Hemingways Garden of Eden

Mannered, bloodless and appallingly thesped filmization of Hemingway's posthumous novel. Vet British helmer John Irvins mannered, bloodless and appallingly thesped filmization of Hemingways posthumous novel, though unlikely to set the author rolling in his grave, may still have viewers rolling in the aisles. This semi-autobiographical, Jazz Age account of a young writers sexual experiences at

Mannered, bloodless and appallingly thesped filmization of Hemingway's posthumous novel.

Vet British helmer John Irvin’s mannered, bloodless and appallingly thesped filmization of Hemingway‘s posthumous novel, though unlikely to set the author rolling in his grave, may still have viewers rolling in the aisles. This semi-autobiographical, Jazz Age account of a young writer’s sexual experiences at the hands of his rich, spoiled, emotionally unstable bride aims for a level of sophistication miles beyond tyro scripter James Scott Linville’s callow reach. Bowing Dec. 10 in Gotham and Los Angeles, “Garden of Eden” sends sleek, half-nude bodies glumly cavorting through lush Riviera landscapes in a paradigm of unintentional camp.

While Jack Huston’s Paris-based scribe merely registers as a bland, none-too-bright pretty boy, Mena Suvari’s stab at impersonating a gender-bending flapper fatale seems downright clueless, her bizarre line readings divorcing already clunky dialogue from any believability. The leads further suffer in comparison with the secondary players: Caterina Murino smolders as the bisexual beauty brought in to form a “perverse” menage a trois; Richard E. Grant infuses the expat community with a welcome whiff of depravity; and Carmen Maura singlehandedly evokes an entire coastline of sensible, stalwart natives. Even Matthew Modine’s great white hunter in a film-within-the-film escapes ridicule.

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Hemingway’s Garden of Eden

U.K.-Spain

  • Production: A Roadside Attractions release of a Tranquil Seas presentation of a Devonshire production in association with Berwick Street Prods., Freeform Spain. Produced by Lorne Thyssen, Tim Lewiston, Bob Mahoney. Co-producers, Mario Jurisic, Geoff Jarrett, Vincente Tamarit. Directed by John Irvin. Screenplay, James Scott Linville, from the novel by Ernest Hemingway.
  • Crew: Camera (color), Ashley Rowe; editor, Jeremy Gibbs; music, Roger Julia; production designer, Tim Hutchinson; costume designer, Alexandra Byrne. Reviewed at Magno Review 1, New York, Nov. 16, 2010. Running time: 97 MIN.
  • With: With: Mena Suvari, Jack Huston, Caterina Murino, Carmen Maura, Richard E. Grant, Matthew Modine. (English, French dialogue)

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