Competent is the word of the day here. The acting's not great but it's **competent**. The style isn't blowing my mind but it's shot **competently**. _Papillon_ is the sort of movie that will have its lead hit near-anorexia to express the level of torture his character has suffered, but can't have him grow a beard past sexy manicured stubble despite being isolated in a cell with nothing for two whole years. It commits hard to half-measures. A very unusual paradox that leads to a movie that's very, **very** okay. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._