Best to wait for 'Les Miz' on videotape

Don't expect the Thenardiers to be singing "Master of the House." The film adaptation of "Les Miserables" comes from the classic Victor Hugo novel and not the internationally famous broadway musical. Uma Thurman and Liam Neeson thankfully will not break into song, but an intermission may be required.

A wonderful cast, good directing and a well-crafted script should add up to an entertaining movie, but most people will find themselves a little bored sitting through the 129 minutes of this film and will probably sneak off for a wild cherry arctic blast during one of Claire Danes' scenes.

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures Inspector Javert (Geoffrey Rush) suspects something amiss about the humble but enigmatic mayor of the town of Vigau in the film adaptation of Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables."

"Les Miserables" only offers some surprises to the few who have read the book and the multitude who have seen the musical.

In fact, the title could be changed to "Le Miserable," since the movie focuses entirely on Jean Valjean, wonderfully portrayed by Liam Neeson. As demonstrated in "Michael Collins" and "Rob Roy," Neeson competently peforms as a compassionate, charismatic character whose guilt and pain from living a violent life lies just beneath his solemn visage. He also seems very comfortable in the leading role, and the movie works best when the character of Valjean is at the center of the plot.

For those who are unfamiliar with the story, Valjean is an ex-convict just released from a prison in Toulon in 1812 where he had spent 20 years for stealing bread.

Bishop's uncommon hospitality and selfless example changes Valjean from a hardened criminal to a merciful and compassionate soul. After ten years and with his convict identity concealed, Valjean is the mayor of Vigau and owner of a factory. Unfortunately, Inspector Javert (Geoffrey Rush), a former guard at the Toulon prison, joins the police force and begins to suspect Valjean is an inmate whom he knew.

Geoffrey Rush shines in his performance as the nemesis of Valjean, making the always strict and formal Javert into an uncompromising automaton bent on destroying crime, following rules and exposing Valjean.

Amidst this intrigue, one of the workers in Valjean's factory, Fantine (Uma Thurman), is fired for having an illegitimate child. Fantine resorts to prositution to support her child, Cosette, who is being raised by another family.

REVIEW
	Les Miserables 3 stars At Showcase and State

Although one too many shots of Thurman's cleavage exist to be mere coincidence, Thurman deserves praise for portraying a Fantine who evokes sympathy without seeming melodramatic.

After being arrested for striking a "gentleman," Fantine pleas for leniency from Javert. Javert refuses, but Valjean uses his mayorial power to get her released. Valjean brings her to his house and begins to care for her, but lack of proper clothing and nourishment have taken their toll. Her death scene occurs with clever subtlety as Javert confronts Valjean..

This confrontation is the climax of the movie, and while the rest of the film is hardly pointless or boring, it seems - well - anticlimatic. According to press releases, Rafael Yglesias, the writer of the screenplay, focused the story completely on Valjean, the main character. This works well until that focus is diverted.

Nine years later, after rescuing Fantine's daughter from her former guardians, the deceitful and greedy Thenardiers, and sneaking into a Parisian convent, the now-adolescent Cosette (Claire Danes) tells her "papa," Valjean, that she doesn't want to become a nun.

The two leave the convent where they have lived and move into a very nice house. Valjean uses the fortune he has acquired to feed and clothe the poor, somehow still unseen by Javert, who started serving on the Parisian police force nine years ago.

Cosette begins to notice one of the young student revolutionaries, Marius, who gives public speeches about the freeing the Republic. The two begin to see each other secretly, but their relationship fails to beome interesting, detouring either too much or not enough from the story so far.

Danes gives her best scene when she demands to know the truth from her guardian about his past, and Valjean is once more the center of the story.Once the plot returns again to the cat and mouse chase between Javert and Valjean, "Les Miserables" becomes completely engaging. While this film adaptation is hardly a poor means by any measurement, it makes a great video rental as opposed to an above-average cinema experience.

05-05-98