Good Evening, Dear Inspector: First Picture of Russell Crowe as Javert

Last week, we got a peek at the upcoming big-screen adaptation of Les Miserables via some set photos of Hugh Jackman looking awfully scary in his full post-prison Jean Valjean wardrobe.  This week, thanks to the prying eyes of The Sun, we now have our first look of Russell Crowe skulking the set around as Valjean's nemesis, Inspector Javert:

A few fans on some of the theater message boards were complaining that Javert should not be on a horse.  I'm not sure I get this complaint.  They do understand that not having this take place on stage means these characters can actually go outside now, right?  I'm not sure how to break it to them that famous revolving stage used in the show will likely not be needed in the movie either.

Inspector Javert, as fans not complaining about horses know, is the ruthless police inspector who pursues Jean Valjean for decades after he breaks his parole.  He cares not a bit for people who steal bread to save their starving families, destitute mothers dying in the street, or student-led insurrections on the streets of Paris.  But on the lighter side, he does get to suffer the total indignity of being outed as a spy by a 10-year-old.  That part was fun.

Not to be outdone, Hugh Jackman popped on Twitter earlier tonight to once again show off his scraggly convict look, which he promises will changing soon, as his post-parole-breaking character will be seeing better days as a mayor, factory owner, and adoptive father.  But here's one last look:

Speaking of prison breaks, if you'd like to get an idea of what a Les Mis-style parole break looks like, you can check out this video of the scene being shot where Valjean tears up his yellow ticket-of-leave (the one that will essentially forever mark him as a convict).  And if you listen very closely, you can also hear Hugh Jackman impressively hitting the last note of this song.

I can't wait to see this.  Les Miserables opens in theaters in December.