If ‘Rocky’ got our feet wet with Seventies cinema, then Selector Ben Wiener’s

‘Papillon’ got us soaked. Featuring a script co-authored by Dalton Trumbo

(whose script for ‘Executive Action’ had already been unofficially screened)

this selection brought the hell of prison to Movienight for the first time.

Though it was our longest official selection, it held the crew’s focus largely

on the strength of Mr. McQueen and Mr. Hoffman’s exemplary performances.

“We’re something aren’t we? The only animals that shove things up their ass for survival.”

BBD Comments:

I can’t believe that Wiener opened up with this. I admire it, as I admire my own selection of ‘The Big Lebowski.’

I know his rationale was to open up the field, to encourage the Selection Committee to think outside the box.

That being said I still fell asleep.

Knowing as well that Wiener had brought “The Party” as his number two choice makes me even more puzzled. ‘Papillon’ is undeniably a classic, but in far too many ways it is hard to watch.

Kudos to Ben for pushing us in the direction of more serious fare, I just wish it had been a more entertaining film.