Purely Joyful Movie!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

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.

I really wanted to like this film as I am a Hemingway fan like many people. I read a few reviews that trashed the film and then I came across one that said "I don't know why all the bad reviews" and that was enough for me to download a check it out. The film started OK. I like Ribisi (Sneaky Pete)and Minka Kelly is simply beautiful but from there it goes down hill. If they had shown Cuba (ala Woody Allen New York/Rome/Paris etc) it would have been more watchable but they didn't and it wasn't.The acting. Oh my goodness, to say it was wooden would be the understatement of the 21st century. The worst of the bunch is the guy that plays Hemingway. I've never seen or heard Hemingway in real life but I can't imagine he was the passionless bore he seemed to be. Maybe not a fair criticism but I like the way Hemingway was portrayed in Midnight in Paris. Halfway or so through the film, there is a get together and a confrontation of sorts between EH and his wife...here is where you get bad acting at it's finest. Ribisi seemed out of place but I believe that is more a product of a poorly written story than his skill set.The story. How bad is it? Let me count the ways. Never mind, I have better things to do. How this is rated above "3" is beyond me.

I'm baffled by the hostility of many professional critics to this film. (The user, or amateur, reviewers are much more accurate, fair, knowledgeable and balanced. I'm finding this is true with user book reviews also. The amateur reviewers often know much more, care more, and are less biased about the subject than the professional reviewers.) I think the reason that so many professional critics did not like this film is because in liberal circles today Hemingway is very much out of fashion, and looked down upon. He is 'politically incorrect' now. Also Hemingway is not nearly as popular and well known today as was the case from 1930 to 1965.If you know about and like this famous author, as I do, this is the film for you. The stage actor, Adrian Sparks, who plays Hemingway nails the author's look, mannerisms, ideas, and even the sound of his voice. The film captures perfectly Hemingway's relationship with his prickly last wife, Mary, his mental state and concerns, and his relationship with friends, in the late 1950s period in Cuba, all per the historical record. And an added treat is that the film was made in Cuba at Hemingway's actual home, and favorite bar, the Floridita. The director may have even used the author's actual fishing boat the 'Pilar', which used to be kept at the Finca Vigia Estate after the author's death. If not it was a very close replica right down to the black hull. Also I thought screenwriter Denne Petitclerc's, a friend of the Hemingways, script was accurate, honest, inclusive, intelligent, well done, and thoughtful.

Went into this anticipating intriguing true story providing some insights into the revered author. Was initially put off by the embarrassing performances of Papa and especially Mary Hemingway characters, but eventually realized they were provided with a dreadful trite script and were just battling their way through it under vacuous direction. Not being drawn into the story, I had plenty of time to notice the comically inept directing and editing. Amateurish disconnects, visual glitches, motivational and logical inconsistencies, silly scoring, etc. etc. My companion said it had the feel of a Lifetime movie, but I think that is generous because this was a greater waste of talent and potentially interesting material.