Papillon

When examining the reactions to the new version of Papillon, you often come across a feeling of desecration. It's as if it were blasphemy to make a second version of the legendary prison escape at the same time when you can watch yet another adaptation of "Les Misérables," where no one questions the constant recycling. I saw the original adaptation of Charrière's book 25 years ago, and that is one of the reasons why I don't want to compare both films. Steve McQueen was undoubtedly extraordinarily charismatic on screen, and Hoffman was one of the stars of character acting. However, the success of the film did not lie in them. It lay in the exceptional story of human will and tenacity. Rami Malek may not be the typical representative of the Parisian elite of the 1920s, but take it as it is. Neither he nor Charlie Hunnam bring disgrace to the craft of acting. The production is impressive, the excellent camera effectively captures the atmosphere of both fashionable Paris and the South American colony, as well as the suffering of the prisoners. Papillon is a worthy return to the adventure film genre in a time dominated by silly comic book movies and cheap horror films. I have no reason to criticize anything about this film and I had a good time with it. Overall impression: 90%. (24.01.2021)

I haven't seen the original Papillon and I admit I've never even heard of it, so I'm actually glad for the remake and even though I can't compare, I'm definitely impressed with this film. In terms of the cast, the film is quite packed with the great Charlie Hunnam, the likeable Rami Malek or Michael Noer's famous Danish friend Roland Møller, whom I respect in every film. I like prison movies and this isolated island setting with its harsh rules suited me very well. The escape finale is built up to the max and there are a few fights and one great decapitation. Thrilling, entertaining, well acted and well shot. For me a great satisfaction and if it was not a remake this film would be in the red. 80% (27.11.2018)

Watching the new version of Papillon felt as if I had asked for tea, and someone had just poured hot water over an already used teabag. The film didn't make any impression on me whatsoever, the suffering of the prisoners was limited to rolling their eyes in solitary confinement, unless I count the few scenes from the road construction and The Bridge on the River Kwai could easily top that. The running time seemed endless, and I felt like I had wasted my time. (09.03.2019)

The production design is believable, the performances are pretty decent, the problem is that this is a story that didn’t needed a remake. The original film with McQueen and Hoffman is still fresh today and surpasses this remake in every aspect. Moreover, as charismatic as Hunnam is (as indeed he is), he doesn't cut it here, especially in the scenes in solitary confinement, and I don't feel, unlike McQueen, that he has suffered in any way or that the years of torment have had any effect on him. McQueen was a broken man at the end, still shaking the last of his strength out of him, Hunnam sort of gets away with it easy-peasy, and having his hair dyed white by makeup artists doesn't make him a suffering man. That aside, there's nothing otherwise explicitly wrong with this film, but it's completely redundant. (17.06.2019)