PROVOKR Pick of the Week
Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek in Papillon
One of the most legendary adventure stories of all time is Papillon. Based on the book by Henri Charrière, allegedly based on his own experiences, the original film film starred Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman as two men fighting to survive in, and subsequently escape from, a tough-as-nails Central American prison, known as Devil’s Island.
Marketed as an epic adventure for all time, Papillon is a brutally uncompromising look at how a real life action/adventure story would play out. Deaths are grisly, violent, and come without warning; stakes are higher and more personal than anything in a typical action film; and emotional breaking points are crossed with aplomb. In addition to its consistently high level of excitement, it’s also a criticism of the prison system and a reminder of how easily government systems can be corrupted, courtesy of controversial screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. To this day, 1973’s Papillon holds up as one of the greats, an R-rated action/adventure movie for adults. Movies like this have become increasingly rare in today’s world of mass-marketed four-quadrant blockbusters.
Perhaps, then, the time is right for a new take on the classic story. Directed by Michael Noer, the Papillon remake stars Charlie Hunnam in the role made famous by Steve McQueen, while Rami Malek fills the boots of Dustin Hoffman. The film promises the same blend of high-adrenaline stunts, heart-wrenching drama, and inhumane brutality as the original, with a fresh coat of 21st century paint.
Time will tell if the remake can match the original’s place in cinematic history, but this new take deserves a chance to prove itself. Papillon, at its core, is a timeless tale of how fragile machismo really is, and an examination of the strength required to survive against impossible odds and unrelenting oppression.
However the remake fares, it’s doing a great job at reigniting interest in the original film. Hopefully, by the time the dust clears, both the original and the remake will be able to secure their own spots in the pantheon of cinematic classics.
