Apparently filmed entirely on location, there is a coldness, even at times an unpleasantness, pervading the film. Les miserables 1998 after serving a lengthy prison sentence, jean valjean liam neeson turns his life around after an act of kindness opens his eyes, becoming a beloved mayor of a french town. Jean valjean and inspector javert liam neeson appears as jean valjean bille august in les miserables 1998 claire danes appears as cosette director bille august liam. Les miserables is a 2012 epic historical period musical film directed by tom hooper and scripted by william nicholson, alain boublil, who wrote the original french lyrics, claudemichel schonberg, who wrote the music, and herbert kretzmer, who wrote the english lyrics, based on the 1862 french novel of the same name by victor hugo, which also inspired a 1980 musical by boublil and schonberg. Valjean, a former criminal, has atoned for his past and now finds himself in the midst of the french revolution, avoiding a lawobsessed policeman hellbent on capturing him. Les miserables starring liam neeson, geoffrey rush, uma thurman, and claire danes release date. Les miserables 1998 film les miserables wiki fandom. As far as the latter, for my input, nothing compares to this version. The image is actually the 1930s actress, marilyn knowlden, who played cosette in the 1935 release of the movie.
The fairly wellmade 1998 les miserables hits bluray with strong picture and sound but almost no bonus features. With liam neeson, geoffrey rush, uma thurman, christopher adamson. The popular musical based off of it has been shown in countries all around the world, and is officially the worlds longest running musical. My friend says the acting was amazing but the musical performance was lacking and averagemediocre. A friend watching with me just could not help but quote the i have skills line from taken when valjean is at the barricades. Set against the backdrop of 19thcentury france, les miserables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemptiona timeless testament to the. Apr 14, 2014 based on the classic novel by victor hugo, this film follows petty criminal jean valjean as he tries to forget his past but is unable to because police inspector javert wont let him.
Based on the classic novel by victor hugo, this film follows petty criminal jean valjean as he tries to forget his past but is unable to because. Sparknotes is here for you weve got everything you need to ace or teach. A story filled with outrage and idealism becomes somehow merely picturesque. While 1998 movie was superb in how the actors delivered their roles. This movie epidimizes what is means to be a follower of jesus christ, and is a great example for our society today. Les miserables tells the fictional story of jean valjean, a man who has unjustly been condemned to nearly two decades of prison for stealing a loaf of bread to save a starving child. From the first scene, les miserables is both majestic and brutal, the beauty of the cinematography and the music achingly juxtaposed against the cruelty and savagery of its characters lives. For me 1998 movie will always be the best les misrables adaptation until this day and the 2012 movie is soooooo overrated. The pity is, both were written as serials and are too complex to translate easily to the big screen. Because the story takes place in paris, involves the misery of the parisian underclass, and comes to a climax during a battle, many people assume that the story is set during the french revolution. In the englishspeaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original french title. This wiki is all about the wonderful musical and book it is based on. Les miserables 1998 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and. Les miserables 1998 movie mistakes, goofs and bloopers.
May 28, 2019 les miserables tells the fictional story of jean valjean, a man who has unjustly been condemned to nearly two decades of prison for stealing a loaf of bread to save a starving child. Being an affectionado of the book, les miserables, i was delighted to watch a movie that stayed fairly close to the original theme and not a song and dance show. Expect your emotions to be wrenched this way and that. Ive always liked this 1998 version starring liam neesonjean valjean and geoffrey rushinspector javert ever since i saw it during its original release in the. If you like les miserables you are looking for emotional, sincere and touching movies about with redemption, ex convict, going straight, hopes, rise to the top, thief and mayor themes of crime, drama and history genre shot in uk or germany. Because the story takes place in paris, involves the misery of the parisian underclass, and comes to a climax during a battle, many people assume that the story is. Bille august directed this rafael yglesias adaptation of the 1862. Les miserables is like a perfectly respectable classics illustrated version of the victor hugo novel. The menu blends clips from the movie with red curtains, a motif whose significance eludes me. In the scene where fantine is dying, she asks jean valjean to give a necklace to cosette. Les miserables 2012 i have read lots of theology, but for my money the two greatest spiritual works of the nineteenth century are les miserables and a tale of two cities. Les miserables is a 1998 film adaptation of victor hugos 1862 novel of the same. Theres still hope for people who love les mis the new. Jean valjean and inspector javert liam neeson appears as jean valjean bille august in les miserables 1998 claire danes appears as cosette.
The ending of no country for old men finally explained. As in the original novel, the storyline follows the adult life of jean valjean, an exconvict paroled following 19 years of hard labor, for stealing bread pursued by police inspector javert. It contains the moments of high drama, clearly outlines all the motivations, is easy to follow and lacks only passion. A movie about faith and living as a christian praise i am that i am.
Jan 12, 20 this movie epidimizes what is means to be a follower of jesus christ, and is a great example for our society today. There is a closeup of fantines head and neck and valjeans hands enter the shot and begin to remove the necklace. As in the original novel, the storyline follows the adult life of jean valjean liam. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of les miserables. With hugh jackman, russell crowe, anne hathaway, amanda seyfried. What a justice system where stealing a loaf of bread is a lifetime prison sentence. This 1998 film made me a fan of liam neeson, which i believe established him as the heroic father. I had to read les miserables in french in high school, and never quite understood it, so the details are. Les miserables 2012 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. Released on parole from prison, where he was sent for stealing bread for his starving relatives jean valjean attempts to rob a saintly bishop who has befriended him but when the bishop declines to turn him in and gifts him his silverware jean swears to do only good, selling the silverware to finance a factory in a small town of which he has become mayor. Les miserables is a 1998 film adaptation of victor hugos 1862 novel of the same name, directed by bille august. It stars liam neeson, geoffrey rush, uma thurman, and claire danes.
Acting was a bit stiff and dated and probably made on a small budget, nevertheless i enjoyed it immensely. So far, iroha kumagai is the youngest actress to play the role of cosette at 18 years old at the time of the reopening of the les miserables japanese tour in 2019. A moment later she begins to cough and there is a cut to a twoshot of the pair from a few feet away. Reflection on les miserables les miserables, which means the miserables ones in english, is a musical portrayal of the french revolution. Before you buy it, make sure your player will play region 2 dvds. As in the original novel, the storyline follows the adult life of jean valjean. The most recent englishspeaking version, bille augusts film is spectacular and lovingly produced, but the director has taken various shortcuts even liberties. Les miserables 1978 a movie about faith and living as a. The musical is an epic tale and portrayal of the spirit of the very poor, people who have suffered throughout their lives.
As theatre manager philip henslowe in shakespeare in love 1998 and as a supervillain in the spoof mystery men 1999, rush demonstrated. Jan 01, 20 i personally hate the singinginyourface performance and i cringed every second of it. This was the last film for twentieth century pictures before it merged with fox film corporation to form 20th century fox. Based on the classic novel by victor hugo, this film follows petty criminal jean valjean as he tries to forget his past but is unable to because police inspector javert wont let him. In 19thcentury france, jean valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman javert after breaking parole, agrees to care for a factory workers daughter. Les miserables film 1998 wiki les miserables fandom. So, after ordering les miserables, the 1998 movie version with liam neesen, sir geoffrey rush, and claire danes, and being moved so by the music, i just had to have it. Only three years after the original run closed, les miserables began a return to broadway on 9 november 2006 at the broadhurst theatre for a limited run that was subsequently made openended. Sep, 2014 i dont remember why i never got around to watching the 1998 les miserables movie before i was heavily into the musical at the time it was released even subscribing to a fan newsletter and running my own fan website, and i was certainly aware of the film. I bought the soundtrack and i have to say that it is wonderful.