A question about Les Miserables (movie/music)?

I've never seen the musical (planning on it!) and yet I bought the movie for seven dollars. I was informed that there is no singing in this movie version (1998 I believe) however, it is still brilliantly done. I'm a performer and I am actually performing: "I dreamed a dream" in front of a lot of higher-uppers, and yet I wish to get a sense of Le Miserables and how it was for each character. I read a good portion of the story on wiki, and I felt like I was going to tear up. Should I watch the movie if I enjoy the music, and in love with the story? How true to the musical/novel is the movie? I have not read the book, by the way. Do you recommend that as well?