YMMV / Papillon

• Award Snub:
  • Steve McQueen (actor) was overlooked by the Academy Awards. Some say that was because he had "stolen" Ali MacGraw (who became his second wife) from her husband Robert Evans, who was a powerful studio executive at the time. McQueen was also rumored to have slept with many other Hollywood wives. Others say his Oscar snub was because the actor, in rather coarse language, once told the Golden Globes committee he would accept an award if he won but would never consider going to the ceremony. He did, however, receive a Golden Globe Best Actor nomination.
  • Dustin Hoffman's performance was also snubbed.
• Awesome Music: The theme by Jerry Goldsmith; a lush, memorable theme made up of strings, piano and woodwinds dominate this heartfelt score from one of the composer's most personal works. It is said to be Ennio Morricone's favorite score.
• Hilarious in Hindsight: By the time Papillon is sent to Devil's Island in the 2018 movie, his hair has become more white, and his hairstyle is similar to that of Daniel Craig's. Combine that with Rami Malek as Louis Dega, and you basically have James Bond and the main villain in No Time to Die, together as friends.
• Moral Event Horizon: Crossed by the Mother Superior at a convent when she has Papillon returned to Devil's Island. It didn't help that Papillon had just admitted to her that he isn't a murderer (he had been imprisoned on the charge of killing a pimp). He said he wasn't guilty, but when the guards came for him, she callously decided to leave his life in God's hands. Granted, it did work out for him in the long run, but with holy people like her, who needs the devil himself?
  • Also the Prison Doctor who helps with Papllion’s second escape attempt mentions to him that already crossed the MEH when he killed his entire family.
• Nightmare Fuel: Both dreams Papillon has while in solitary confinement. Especially the second one. "You're deeeeaaaaaddd..."

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