Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Giovanni Ribisi | ... | Ed Myers | |
Joely Richardson | ... | Mary Hemingway | |
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Adrian Sparks | ... | Ernest Hemingway |
Minka Kelly | ... | Debbie Hunt | |
Shaun Toub | ... | Evan Shipman | |
James Remar | ... | Santo Trafficante Jr. | |
Anthony Molinari | ... | John Fletcher | |
Jeff Jonas | ... | Jim Miller | |
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Roger Zamudio | ... | Sinsky |
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Roque Moreno | ... | Luis Herrara |
Joseph Bertót | ... | Roberto Herrara | |
Alexis Díaz de Villegas | ... | Paxtchi Ibarlucia | |
Rodrigo Obregón | ... | Lucas | |
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Orian Suarez | ... | Juan |
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Lorenzo Castillo | ... | Rene |
Directed by the Producer of the Academy Awarding Winner "Crash and "The Illusionist", "PAPA Hemingway In Cuba" is a true story about the relationship between Miami journalist Denne Bart Petitclerc (Giovanni Ribisi) and legendary writer Ernest Hemingway (Adrian Sparks). Set during the Cuban revolution, the film co-stars Joely Richardson and Minka Kelly with a cameo by Hemingway's granddaughter, Mariel Hemingway. "PAPA: Hemingway In Cuba" was shot on location in Havana and inside Hemingway's estate, Finca Vigia. It is the first Hollywood film to be shot in Cuba since 1959. Written by Anonymous
I can't say this is a great movie, but I don't know why the critics were so hard on it - currently 8% on by Metacritic professional critics. Hemingway had a long and adventuresome life, and this movie captures the last year he spent at his Cuban estate, Finca Vigia. The beautiful, sprawling, gated estate had been a source of comfort for Hem through two divorces, multiple wars, and the withering of his talent. By 1959, Hem's cumulative emotional distress is mirrored in Cuba's political unrest, and the film captures that quite perfectly.
Giovanni Ribisi as Hemingway's new, young writer friend is more toned down that he is in other amped-up roles, and Adrian Sparks effectively becomes Hemingway; it's hard to believe it isn't him in many scenes. Joely Richardson was a terrific foil, moving through the turbulence of their marriage minute by minute, showing the deep love she had for him but also the anger she had at his drunken antics.
The film had some very nice touches, like the poly-dactyl cat in a very brief scene; Hemingway loved poly-dactyls in his later years.
I felt the movie was fairly well-paced and beautifully filmed. The drama around -- no spoilers -- some government issues was a little out of left field tone-wise, but otherwise I found it a rather lovely little picture, an admirable tribute to a great writer and a flawed man with a lasting legacy.