With director Tom Hooper’s adaptation of Les Miserables opening Christmas Day, Universal has just released five clips and they've started showing the film to critics around the country.  As we previously reported, reaction to the first screening at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall was followed by raucous applause with the principal cast taking the stage to a standing ovation at the end of the film.  The other night I caught a screening and can confirm Les Mis is the real deal and Anne Hathaway is easily the front runner to win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.  In addition, the film is going to be nominated for a ton of other awards and Hooper is going to walk away from this being offered everything in Hollywood.  In the coming weeks I'll be running exclusive interviews with some of the cast and filmmakers, but until then, check out the clips.Les Miserables also stars Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha Baron Cohen.Here’s the synopsis for Les Miserables:

Les Misérables is the motion-picture adaptation of the beloved global stage sensation seen by more than 60 million people in 42 countries and in 21 languages around the globe and still breaking box-office records everywhere in its 27th year. Helmed byThe King’s Speech‘s Academy Award®-winning director,Tom Hooper, the Working Title/Cameron Mackintosh production stars Hugh Jackman, Oscar® winner Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne, with further casting to be announced.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Les Misérables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption–a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Jackman plays ex-prisoner Jean Valjean, hunted for decades by the ruthless policeman Javert (Crowe) after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s (Hathaway) young daughter, Cosette, their lives change forever.

In December 2012, the world’s longest-running musical brings its power to the big screen in Tom Hooper’s sweeping and spectacular interpretation of Victor Hugo’s epic tale. With international superstars and beloved songs–including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More” and “On My Own”–Les Misérables, the show of shows, is now reborn as the cinematic musical experience of a lifetime.