TV Guide: Les Miserables

Video: Les Miserables

iTunes — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 01:42:29 -0500

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Les Miserables is the epic story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who was persecuted for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family. While imprisoned Valjean meets his future nemesis -- the fanatical Inspector Javert. After serving his time, Valjean attempts to forge a new life as a good citizan -- but the obsessive Javert can't let him go, and persues Valjean throughout the years to come.

Video: Les Miserables

Video Detective — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 07:11:47 -0500

Not a strict adaptation of the oft-filmed Victor Hugo classic, director Claude Lelouch's ambitious epic instead focuses on the story of two men, a father and a son, whose life stories bear striking similarities to Hugo's character Jean Valjean. The father is Henri Fortin (Jean-Paul Belmondo), a chauffeur (in 1900) wrongly accused of his employer's murder. Like Valjean, he is subjected to a harsh and unfair prison sentence. While Henri vainly attempts to escape his unjust fate, his family suffers, with his wife forced to raise their young son alone. The film jumps ahead several decades to show the adult life of this son (also Belmondo), a former boxer turned furniture mover who agrees to help smuggle a Jewish lawyer (Michel Boujenah) out of France during the Nazi occupation. Along the way, the lawyer reads to the younger Fortin from Les Mis rables, and Fortin begins to imagine himself in the role of Jean Valjean, on the run from the obsessive Inspector Javert. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide.

Video: Les Miserables

Video Detective — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 06:22:09 -0500

Bille August directed this Rafael Yglesias adaptation of the 1862 classic by Victor Hugo (1802-1885) about the quest of Inspector Javert to capture escaped convict Jean Valjean, originally an honest man who was jailed for stealing a single loaf of bread to feed the family of his starving sister. This new interpretation of Hugo's epic begins with Valjean (Liam Neeson), released after 20 years of cruelties and hard labor, reporting for parole in Dijon. Stopping at a bishop's house, he's treated with respect, but even so, he steals silverware, flees, and is captured. However, the bishop says the silverware was a gift, proving Valjean's innocence by giving him two silver candlesticks. Valjean is free, but the bishop asks him to treat others with equal kindness. By 1822, Valjean has risen to mayor of the village of Vigau, where he also maintains a successful factory. Joining the local police, Inspector Javert (Geoffrey Rush) is suspicious of Valjean's identity and eventually recognizes him as a former convict, but

Video: Les Miserables

Video Detective — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 04:25:39 -0500

Recorded live at London's {~Royal Albert Hall} in 1995, this tenth anniversary performance of Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil's landmark musical features a one-night-only dream cast of {+Les Mis} veterans. Colm Wilkinson reprises his original role as Jean Valjean, the hero imprisoned 17 years for stealing a loaf of bread; Philip Quast is his relentless pursuer Javert. Other stars include Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Alun Armstrong as Thenardier, and the inimitable Michael Ball returning to the role of Marius. ~ Sarah Welsh, All Movie Guide.

Video: Les Miserables

Amazon Video on Demand — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:08:15 -0500

A parole violator in early 19th Century France is relentlessly pursued and persecuted by an obsessive policeman.

Video: Les Miserables

Amazon Video on Demand — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 01:32:24 -0500

A parole violator in early 19th Century France is relentlessly pursued and persecuted by an obsessive policeman.

Video: Les Miserables

Amazon Video on Demand — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 00:30:30 -0500

Acclaimed French filmmaker Claude Lelouch ("A Man and a Woman") paints a sweeping portrait of the human condition in this 20th century tale inspired by the 19th century masterpiece of French writer Victor Hugo. International screen star Jean-Paul Belmondo ("Breathless," "Is Paris Burning?") stars in this epic drama about two French families who struggle, hope, suffer and ultimately find love and friendship in the face of nearly insurmountable odds. The Hollywood Reporter calls this film "one of the rare pictures that truly earns the accolade 'a monumental achievement'.

Video: Les Miserables

CinemaNow — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:34:30 -0500

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo. The fanatical Inspector Javert Relentlessly pursues Jean Valjean, an ex-convict trying to go straight.