Review by John Delia
A bold time capsule of Ernest Hemingway’s life in Cuba gets revealed through the eyes of a reporter who lived it in the film Papa Hemingway in Cuba. Richly shot in the estranged county, the movie delves into the Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winning writer’s intimate lifestyle on the island in the 1950’s. Taught, daring and an eye opener the fine cast does a terrific job of character portrayal under the able direction of Bob Yari from an autobiographical script written by Denne Bart Petitclerc.
Miami Globe newspaper writer Ed Meyer (Giovanni Ribisi) has always admired the writings of Ernest Hemingway (Adrian Sparks). So much so, that he decides to write him a letter telling him why. Impressed by his writing style and sincerity, Hemingway gives Ed a call from his home in Havana, Cuba and tells the reporter to call him Papa. Before he can say another word and after realizing that it’s really him, Hemingway invites Ed to visit him in Cuba for a fishing trip. Fellow employee and current girlfriend Debbi Hunt (Minka Kelly) is ecstatic and helps him pack for the trip.
Upon arriving he’s whisked off to Papa’s home where Ed meets his wife Mary (Joely Richardson) who welcomes him to the estate. So begins a dream trip and devoted friendship. But, it slowly turns into a nightmare involving the uprising of the Cuban rebels lead by Fidel Castro, an FBI conspiracy, and being the referee in conflicts between Mary and Papa.
Although a veteran stage, TV and film actor this movie showcases Adrian Sparks his first major role portraying Papa Hemingway. He’s a very good choice proving he can turn heads and raise eyebrows as he looks so much like the iconic writer. Able to change Papa’s mood from jolly to irate, his tussles with friends and his wife Mary are very arresting. Working his character to the nub, Sparks shows the bitter side of the writer while defending his attitude toward the impending Cuban civil war.
Showing range, Giovanni Ribisi stars as the ‘lucky’ reporter who gets taken into Papa’s inner sanctum in Cuba. He’s flattered at first, then realizes that the Nobel Prize winner needs him as more of a confidant and friend than an admirer. Initially fitting into Papa’s life becomes an easy task, but as time goes on Ed realizes that Papa has many things haunting him that rise to the surface on impulse. The friendship becomes a chore for Ed in the ebb of Papa’s life in Cuba, putting a strain on his love life in the States and leading him to make tough decisions about the future.
In the film Ribisi’s character is called Ed Meyer, but in real life the screen’s autobiographical play was written by the real reporter Denne Bart Petitclerc who lived it. Much like Papa, he became a writer for newspapers and worked his way into his career. He finished the script Papa Hemingway in Cuba in 2006 around the time of his death. It was subsequently picked up by Director/producer Bob Yari in association with Denne’s widow Wanda Petitclerc’s who’s listed as one of the producers.
Keeping it real, Yari was able to get permission to shoot the film in and around Havana including the former home of Ernest Hemingway. In some cases the shots become a travelogue of Cuba, showing what the capital city looks like today after 50 years of USA embargo. The camera angles do suggest that some of the negative side has been hidden from view, but never-the-less still a charming city.
Papa Hemingway in Cuba has been rated R for language, sexuality, some violence and nudity. The nudity consists mostly of the actor’s backsides, the violence graphic and the language gets debasing at times.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film with stellar performances. (B)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Giovanni Ribisi, Adrian Sparks, Joely Richardson, Minka Kelly, James Remar, Eduardo Almirante
Directed by: Bob Yari
Written for the Screen by:
Genre: Drama, Biography, History
MPAA Rating: Â R for language, sexuality, some violence and nudity
Running Time: 1 hr. 49 min.
Release Date: April 29, 2016
Distributed by: Yari Film Group