Les Misérables

(Columbia TriStar)

Bille August's solid adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel stars Liam Neeson as a fierce Jean Valjean, who finds doing good a constant struggle that never goes unpunished. Geoffrey Rush humanizes the implacable Inspector Javert; as Fantine, Uma Thurman gets to expire glamorously; and Fantine's daughter, Cosette, who becomes Valjean's ward, is played nicely by Claire Danes as a rebellious teen. August's film won't make you forget the musical or the many previous movie versions, but a stirring new version of Hugo's tale of social justice is always welcome.