'Les Mis' Director Addresses Oscar Musical Number

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The parties are already in full swing ahead of Sunday's Academy Awards and we caught up with Les Misérables director Tom Hooper at one bash to get his thoughts on the film's eight nominations.

The Academy Award-winning director was attending a party Wednesday in West Hollywood hosted by Vanity Fair and the Chrysler brand to celebrate the success of Les Misérables and to support the Los Angeles Fund for Public Education."It's a great way to start (the Oscars) and to have Anne (Hathaway) and Sacha Baron
Cohen here," Hooper said. He joked that it was pleasantly rare to see Sacha come out in public as himself, rather than playing a character.

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When asked about a big musical number planned for Sunday's show that involves Hathaway and Jackman, Hooper promised that the performance would not disappoint. "I can't tell you the details, but I'm very pleased that we're going to be doing something on Sunday, and it's a great honor for the movie, and a great honor for them to be asked."

Speaking about the event's focus on improving public education, Hooper said he can personally relate to the importance of good schools. "Education is what it's all about," he said. "I'm only a director because I was inspired by a great teacher when I was 10 years old -- to fall in love with drama and theater, and that's why I'm here today."

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