Wrestling Ernest Hemingway (1993)
Frank, a retired Irish seaman, and Walter, a retired Cuban barber, are two lonely old men trapped in the emptiness of their own lives. When they meet in a park Frank is able to start a conversation after several attempts. They begin to spend time together and become friends. But because of their different characters they often quarrel with each other and finally seperate after Frank misbehaves to Walter's friend Elaine.
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Excellent, a Must See
There is just so much movie here. For some it may be too much. But in the same secretly sarcastic way most telemarketers say the phrase, the title of this one is particularly apt.
The movie's only flaw is also a virtue: It's jammed with characters, stories, warmth and laughs.
This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
Two retirees in Florida find friendship in their twilight years. Frank (Richard Harris) is a brash retired seaman. He annoys his bitter landlady Helen Cooney (Shirley MacLaine). He claims to have wrestled Ernest Hemingway back in the day. He flirts with Georgia (Piper Laurie) while watching old movies. He feels abandoned by his son. Walter (Robert Duvall) is a particular retired Cuban barber. He often eats at a diner to talk to waitress Elaine (Sandra Bullock). The two lonely men meet at a local park.These are legends at work. Richard Harris especially really chews up his scenes. By having two leading ladies, Frank's romantic story gets muddled. While they created interesting characters, there isn't much of a plot. Walter's relationship with Elaine is mostly cute but also a little awkward. I'm also interested in a scene between Frank and his son which never materializes. This is a rambling buddy movie with some legendary actors.
Simply the best movie I have seen! Richard, Robert, Sandra and Shirley ALL give the best performances of anything I have seen... LONG live Sir Richard Harris we all miss and love you! People think Star Wars VVI is The best movie.. Lucus did OK on version 1 the others are not so good... Richard Harris in my opinion give me the most joy as an actor can give ... Man called Horse.... Camelot .. English Bob . Robert Duval . Shirley Not to mention Sandra what a joy to see them give selfless performances to the question all us baby boomer's will face no respect loneliness and lack of a fond family.. Go ahead Francis.. Take down Ernest Hemingway who by the way ended his life early out of what I might say was a kind of sorrow .
A few days before I saw this movie, I had watched "A Family Thing" with Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones.To see Duvall transform himself into this unassuming, soft-spoken, proud Spanish man was simply amazing. I've lived in and out of Florida all my life and he was, quite frankly, authentic. He became the quiet, Cuban man that dined next to me so often - a dignified man with impeccable manners. Sandra Bullock is not a major character, but her part should not go unnoticed. This is equally true of Shirley MacLaine and Piper Laurie - legends that lend their gifts to this beautiful film.Richard Harris and Robert Duvall are brilliant in this sweet movie. Wrestling Ernest Hemingway is a quiet joy.
In life, one of the simple pleasures for me is getting a haircut, closing your eyes and feeling someone's massaging fingers on your scalp, snipping your wet hair, in the caring hands of an old pro. I came to this fifteen minutes in -- I hope I didn't miss anything crucial -- but in a way, the movies we watch having missed a portion are always more interesting. This is a just a small, easy slice-of-life drama -- a perfect example of a "good little movie," the kind to watch on a Sunday afternoon with someone you love. An actor who never stops taking chances and a master of understatement, Robert Duvall slides into his role of a humble, honorable, respecting Cuban so perfectly here and he's complemented by excellent work from Richard Harris, as the well-meaning but coarse drunken loudmouth ex-sailor in the park he befriends out of a need to simply not be alone anymore. Because of their mastery, we grow so attached to these fully-formed characters that it honestly hurts to leave. The film is exceptionally well-paced, and written with fresh dialogue and immensely touching observances. There's a scene where Duvall learns his favorite waitress is moving away (Sandra Bullock, with appropriate charm), and the expression on his face and hesitance in his speech rips your heart clean out. Then there's the buried disappoint on his face when he sees her reaction to the farewell gift of vodka suggested by Harris. Where Duvall has his junior league baseball games and poignant dancing in his apartment (alone), Harris gets positively hostile towards a woman (Piper Laurie) in a movie theater (where he works, thanks to a spiffy haircut by Duvall) and Shirley MacLaine, also in his housing complex. The plot is thin but in the meandering vignettes there are superb moments, like Harris accosting Duvall in the street about his fantasy of dancing (whether it comes true, you'll have to watch), or later, Duvall insisting that Harris be a well-dressed gentleman at all times. The sentimental score and old time Cuban music enhance the movie; it's quiet and wonderful -- the years may fly by, but the summer days are nice and slow. 9/10