Review of Les Misérables

It is so often stated by users of this website that "the book was better than the film" that I could scream from the appalling dimwittedness of the comment. The medium of written story telling gives the author the latitude to paint pictures with broad brushstrokes, leaving the details to the individual creative consciousness of the reader making the reading experience intensely personal. However, in film, the director has no such luxury and must fill in the blanks left by the author on behalf of the reader by presenting real imagery leaving considerably less to the imagination of the audience than the author left to the reader. Hence, in film, a story is much less personal than in print which is why we so often hear "the book was better".

It would be impossible to do justice to Victor Hugo's classic novel "Les Miserables" in the space of a feature film. However, "Les Miserables" (1998) does capture the essence of the story, hitting all the high points with a competent cast, suitable locations, and par sundries. Director August does an adequate job of compressing the expansive tale of sweeping human emotions into 2+ hours making it a worthwhile watch for those who simply want to experience a sort of digest of the classic novel. In short, if you want to experience the full depth and breadth of Hugo's tale, read the book. However, if you want a condensed version without all that reading, this film is will give you what you want. (B)