Misérables, Les 1995

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: The family reads the Hugo novel aloud to him while they travel together, and apparently they all come to realize how much their lives are like great literature. Read more

Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times: Aspectacular-looking film with those great settings and costumes that are a hallmark of French period films. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Whether Hugo's, Lelouch's, or both, you will rarely find a more powerful, cathartic, and ultimately satisfying narrative to immerse yourself in. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The film is a wealth of incident: boxing matches, prison escapes, overland chases, a train robbery, high society, low crimes. Read more

Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle: Lelouch overworks this narrative scheme terribly: By reiterating his point and leaving nothing to our imagination, his cross-referencing shtick turns dull and belabored. Read more

Trevor Johnston, Time Out: It's part of the magic Lelouch has worked that his story-of-all-stories theme matches the catch-all inclusiveness of his old-fashioned celluloid showmanship. Read more

Derek Elley, Variety: Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: Imperfect, but beguiling. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: If it were shorter, we wouldn't know what misery really feels like. Read more