Papillon (1973): Float like a Butterfly, Sting like McQueen
Movies based on actual people and/or events typically pique my interest a bit more than others. I do minimal research on a film in this genre before I dedicate my time to viewing it, but once the credits roll, I’m off to learn more about what was true and what was embellished in the name of artistic license. (As a side note, I don’t mind the artistic license part in the slightest. If you want to rub elbows with veracity, watch a documentary.) Papillon is based on a real book, which was penned by a real person, Mr. Henri Charriere (1931-1970), a French writer. In the film adaptation, Charriere is portrayed by the legendary Steve McQueen, and centers on Charriere’s murder conviction and subsequent incarceration. Opinions seem to vary on just how much of the film is actually based in truth, but nonetheless, I’m happy to report that it is absolutely fantastic.
I was late to the game with McQueen, as I was a young child when he died. I still have yet to make much of a dent in his filmography, but both Bullitt (1968) and The Getaway (1972) have become personal favorites. And now, Papillon has entered the chat.
My view of McQueen to this point has been that of rugged, “speak softly and carry a big stick,” badass. In my mind, he had a similar on-screen feel to Charles Bronson and Daniel Craig, but here, he exhibits some pretty impressive acting chops. One common theme among my reviews is the concept of an actor’s range. At one end of the spectrum you have someone like Ben Affleck (star of the worst movie ever!), or my favorite whipping boy, Ryan Reynolds. If you saw random clips of either of them from their various projects over the years, you’d likely be hard-pressed to tell one character from the next. At the other end of the spectrum, you have folks like Tom Hardy, Cate Blanchette, Daniel Day Lewis, and Jessica Chastain. Each of them is able to fully immerse into a given role to the degree that you stop seeing the actor, and only see the character. In Papillon, McQueen pulls this off quite well, as the Charriere you see in the final act is a stark contrast from earlier in the film. Admittedly, I wasn’t sure McQueen had that sort of range within him, but I no longer have any doubt.
Speaking of range, it’s important to also mention Dustin Hoffman. He plays French counterfeiter Louie Dega, who works out a mutually beneficial arrangement with Charriere shortly after making his acquaintance, and ultimately sees his fate become intertwined with that of his cellmate. There have no doubt been many prison films produced over the years since 1973, and yet even in light of all those that came later, Papillon succeeds in feeling unique and successfully lays claim to its own cinematic stake in the ground.
Score: 8.8/10
Starring: Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman, Victor Jory, and Don Gordon
Suggested By: @RayKTweets (reminder: Check out The MovieSlap Red Carpet!)
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