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General Review
This classic Hugo story has survived because of its astute criticism of the justice system. It is Valjean, the convict, who is the decent human being and Javert, the lawman, who is so rigid in his beliefs that he becomes a true villain. Valjean's decency springs from the fact that he responds from the heart and not from a rulebook. By doing so he repeatedly demonstrates the flaws of law itself.
This story has been adapted 26 times, most recently with Jean-Paul Belmondo ('95) and Liam Neeson ('98). So any new version has a tough time justifying its existence. This version has two strengths: the legendary Depardieu as Valjean (how could his career be complete without it?), and the mini-series length, which allows the story to be followed more faithfully than a feature film.
The US version, 2 nights/4 hours long, is very strong for a mini-series. It has an incredible and authentic European cast, a faithful and deliberate telling of the story and a great tale at its heart. If there's any room for complaint it's that a hurried, low-budget TV feel occasionally rears its head. A good example is the revolution battle scenes, which were really shot on a shoe-string. The cinematography, music and costumes are competent. Dayan, as a director, is more concerned about getting the story on tape quickly than in 'art', but for TV the production is quite good.
The real raison d'être, though, is the cast. It is a thrill to see Depardieu and Malkovich, two masters, play Valjean and Javert. Malkovich, a master of the quiet threat, is well cast as Javert, a man who cannot bend and therefore must eventually break. The rest of the ensemble is terrific, particularly Clavier (in an unusually serious role), Moreau and Ledoyen. Personally, I love the European accents and locales -- they are to Hugo what kimonos are to Madame Butterfly. Highlights include all of Depardieu's scenes with Javert and Cosette, particularly the last half hour.
Depardieu Review
Any Depardieu fan will love the chance to see him play Valjean, and it's a fine performance. Depardieu is well-suited to the character -- a large man, strong as an ox, with the potential to be both rough and tender. Depardieu is, as always, magnetic and fun to watch and he is perfectly suited to historical drama. A stronger director and production could have turned this performance into a film to rank with Martin Guerre or Danton.
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