Papillon (1973)

Last December I finally bought and read Henri Charrière's autobiography Papillon. I wasn't crazy about it at first and I only kept reading because it was damn expensive and I didn't want to waste money like that. Eventually, it grew on me and I ended up loving it. So when I learnt there was a movie based on it, starring no less than Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman, I knew I had to watch it. I've been putting it off ever since because of its length. I wouldn't have missed much if I kept putting it off as Franklin J. Schaffner's Papillon isn't that memorable. 

The film follows Henri Charrière (Steve McQueen), also known as Papillon, who, wrongly convicted of murdering a pimp, is sentenced to life and imprisoned in the penal colony in French Guyana. On his voyage there, he meets Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman), a forger who sold fake government bonds. Degas has enemies, Papillon vows to protect him and, over the years, with Degas's help, he attempts to escape many times, despite solitary confinement being the punishment.

The Great Escape (1963)

Genre

Adventure | Drama | History

Director

John Sturges

Country

USA

Cast

Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, James Coburn, Hannes Messemer, David McCallum, Gordon Jackson, John Leyton, Angus Lennie, Nigel Stock, Robert Graf, Jud Taylor, Hans Reiser, Harry Riebauer, William Russell, Robert Freitag, Ulrich Beiger, George Mikell, Lawrence Montaigne, Robert Desmond, Til Kiwe, Heinz Weiss, Tom Adams, Karl-Otto Alberty

Storyline

Exasperated at the number of escapes from their prison camps, the Nazis relocates the Allied prisoners in an "escape-proof" camp. What the Germans don't realize is that they've put all the best escape minds in one location, and, undaunted, the prisoners will plan one of the most ambitious escape attempts of World War II.

Opinion

With a title itself that already implies its greatness, The Great Escape is a magnificent film that has everything. Action, adventure, comedy, and drama.

The film is essentially divided into two parts, having the first part telling in detail the planning of the clever escape, and the second part following the protagonist during the real escape. These two parts differ in their quite opposite tone and rhythm of narration. The slower and almost playful first part in which the viewer is dragged into the story is followed by a more dramatic second part, in which we see, one by one, the dream of our escapees vanish. 

Director John Sturges handles the slow and extremely detailed narration in an exceptional manner and does not make the audience feel the burden of the passing hours. Also, he delights us with tons of claustrophobic sequences that have as their main character the narrow tunnels dug by the prisoners.

Among the escapes, the most famous is indeed Steve McQueen's spectacular and scenic escape on a motorcycle, that has made its place in the history of cinema.

Mention worthy is Elmer Bernstein's spectacular, epic musical score, that wonderfully blends humour, excitement, and drama.

In this first-class cast, Steve McQueen is the star among the stars and gives a terrific performance as Virgil Hilts, the Cooler King. James Garner plays James Garner as Robert Hendley, the Scrounger. Richard Attenborough is superb as Big X, the escape committee mastermind. Charles Bronson is spectacular as the claustrophobic Danny "Tunnel King". Everybody else also made a wonderful job.

Quotes

Ramsey: Colonel Von Luger, it is the sworn duty of all officers to try to escape. If they cannot escape, then it is their sworn duty to cause the enemy to use an inordinate number of troops to guard them, and their sworn duty to harass the enemy to the best of their ability.

Hunger (2008)

Genre

Biography | Drama

Director
Steve McQueen

Country
Ireland | United Kingdom

Cast
Michael Fassbender, Liam Cunningham, Stuart Graham, Brian Milligan, Liam McMahon, Helen Madden, Des McAleer, Helena Bereen, Laine Megaw, Karen Hassan, Frank McCusker, Lalor Roddy, Geoff Gatt, Rory Mullen, Ben Peel, Paddy Jenkins

Plot
Northern Ireland, 1981. 

The film opens with prison officer Raymond Lohan (Stuart Graham) preparing to leave for work: he checks under his car for bombs, puts his uniform on and ignores the camaraderie of his colleagues. 

Davey Gillian (Brian Milligan), a new IRA prisoner, arrives. Due to his refusal to wear the prison uniform, he is labeled as "non-cooperative". His roommate, Gerry (Liam McMahon), has smeared the cell with faeces from floor to ceiling for resistance to the prison regime. 

The final focus of the film is Bobby Sands (Michael Fassbender), Irish Republican activist who deeply believes in the cause for which he was imprisoned and in the righteousness of dying for political prisoner status. 

Opinion
With his first film, Steve McQueen gave birth to a masterpiece, in terms of cinematography (memorable is the dialogue between Father Dominic Moran and Bobby Sands) and in terms of emotions (some scenes are so raw to result unbearable).

Hunger is a magnificent picture of an important moment in history. Needless to be mentioned is the majesty of Michael Fassbender as IRA prisoner Bobby Sands. 

If you are easily impressed I highly recommend you to not watch this film.

Quotes
I have my belief, and in all its simplicity that is the most powerful thing.

Rating
8.5/10