Papillon
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Movie Reviews of Papillon
Movie Review: Excellent
Summary: 5 Stars
It came fast and exactlly the way it was ordered.
Movie Review: Epic prison movie about a falsely accused man
Summary: 4 Stars
Papillon is a safecracker wrongly accused and convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison at a Devil's Island in Guiana, South America. He's determined to escape before he even reaches the island hiding a shiv (knife) and money. While on the boat over to the penal colony Papillon offers to protect the mousey Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman)who's carrying money to bribe the guards for various items once he's at the colony. The two strike up a surprising friendship as Papillon plans his eventual escape from prison.
A fine film from featuring strong performances from the unlikely duo of Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, "Papillon" isn't director Frankl J. Schaffner ("Planet of the Apes", "Patton", "The War Lord")best film but still packs considerable wallop. The film (for its time) was brutal in its depiction of prison life in the French penal colony system. Supposedly writer Henri Charriere based ont he novel on events from his life although I suspect that much of it is fiction. It's nevertheless powerful fiction.
The languid pace of the film may not be to everyone's liking; Schaffner shoots for the pacing (in a sense using pacing to recreate the stifling heat and humidity)of films like "The Bridge on the River Kwai". Featuring a number of marvelous performances including Anthony Zerbe as Toussaint the Leper Colony chief and Bill Mumy ("Lost in Space") as Lariot, it clearly was an inspiration for Stephen King's "The Shawkshank Redemption" (and Frank Darabont's film).
The transfer here appears to be the same one that appeared in the 2000. Presented in anamorphic widescreen, the image quality is still exceptionally good although the image is occasionally soft. There's also analog flaws due to the source print (and, in turn, probably due to the original negative). The film comes with a vintage "Making of" featurette. It's a pity that Hoffman wasn't asked to do a commentary track as I'd be fascinated to find out about the behind-the-scenes shooting from an actor's perspective. The sound while solid suffers from low volume and sometimes the dialog can be a bit indistinct. On the whole, though, the soundtrack has nice detail and comes across with nice clarity for most of the movie. Remastered for 5.1, "Papillon" the surround speakers don't get the work out one would expect from a brand new film but the film still sounds nice.
Featuring a terrific screenplay by Dalton Trumbo ("Spartacus", "Johnny Got His Gun", "Exodus") and Lorenzo Semple Jr. ("Three Days of the Condor", "The Drowning Pool", "The Parallax View") even if the story is primarily fiction (as is now claimed), it's a powerful drama. Keep in mind that the pace for this epic prison drama is quite slow throughout most of the movie. A bit of trivia is that Dustin Hoffman based on performance of Louis on Dalton Trumbo himself after they met to discuss working on the film.
This film is also now available as part of Warner Home Video's superb "Steve McQueen Collection" which also includes a remastered deluxe edition of "Bullitt", "Tom Horn" and a couple of other classic McQueen classics. If you have the previous edition of this classic movie I can't see necessarily upgrading unless you want the snapcase to store the movie in.
Movie Review: The amazing true life story of a man of character...
Summary: 4 Stars
'Papillon' is the forceful portrait of a defiant man, who survives harrowing years of his life in small solitary cells, suffering the worst type of brutality and despair... It is the amazing true life story of a man of character called Henri Charriere, a Frenchman sentenced to life at Devil's island for a murder he did not commit... Henri gains his nick name 'Papillon' for the large butterfly (symbolic of freedom) tattooed on his chest...
The film recounts Papillon's tenacity and indomitable spirit, planning and executing a series of failed attempts of escape over many years... We watch his multiple adventures through hundreds of miles of swamp, reaching an encounter with a kind leper colony, a friendly tribe of Indians, and a traitorous nun... Papillon is seen pursued by Indian trustees, and harassed by brutal guards... The power of the movie lies on Papillon's triumph over oppression, his continual perseverance, humanity, honesty, his quiet dignity, and sheer spirit...
Guided this time by one of the most creative directors who offered handsomely 'Planet of the Apes' and 'Patton,' Steve McQueen--as Papillon-- exhibits a raw vitality, a complete spectrum of emotions, and a sure command of his technical acting-resources that are breathtaking in their impact..
Dustin Hoffman--in perfect rapport with his role, perceptively invading its every nuance and implication-- portrays a quality of character exhibited in the face of impossible adversity... His last scene with McQueen attempting to convince his friend not to leave the island, represents one of the film's most moving, and effective sequence...
Schaffner gives a stirring picture of forsaken men, and takes up the challenge and proceeding to 'beat the system' against incalculable odds... He certainly gives rise to some of the great epics of human courage and fortitude...
Movie Review: One of McQueen's last great roles
Summary: 4 Stars
The late Steve McQueen sure had a run of good luck with iconic roles like "Bullit", "The Sand Pebbles" (his only Oscar nomination), "The Getaway" and this epic tale which paired him for the first and only time with Dustin Hoffman whom I believe was playing a composite of 2 characters that Henri Carriere had encountered while imprisoned. Character actor that he is, I think Hoffman did a great job but this is McQueen's movie all the way. In an interview with Larry King, Hoffman felt that McQueen was vastly under-rated like Clint Eastwood because he played "close to the vest". In otherwards, in his element which were "action roles" like this or "The Getaway", "Bullit"--he was excellent. But put him in a classical mode like Ibsen's "Enemy of the People" or Shakespeare--and he appears wooden or lost. This film and "The Towering Inferno" was probably the last decent films that McQueen made--forget about "Tom Horn" or "The Hunter". If you're a McQueen fan,do check this one out since it boasts excellent direction from Franklin Schaffner (Patton, Planet of the Apes) and a rousing score from Jerry Goldsmith plus a fine supporting cast which includes frequent cohort, Don Gordon (Bullitt), William Smithers, Anthony Zerbe and Victor Jory. Now all that's needed is that it should be released in Blu-ray!!Movie Review: a classic example of a man's desire for freedom
Summary: 4 Stars
i saw this movie in the cinema a very long time ago and it left an impression on my mind,for me to remember it and to want to own a copy of it demonstrates the powerful message of how good it is.it is also a true story which makes it even more "valuable".i am impressed at the lengths to which papillon went to obtain his freedom,the tortures he endured in prison -solitary isolation,hunger,abuse,unsanitary conditions,being shipped away to french guyana and left on an uninhabited island with a fellow inmate.yet he persevered, he studied the movement of the waves and he was able to make his great escape and survive many years after that a free man.it is just an amazing movie and a must see for anyone who likes the determination which we all have ingrained in us for freedom and the lengths we will go to obtain it.