"Les Miserables" (not the musical)

Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, this story of desperation, redemption, obsession, and romance is a finely crafted work of art.

Les Miserables follows the story of Jean Valjean (Liam Neeson), an unscrupulous and ignorant convict who is willing to lie, steal, and betray to prolong his meager life. Until, that is, an act of mercy by a stranger transforms him. After escaping from the law, Valjean starts a new life as a factory worker in a small French town where his unwavering kindness and generosity eventually take him to riches and the position of Mayor.

Enter Inspector Javert (Geoffrey Rush), a ruthless police officer who is determined to return Valjean to jail. Valjean is forced to escape to Paris, but not before a desperate single mother (Uma Thurman) begs him to take care of her daughter Cossette (Claire Danes). Unable to refuse someone in need, Valjean becomes Cossette's foster father as they start a new life in Paris. But the revolution is on, and Javert isn't finished yet.

Les Miserables is masterfully done. The cinematography and music are beautiful, and the story is inspiring. By far the best thing about it is the superb acting, with particularly strong performances by Neeson and Rush. Neeson's portrayal of Valjean is a man who is determined to help those in need and prevent the type of suffering he had to endure, yet with the hesitancy of a man who knows how unpredictable life can be. Rush's Javert is a fascinating character: an uncompromising legalist who can't tell the difference between "legal" and "moral", he is obsessed with catching Valjean, not because of a personal vendetta or even because he broke the law, but because Valjean's obvious goodness is anathema to Javert's simplistic worldview.

Smarty Pants Sez: Les Miserables with Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes is highly recommended.

Caveats: It isn't a musical, and many of the characters from the original novel are simplified or left out. Even so, it's still a great movie.