PAPILLON – “Top notch performances in a sluggish film”
RATING
DIRECTOR
STARRING
- Charlie Hunnam as Henri "Papillon" Charrière
- Rami Malek as Louis Dega
- Roland Moller as Celier
- Tommy Flanagan as Masked Breton
- Eve Hewson as Nenette
SYNOPSIS
Based on Charrière's autobiographies Papillon and Banco, as well as the 1973 film adaptation - written by Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr. and starring Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman.
The story of Henri "Papillon" Charrière, a safecracker from the Parisian underworld who is framed for murder and condemned to life in the notorious penal colony on Devil's Island. Determined to regain his freedom, he forms an unlikely alliance with convicted counterfeiter Louis Dega, who in exchange for protection, agrees to finance Papillon's escape.
REVIEW SUMMARY
"Papillon, unlike a butterfly, moves along very sluggishly. Luckily however, the acting is top notch as Hunnam and Malek are on their A-game here with great chemistry to boot. The story, while fascinating as a whole, is missing some elements of interest. Like, what was with the whole “framed for murder" stuff at the beginning? I want to know more about THAT. The movie could have benefited from a slightly more brisk pace, so don’t go in sleepy as you’ll likely want to yell at the screen “move it along” from time to time"
BOX OFFICE TOP 5
7
Kung Fu Panda 4
$5.5 million