Python Hyena
Les Miserables (1998): Dir: Bille August / Cast: Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, Claire Danes, Hans Matheson: Based on the French classic about life without forgiveness. Liam Neeson plays a convict who escapes custody but upon his attempt to rob an Inn he is surprised when the owner responds, "You were suppose to take the candlesticks too." He served a brutal prison sentence for stealing a loaf of bread. He becomes mayor under a different name and takes pity on a prostitute played by Uma Thurman. Her untimely death puts him in charge of her daughter. As she grows older he finds it difficult to shield her from the outside world especially when she finds romance with a guy leading a revolution. Compelling premise leading to the conclusion that some people cannot find forgiveness. Directed by Bille August who made Pelle the Conqueror. Strong performance by Neeson who lives to right wrongs particularly his own. Geoffrey Rush as a cop who will not accept failure is one note and cardboard with a foolish concluding decision. Thurman is appealing as a prostitute rescued by Neeson's need to prevail goodness but her dismiss is a tad sudden and awkward. Claire Danes as her daughter is effective and predictable, and so is Hans Matheson as her current suitor whom she actually likes. Theme indicates that an act of forgiveness goes a long way. Score: 8 / 10
eragonbookfan
Forget the book. As far as STORY goes, Liam Neeson's version takes the cake!1998 version was so much better than the 2012 version. The 2012 version was so pushed and in your face like damn it cry already. If you have good acting and good direction you don't need that extra push because it can happen naturally. And more than 50% of the singing in the 2012 version sucked. They chose certain Broadway actors but some weren't and their singing hurt my ears. And if you are going to do a musical don't talk during some of the most beautiful singing parts that was just dumb on their part. The acting was so much more powerful in the 1998 version and they didn't have to sing what was on their mind for you to understand what they were going through. I love the Broadway/concert version too but out of the film adaptations 1998 version is far better than the 2012. Oh and the "boy who gets shot" in the story, it really shocked me in the original when the boy got shot by the troops; I gasped, totally saddened. But the boy in the 2012 adaptation... oh my HECK was he annoying - all his singing & mannerisms were just undeniable irritating! Instead I was like "Thank You!" when he was shot.But I talk in full detail about the films compared in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NiJT9mQzokThe 1998 version is the best! Watch it and enjoy it!8/10PS: And the ending made absolutely NO friggin' sense whatsoever! I thought this "Free France Heaven" where everyone who died is a live was just laugh-out-loud ridiculous!
bashfulbadger
Les Misérables. I guess it would be clichéd to say that that's exactly what we were after sitting through this turgid hammy mess of a movie.Why are French characters being played by American, Australian and Irish actors all talking in rather poor English accents? If you're going to go to the bother of putting on an accent, why not make it a French one? It's one of the mysteries of Les Mis. It's like they've all been badly dubbed. Reminded me of one of those French kids' shows like Belle and Sebastian and The Flashing Blade that used to be on TV on Saturday mornings. Except as a kid watching those I didn't understand the concept of dubbing so just thought these were people whose mouth movements didn't match what they said for some reason. Actually perhaps that's the very effect they were going for with the film. Hmm, interesting choice.And the script reads as though it's been badly translated; the actors seem to have been directed to overact, perhaps with the instruction 'Act as if you are hysterical French people' – see Uma Thurman's ultimate sickbed scene. I found myself unable to care about any of the characters or get particularly involved in their stories, all in all making this an absolutely abysmal version of the Hugo classic.
Yrael
Bille August's adaptation of the classic tale of redemption, revenge and romance is not a faithful adaptation of the book. Characters are reduced to bit parts, or are eliminated entirely, whilst the ending is removed. But this does not stop it from being an excellent film. Dramatically shot and convincingly acted, this is one for the ages.The ever reliable Liam Neeson provides the film's soul as the repentant convict Jean Valjean, believable as both a former criminal and a saintly figure, touching with his female costars and smouldering when confronting his nemesis, the ever watchful Javert. The Javert of this film is colder and crueller than the professional of Hugo's book, but in the hands of Geoffrey Rush, he still garners sympathy as his duty -bound world falls apart. Uma Thurman provides pathos in her brief role as Fantine, as does Claire Danes, whose relationship with Valjean provides the true emotional heart of the film. Also notable is Peter Vaughan as the Bishop of Digne, the man who sets Valjean on the path to redemption.So if you are looking for a faithful adaptation, look elsewhere. But if you seek a moving, dramatic and entertaining film, you cant wrong with this version.
AD
