If you read my recent post defending the 2018 Robin Hood reboot, you already know that I am a massive fan of the legendary outlaw. I’m not a folklore purist; I don’t need every adaptation to strictly copy traditional tales. From movies and books to the tremendous new TV show currently airing on MGM+, I can always find something to enjoy in every interpretation of the character. I love seeing how different creators spin the mythos.
But nothing could have fully prepared me for the emotional gut-punch of The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman.
If you’ve ever found yourself belting out “Forever In Blue Jeans” at the top of your lungs in a crowded room, you know that Neil Diamond isn’t just a singer—he’s a feeling. As a lifelong fan, his music has been the soundtrack to my life. I was even lucky enough to be in the crowd during his final performance in Philadelphia, a night filled with a bittersweet magic I’ll never forget.
So, it was with equal parts excitement and nervousness that I sat down to watch Song Sung Blue. Could a movie really capture that specific “Solitary Man” soul?
Today, I finally saw Les Misérables. Being a fan of plays and musicals, I wanted to see this film for quite some time. While I was aware of the general premise behind the film, I never read the novel or saw the musical. I’m glad to say that it was a terrific film, filled with glorious music and a stellar cast. To me, what was most interesting about the movie was that Colm Wilkinson, the original Jean Valjean, passed the torch to Hugh Jackman.
Wilkinson’s presence in the film was a smart way to pay homage to the original musical, and the message behind the scene where he handed candlesticks to Hugh Jackman’s character was clear: The torch has been passed. Wilkinson, a fixture of Broadway, lent his voice to an extensive list of musicals, including: Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Man of La Mancha, and Jekyll & Hyde, just to name a few. Now it’s Hugh Jackman’s turn. As you’ll see from the video below, this symbolic passing also took place off the screen.
For those yearning for Colm Wilkinson’s Jean Valjean, below is a video of him performing “Bring Him Home” at the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert.
