Les Misérables (1998)

Liam Neeson: Valjean

Photos 

Quotes 

• Bishop : Now don't forget, don't ever forget, you've promised to become a new man.

  Jean Valjean : Promise? Wha, why are you doing this?

  Bishop : Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil. With this silver, I have bought your soul. I've ransomed you from fear and hatred, and now I give you back to God.

• Jean Valjean : When you're better, I'll find work for you.

  Fantine : But you don't understand, I'm a whore... and Cosette has no father.

  Jean Valjean : She has the Lord. He is her father. And you're his creation. In his eyes, you have never been anyting but an innocent and... beautiful woman.

• Jean Valjean : [Valjean is being taken away]  This is right, my dear. I stole something, I did. I stole happiness with you. I don't mind paying.

• Jean Valjean : Brevet, Lombard, Bertin. Look at me. You recognize me? I recognize you, Brevet. You were an informer in Toulon, I see you're still a snitch.

  Brevet : Valjean?

  Jean Valjean : Hello, Brevet.

  [turns to Lombard] 

  Jean Valjean : And you, Lombard, don't look at my fancy clothes, don't look at my scraped chin. Look at my eyes. You called yourself Godless, right? You've got a scar on your left shoulder. I gave it to you the night you tried to kill me, remember? When I pinned you over the stove.

  Lombard : It is you...

  Jean Valjean : Show the court your scar.

  [Lombard bares his shoulder revealing the scar] 

  Jean Valjean : Bertin, the hollow of your left arm, there's a date tatooed, 1789, the year of the revolution. Show them!

  [Bertin rolls up his sleave to reveal the tattoo] 

  Jean Valjean : I know these men, Monsieur le President, and they know me. I am the man you want. I am Jean Valjean.

• Judge : Monsieur le maire, I know you to be a kind man, but this...

  Jean Valjean : A kind? A kind man? When I was in prison I was as ignorant and mean and devious as these men here, but not kind. And I wish I could keep my mouth shut and let this poor wretch suffer for me, but... continue with your investigation, monsieur, you will find further proof that I am Valjean.

• Jean Valjean : I order you to forgive yourself.

• Marius : If we can't win today, then none of us have a future.

  Jean Valjean : You have love. That's the only future God gives us.

• Mme. Gilot : [sharing their meal with homeless convict]  What crime did you commit?

  Jean Valjean : Maybe I killed someone... How do you know I'm not going to murder *you*?

  Bishop : How do you know *I'm* not going to murder *you*?

  Jean Valjean : What's that, a joke?

  Bishop : I suppose we'll have to trust each other.

• Cosette : Please tell me what this is all about, papa. Please, please tell me what this is. Please, what is it?

  Jean Valjean : [stammering]  I... I am a convict. When I was young... just your age I was very poor, I was starving. One day, I stood in front of the window. A window full of bread, there was just glass between me... and not being hungry anymore, it was so easy. So I broke it... and took what I wanted. Then they caught me... and put me in chains for almost 19 years. They did things to me... I can't tell you about it, and I did things, there in jail. Terrible things. I became an animal. They took my dignity, they took everything from me.

• Captain Beauvais : [pointing a pistol at Valjean with a trembling hand]  Are you a convict? Is that true?

  Jean Valjean : Yes.

  Captain Beauvais : Where's the inspector in there?

  Jean Valjean : Inside

  Captain Beauvais : Did you kill him?

  [Valjean shakes his head] 

  Captain Beauvais : [lowers his pistol]  That's a pity.

  Captain Beauvais : [hands over his pistol to Valjean]  You'd better hit me hard enough... to make a lump.

• Javert : Monsieur, a serious... a grave violation of the public trust has been committed. An inferior has shown a complete lack of respect for the law. He must be exposed and punished.

  Jean Valjean : Who is the offender?

  Javert : I am. I slandered you Monsieur le maire, I'm here to ask that you demand my dismissal.

• Thénardier : I adore that child.

  Jean Valjean : You adore her?

  Thénardier : Yes, it's true. I'm not rich. I've had to pay over 400 Francs for her medicine. But I'm a stupid man, I have no sense... just a heart.

  [glances at Valjean's wallet] 

  Thénardier : A big heart.

  Jean Valjean : You paid over 400 Francs?

  Thénardier : 500...

• Old Woman : [first lines - dark street]  You can't sleep here.

  Jean Valjean : Get away from me.

  Old Woman : Why don't you go to an inn?

  Jean Valjean : Why do you think?

  Old Woman : Can't you knock on doors and ask people?

  Jean Valjean : I asked. I ask everywhere. Leave me alone?

  Old Woman : You didn't ask there? Knock on that door.

  [pointing to Bishop's residence] 

• Jean Valjean : You might be making a mistake.

  Javert : Mistake? What kind of mistake is that?

  Jean Valjean : Sometimes, people move into town to start a new slate, you might be doing more harm than good by prying into their private lives.

• Jean Valjean : You're dead, Javert.