Papa: Hemingway in Cuba was released in the U.S. in 2015, written by Denne Bart Petitclerc. It's the dumb-luck story about Miami Globe reporter, Ed Myers, who is the real-life Petitclerc, too shy to mail a fan letter he addresses to the American icon. When his love- interest steals and mails the letter, Myers receives a phone call from Hemingway that snowballs into a deep, trusting, faith-filled, and fruitful friendship.
The dates, photos, and video clips of Hemingway solidify his legacy. The opening credits chronicle moments in Cuba and foreshadow his death. If you know that Hemingway quickly left Cuba after 20 years of life in Finca Vigia near Havanna, like me you await that that moment when he abruptly leaves Cuba. I was disappointed his departure was overlooked in this movie, but it made room for sequences of Hemingway providing guns to Cuban fighters – which was unknown to me. The violent attack on the presidential palace as Castro gains power blazes Myers' career as a war correspondent. The action Hemingway and Myers experience ducking bullets and hiding near vehicles strewn in a Havana street, rivets Myer's dream of what it takes to become a good reporter of his time.
Touching scenes and dialogue include Myers' humble story of how he landed a job, was fired for an inability to spell, but hired back after typing all of Hemingway's books. This moment takes place on the beach with Hemingway and his wife as waves break in the background, mirroring Myers' break into journalism. The actors (Giovanni Ribisi as Myers, Adrian Sparks as Ernest Hemingway, and Joely Richardson as Mary Hemingway) are heartfelt, but sometimes lack conviction. None-the- less, your heart strings tug like undertow with Ribisi's convincing humility as Myers, and Sparks' persuasive affection as Hemingway. Myers later convinces Hemingway he loves and needs him, which undoes a near- tragic event. Director Bob Yari effectively steers the action as the dialogue booms.
Comical scenes include the Hemingway's swimming in the nude, Myers' first encounter with Mrs. Hemingway. The butt-shots are modest and fun, and Myers' first-blush is diminished by movie's end when he swims with the sharks, so to speak.
Conflicts include the Hemingway couple forgetting how to show love toward each other, as they deal with aging, writer's block, Hemingway's father's suicide, and Mary's loss of herself as she lives in his shadow. The birthday party sequence shows Mary's extremes to convince the audience that the weight of blame is hers for the couple's unhappiness.
Supporting cast includes close and longtime friend, Evan Shipman (Shaun Toub), who's real life bout with gangrene inspire The Hills of Kilimanjaro. Myers' girlfriend, Debbie Hunt (Minka Kelly), is gorgeous in her role. She tempts Myers to stay away from Hemingway. He almost does. Myers affection for her conflicts with his need for Hemingway, as Myers navigates explosive love scenes with Deb and a grandiose friendship with Hemingway.
J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, duel plane crashes, revolution headlines, and guns dumped into the ocean sequence fast. I watched a second time to piece the implications.
The inclusion of the Finca Vigia, beautiful landscaping, and a swimming pool larger than their living room show the bountiful creativity of the Hemingways. The bar scenes and daiquiris add crunch and the palm trees calm. His yellow car moves about in the beautiful Havana countryside that lacks the sting of industrial growth and housing developments, with plant-life touched only by human hands and small tools. The architecture is lovely. And the ocean scenes reflect the depth and vastness of Hemingway's soul as a writer with the Havana skyline, smoky and depressing.
SPOILER ALERT: Papa does not include Hemingway's life and death in Idaho.
I give it 8 stars: 2 for the acting, 2 for dialogue, 2 for the beautiful scenery and Hemingway's real-life former home, and 2 for showing the many facets of Ernest Hemingway (some which I never knew) as told by budding journalist, Denne Bart Petitclerc.
I watched on Netflix.
The dates, photos, and video clips of Hemingway solidify his legacy. The opening credits chronicle moments in Cuba and foreshadow his death. If you know that Hemingway quickly left Cuba after 20 years of life in Finca Vigia near Havanna, like me you await that that moment when he abruptly leaves Cuba. I was disappointed his departure was overlooked in this movie, but it made room for sequences of Hemingway providing guns to Cuban fighters – which was unknown to me. The violent attack on the presidential palace as Castro gains power blazes Myers' career as a war correspondent. The action Hemingway and Myers experience ducking bullets and hiding near vehicles strewn in a Havana street, rivets Myer's dream of what it takes to become a good reporter of his time.
Touching scenes and dialogue include Myers' humble story of how he landed a job, was fired for an inability to spell, but hired back after typing all of Hemingway's books. This moment takes place on the beach with Hemingway and his wife as waves break in the background, mirroring Myers' break into journalism. The actors (Giovanni Ribisi as Myers, Adrian Sparks as Ernest Hemingway, and Joely Richardson as Mary Hemingway) are heartfelt, but sometimes lack conviction. None-the- less, your heart strings tug like undertow with Ribisi's convincing humility as Myers, and Sparks' persuasive affection as Hemingway. Myers later convinces Hemingway he loves and needs him, which undoes a near- tragic event. Director Bob Yari effectively steers the action as the dialogue booms.
Comical scenes include the Hemingway's swimming in the nude, Myers' first encounter with Mrs. Hemingway. The butt-shots are modest and fun, and Myers' first-blush is diminished by movie's end when he swims with the sharks, so to speak.
Conflicts include the Hemingway couple forgetting how to show love toward each other, as they deal with aging, writer's block, Hemingway's father's suicide, and Mary's loss of herself as she lives in his shadow. The birthday party sequence shows Mary's extremes to convince the audience that the weight of blame is hers for the couple's unhappiness.
Supporting cast includes close and longtime friend, Evan Shipman (Shaun Toub), who's real life bout with gangrene inspire The Hills of Kilimanjaro. Myers' girlfriend, Debbie Hunt (Minka Kelly), is gorgeous in her role. She tempts Myers to stay away from Hemingway. He almost does. Myers affection for her conflicts with his need for Hemingway, as Myers navigates explosive love scenes with Deb and a grandiose friendship with Hemingway.
J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, duel plane crashes, revolution headlines, and guns dumped into the ocean sequence fast. I watched a second time to piece the implications.
The inclusion of the Finca Vigia, beautiful landscaping, and a swimming pool larger than their living room show the bountiful creativity of the Hemingways. The bar scenes and daiquiris add crunch and the palm trees calm. His yellow car moves about in the beautiful Havana countryside that lacks the sting of industrial growth and housing developments, with plant-life touched only by human hands and small tools. The architecture is lovely. And the ocean scenes reflect the depth and vastness of Hemingway's soul as a writer with the Havana skyline, smoky and depressing.
SPOILER ALERT: Papa does not include Hemingway's life and death in Idaho.
I give it 8 stars: 2 for the acting, 2 for dialogue, 2 for the beautiful scenery and Hemingway's real-life former home, and 2 for showing the many facets of Ernest Hemingway (some which I never knew) as told by budding journalist, Denne Bart Petitclerc.
I watched on Netflix.