Papillon

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Keet B @Keet1963 Dec 29 This film arrives like a monocle dropped into a bath of irony—steaming, unnecessary, and convinced of its own importance. Shot in resolutely joyless greys, it explores themes of "time," "silence," and "someone staring out of a window for quite a while." The director clearly hates fun and possibly chairs. Dialogue is sparse but meaningful, assuming you enjoy sentences like "We were never here" delivered to a lamp. The soundtrack hums, throbs, and occasionally judges you. Nothing happens, but it happens symbolically. I left the cinema unsure whether I’d witnessed a masterpiece or accidentally paid £14 to be emotionally audited by a scarf. See more Faiz D @RT95588871 05/13/2025 What a powerful and emotional movie! See more Oldsportflip T @RT49719573 03/30/2025 Though I typically like both of the main actors this was one of the most unnecessary remakes I've ever seen. The 1973 original is a classic, beautifully filmed and acted. This version added nothing new and took away the majority of what that made the first one compelling. It's a great story that should not have been redone. See more Aleksandar D @RT85660610 01/30/2025 The 2017 remake of Papillon ambitiously revisits the legendary true story of Henri Charrière’s escape from the brutal penal colony of French Guiana. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the 1973 classic, it delivers a compelling, visually arresting survival tale anchored by two strong performances. Charlie Hunnam takes on the role of Charrière, bringing both physical intensity and emotional depth to the character. Rami Malek, as the wealthy and enigmatic Louis Dega, adds a quiet but powerful presence, making their unlikely friendship the heart of the film. Their chemistry is convincing, even when the film occasionally drags under its weighty runtime. The cinematography is striking, capturing the suffocating heat, filth, and cruelty of the penal system with unflinching realism. The escape sequences are gripping, and the film does well in maintaining the core themes of resilience and freedom. However, compared to the original, it sometimes lacks the raw emotional impact and pacing feels inconsistent. Papillon is a respectable retelling, offering solid performances and impressive visuals, but it doesn’t fully justify its existence alongside the classic. Gritty, well-acted, but not quite essential. See more Jack M @JackMiehof 12/04/2024 Brokeback Mountain on a prison island. Rami Malek is ok, unlike the Channing Tatum-wannabe. See more Jim P @RT08384096 09/30/2024 Papillon the book (and the follow up Banco) are two of my fave ever books. The original movie from 1973 is a 5star classic! But this version..? Meh... See more Read all reviews

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