Popular reviews

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  Review by theriverjordan ★★★★★ 30

  In “Papillon,” existence itself becomes an act of rebellion upon the confines man has made for himself on earth. 

  Director Franklin J. Schaffner’s film about two men serving sentences on the French Guinea penal colony of “Devil’s Island,” was penned by Dalton Trumbo — a man who knew something of suffering penance for injustice. 

  “Papillon” is rife with a spirit of resilience. 

  Trumbo had come out on the other side of the Hollywood blacklist era, and star Steve McQueen - pretty boy that he was - still was sure to always insert a contract rider that sent classroom supplies back to California reform school where he grew up. These were men that were bent again and again by society —…

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  Review by DirkH ★★★★★ 16

  Confession 1: This was the first time I watched it.

  Confession 2: I'm too stunned by it to say anything coherent other than that it is a powerhouse in each single aspect of filmmaking.

  Boy, did I love this one!

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  Review by Lara Pop ★★★★½ 10

  The art of the one-line review isn't writing one line but breaking down the words into five lines to honor Steve McQueen and his five steps of
  endurance he made day by day in his solitary cell, so I'll do just that:

  'hey
  you
  bastards
  I'm
  still
  here'

  I know it's six lines. But Papillon never lived by the rules, did he? He looked for freedom in his every waking moment. For him, freedom stood above everything. Nothing could stop him from achieving it, not even several years in solitary, not even the possibility of death as he glided from the cliff like a papillon. No. Because for him, freedom WAS everything. Thank you, Steve McQueen, for your transcendent performance. I'll never forget it.

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  Review by Mr. DuLac ★★★★½ 3

  A temptation resisted is a true measure of character.
  -Dega

  The 1970 memoirs of Henri Charrière (aka: Papillon) has come under a lot of scrutiny over the years and it's commonly believed that most of the stories presented in the book are in fact about other prisoners rather then Charrière himself. While it brings into question if Papillon is based on fiction or fact, it doesn't diminish it as an incredibly compelling film.

  Steve McQueen leaves his coolest guy on the planet movie star persona at the door while giving possibly the greatest performance of his career as Henri "Papillon" Charrière. The mentally and physically demanding role showcases McQueen as an actual actor with talent, for a man that once…

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  Review by Naughty aka Juli Norwood ★★★½ 2

  This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

  A grand story of perseverance, endurance and survival! I was particularly impressed to learn that Steve McQueen actually performed the menacing high dive off the cliff near the end of the film!

  Both Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman performances were to say the very least stellar! The scenes with Papillon in solitary confinement were powerful! His defiance, loyalty and will to live provided truly remarkable images onscreen!

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  Review by Ian West ★★★★

  Survival of the unbreakable friendship.

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  Review by Wesley Stenzel ★★★★½

  Grand cinematography, a magnificent score, and a stellar lead performance from Steve McQueen make Papillon an epic film about perseverance and overcoming injustice. The screenplay is also excellent, but this movie is at its best when its story plays out in silence. It’s very straightforward, but excellently executed. Absolutely worth a watch if you like prison breaks or period adventures.

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  Review by Paul Elliott ★★★★½

  Papillon prevails as an anecdote of human persistence with some multi-layered character investigations that convincingly docks with a historical jailbreak storyline which glimmers with authenticity. Steve McQueen delivers a captivating performance as safecracker Charrière (aka Papillon) serving a life sentence on Devil's Island and who makes friends with fellow criminal Louis Dega, played by Dustin Hoffman, as the two of them begin their punishments, and almost immediately he's motivated to concoct his escape.

  Franklin J. Schaffner does a rather remarkable job with directional duties, including several effective shots which illustrate Papillon’s increasingly distressed psyche, as well as additionally managing to arouse some adventurous performances from the incredible cast. The creative screenplay by Dalton Trumbo and Lorenzo Semple Jr, based on…

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  Review by {Todd} ★★★

  "I wish you hadn't come here" -Louis Dega,

  I don't get Steve McQueen, I wish I did.

  For me this film is one of those films that I have heard about a bunch and was looking forward to it and then I watched it finally and yeah it's pretty good. The performances are all pretty good, the story is fairly interesting and pretty good, the cinematography is pretty at times and pretty good. There is just absolutely nothing about it I love and I'll likely forget most of it by tomorrow.

  Not really for me but recommended to people into themes of punishment and determination.

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  Review by Dario Habulin ★★★★

  This was my first watch of this classic and I liked it .
  I dont consider it to be some kind of masterpiece mostly cause its to similiar to other prison escape films but Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman were able to carry this movie forward with their relationship and chemistry .
  Pacing was little slow and its runtime could have been little shorter but still in the very end this was one nice classic to witness and see .

  
  🔜 Gone Baby Gone

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  Review by Kruger ★★★★½ 8

  A tanned Pimp Killer. A four-eyed forger with a hidden stash of cash. The girl in a sailor's uniform. The head-spinning guillotine. Getting intimate with a croc. Bat bite. Bounty Hunter's love affair gone cold. A leper in the need of some L'oréal. The Island of Magnificent Boobs. Pearl..necklace? A double-crossing nun. Shark fight. Welcome to Devil's Island. Old age reunion. Freddie the pig. The final hug. Who knew butterflies can't fly? The moment when you realize he's down and you're up--and that's okay. A true story of an unlikely friendship.

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  Review by Nikhil_Das ★★★★

  Man I want to jump like Steve McQueen from that cliff in Maui, Hawaii.

  It's kinda great to know that Steve himself did that jumping scene, It was so beautiful, melancholic and the best scene to me. I love these kind of prison break movies, it always gives some kind of memorable experience by end. Steve McQueen's performance was phenomenal in this, the entire solitary confinement episode was remarkable. I wish they had given more emphasis on Dustin Hoffman's character Louis Dega. Also the other thing that stands out is that beautiful score by Jerry Goldsmith, There is some kind of exotic feel to it it's soo good.