Synopsis
In 19th century France, Jean Valjean, a man imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a relentless policeman named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives, and soon Valjean finds himself in the midst of the student revolutions in France.
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Cast
- Liam NeesonJean Valjean
- Geoffrey RushJavert
- Uma ThurmanFantine
- Claire DanesCosette
- Hans MathesonMarius
- Peter VaughanBishop
- Jon KennyThénardier
- Gillian HannaLa Thénardier
- Silvie KoblížkováEponine
- Mimi NewmanCosette as Child
Recommendations
- 90
Variety
The third American bigscreen rendition of Victor Hugo's classic novel, Bille August's Les Miserables is without a doubt the most emotionally powerful and handsomely mounted production of the story yet. - 80
The New York Times
However turbulent its narrative, this Les Miserables unfolds in a comforting style, serious and intelligent in ways that seem much too quaint today. The essence of Hugo's morality tale remains pure, and so does the value of a vigorous, gripping story, straightforwardly told. - 78
Austin Chronicle
Condensing a massive tome like Les Misérables into a cohesive 129-minute film is a labor of love in any case, and August succeeds with remarkable, powerful results. - 75
Chicago Reader
The pacing never flags and the story—let’s face it—is well-nigh unbeatable. - 75
ReelViews
While this version of Les Miserables lacks the cleverness and contemporary spin evident in Claude Lelouch's brilliant 1995 re-interpretation, it is moving and effective in its own right, as a more "straightforward" adaptation. - 67
The A.V. Club
August's Les Misérables is the sort of film for which such faint-praise terms as "handsome" and "not bad" were invented. It's all of the above, and at times a bit better, but ultimately an experience akin to flipping through Cliffs Notes and a book of French paintings at the same time. - 63
Baltimore Sun
Great book, great cast, average film: Les Miserables is all pedigree, no passion. - 63
Chicago Sun-Times
Les Miserables is like a perfectly respectable Classics Illustrated version of the Victor Hugo novel. It contains the moments of high drama, clearly outlines all the motivations, is easy to follow and lacks only passion. A story filled with outrage and idealism becomes somehow merely picturesque.
