Review of Les Misérables (1998) by Stuart K — 05 Aug 2013

Directed by Bille August (Smilla's Sense of Snow (1997)), this adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel actually started out as an adaptation of the musical version, but when the makers couldn't work out how to convey it faithfully to the screen, they decided to adapt the novel instead.

It's a good adaptation too, even if it is condensed into 2 hours, it still works well on screen. In 19th Century France, Jean Valjean (Liam Neeson) has been released from jail after 20 years, but he skips bail and 9 years later becomes a wealthy industrialist.

But, he is haunted by Inspector Javert (Geoffrey Rush), who watched over Valjean in jail. After single mother Fantine (Uma Thurman) is fired for her situation, Valjean feels guilty and wants to help her.

But Javert finds Valjean and tries to arrest him, but Valjean flees with Fantine's daughter Cosette (Claire Danes). They find hiding in Paris, where 10 years later, Cosette falls for Revolutionary Marius (Hans Matheson), but Javert is now working undercover to stop the Revolution, and his paths cross with Valjean again.

It's a good adaptation of the book, and it looks good on screen too, even if it focuses more on the cat and mouse chase of Valjean and Javert over the years, but it gives the story something to move it along.

The film has a brilliant cast as well, but it's a shame thatr no-one went to see the film at the time.