical) is so sad. She’s nearly 21 now & still a fan.

[@Kate-mu6xn]

I fully agree with the concept of acting first music second, I think this is why this is one of my favorite performances of this song. On other performances I often feel like eventhough they are being vocally amazing they are to grand about it (I mean come on your in pain. pain isn't always pretty). I love how in this he starts off with that sort of whispery soft, almost shocked grieving, then climaxed to almost a yelling sobbing type of grief where you curse the world, but then at the end goes back to the softness in a different way, a way of realization that he is going to have to live with this and that it is actually happening. When I go to a performance and the music isn't perfect but I walk out with such a strong emotion in me I think it is an amazing performance, but when I go to a performance and the music is amazing but I walk out feeling the same as I did walking in I consider it an okay performance.

[@Mrs_Mama_MFT]

I first saw Eddie Redmayne on the Mini Series of Ken Follett’s Pillars of the earth. He’s amazing. The Les Mis movie was amazing. I love it all!!! There is no greater musical! I’ve seen it in CHICAGO, NY, London, and locally in CO. Never get sick of it!!!

[@DSolymanH]

This song makes me cry. All my friends who died in combat who signed the same enlistment contract to join the infantry but never came back. Why am I lucky? So I know the emotion of this song.

[@waywardsoul3562]

Blessed be. I have been a fan of the original Broadway version of Les Miserables since I was a child, but Eddie's version of this song, hits me on a cellular level. Thank you for viewing. Blessed be. Peace.

[@kennedyhedges6812]

Dude, I convinced a friend to see this in the theaters with me, they didn't know until it started there was basically no dialogue. She came out of it OBSESSED. The power of Eddie Redmayne tends to have that effect on people.