IMDb >
Les misérables (1998)
Watch It
Buy it at Amazon
Rent it at blockbuster.com
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
BETA
Discuss in Boards More at IMDb Pro Add to My Movies Update Data
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summaryplot synopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsLes misérables (1998) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 48 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 2) |
Overview
User Rating:
Release Date:
1 May 1998 (USA) moreTagline:
The legend comes to life.Plot:
Jean Valjean, a Frenchman imprisoned for stealing bread, must flee a police officer named Javert. The pursuit consumes both men's lives... more | add synopsisAwards:
1 nomination moreNewsDesk:
(4 articles)
Secondary Impact (From Studio Briefing - Film News. 18 May 1998)
Impacting The Record Books
(From Studio Briefing - Film News. 12 May 1998)
User Comments:
Not true to the story... but entertaining for superb acting moreCast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Christopher Adamson | ... | Bertin | |
| Tim Barlow | ... | Lafitte | |
| Timothy Bateson | ... | Banker | |
| Veronika Bendová | ... | Azelma | |
| David Birkin | ... | Courfeyrac | |
| Reine Brynolfsson | ... | Captain Beauvais | |
| Patsy Byrne | ... | Toussaint | |
| Kathleen Byron | ... | Mother Superior | |
| Václav Chalupa | ... | André | |
| Ian Cregg | ... | Feuilly | |
| Ben Crompton | ... | Grantier | |
| Claire Danes | ... | Cosette | |
| Zdenek David | ... | Peasant (as Zdenék David) | |
| Paola Dionisotti | ... | Forewoman | |
| Edna Doré | ... | Old Woman (as Edna Dore) |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for violence, and for some sexual content.Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parentsRuntime:
134 min | Argentina:132 minLanguage:
EnglishColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 moreCertification:
Iceland:12 (video rating) | Iceland:14 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | South Korea:15 | Spain:7 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | UK:12Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The trailer and many photo galleries show a scene of Jean Valjean falling on his knees and tearing up his yellow passport, but this does not appear in the final film. moreGoofs:
Continuity: In the very final scenes of the movie, Jean Valjean is seen walking along the riverbank. He walks past the same across-the-river background shrubbery twice. moreFAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Les misérables (1998) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Les misérables | Les miserables | Les miserables | Big Fish | The Outsiders |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Crime section | IMDb UK section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |














It is not possible to make a movie out of this marathon Victor Hugo novel (the original version I borrowed from library got around thousand pages and I had to settle for an abridged one) without leaving out some good portions. It is only to see what portions are left out and what are stressed. That depends on the director's or screenwriter's judgement. See Dumas' "Count of Monte Cristo" and you'll know what I'm talking about. That movie seemed to be based upon an already abridged version at the first place... such incoherent it was. What audience would appreciate is about making a good film, not following every bits of novel little by little. And that is why "Les Misérables" is a good film. It showed excellently what it showed. What is left out is left out, be it some characters that has no major relation to what the director thought to be the main story or some solitary incidents however interesting they might be.
It's got a nice star-studded cast. Geoffrey Rush is magnificent as Inspector Javert. If I am to stress one aspect of his totally excellent acting it would be his accent. I just loved it. Rush brought that vintage English accent instead of the expected French accent, that's I think became more suitable. Liam Neeson is an acting genius and I would place this one perhaps as his third best, behind "Schindler's List" and "Michael Collins" of course. He is definitely the obvious choice for such type of lead roles. The two main young characters of the film are played nicely by Claire Danes and Hans Matheson. Danes acted up to the standard of this film's allover acting level, which is quite good. Although somehow I feel Uma Thurman is a poor choice for Fantine. Her acting was not up to that level.
There are around 15-odd screen versions of Les Misérables including TV movies etc. The French production of 1982 by Robert Hossein was good and was definitely longer and more detailed than this. Many would disagree but I think this one by Bille August is better than that. Call it vulgar Hollywoodisation of old classics but still it's a worthy film on its own right, perhaps due to superb casting.