With more than 25 years of hindsight, there’s not too much to recommend in the 2001 remake of “Planet of the Apes,” directed by Tim Burton. While the cast is notable, including Mark Wahlberg, Tim Roth, and Helena Bonham Carter, and the makeup is very impressive, the story itself is fairly lifeless until it arrives at an ending that still makes absolutely no sense. (Remember the ape version of the Lincoln Memorial?) But even disappointing blockbusters can have some positive aspects, and “Planet of the Apes” is fortunate enough to have Paul Giamatti. By now, Giamatti has proven himself as a leading man in indie films like “The Holdovers” and “Sideways,” on premium-cable TV series like “Billions,” and in brief roles in other notable late-90s/early-00s mainstream films such as “Private Parts,” “The Truman Show,” and “Big Fat Liar.” But as Limbo in “Planet of the Apes,” Giamatti stands out above the rest of the ensemble. Sometimes, all it takes for a character actor’s supporting performance to stand out is to be fully aware of the movie you’re in, and Giamatti very clearly understood the assignment, down to threatening to fire his agent if he wasn’t given a chance to audition for the part. Limbo is a scummy type, but Giamatti makes him delightfully unlikable. This movie may not have stood the test of time, but like many of Paul Giamatti’s performances, his work as Limbo does.