Review of Papa Hemingway in Cuba (2015) by Crystal H — 22 Jan 2017

I can't understand the critics abysmal ratings for this film--10% vs. the audience rating which is 63%. While the complaints about a relatively creaky plot seem fair--the plot of this film isn't important as it's mostly a character study--the chorus of complaints about the acting of Adrian Sparks as Hemingway and Joely Richardson as Mary Hemingway--his last wife--strike me as wildly off the mark.

The performance of Richardson in particular is pitch perfect and the self-destructive, but hopelessly fused nature of their relationship is reminiscent of George and Martha in _Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?_ (made immortal on film by Taylor and Burton).

I suspect the critics don't know a good, sad thing when they see it. My advice to them, go read Albee, Williams, and O'Neill--or better yet, see some good performance of their plays on stage and on film--then you'll have the eyes and ears to better judge the performances in this flick.