What's the deal with all the awful reviews?

I agree. I thought the movie was well done. It was a true story, so they couldn't take too much license to embellish the plot.

I don't know but I asked the same question. I really like this movie. It has some slow moments in the beginning but I thoroughly enjoyed this look at a genius at the end of his life. This film covered a not too popular conflict and I think it found a balance. I mean it can be all naked men and gunshots. There was a love story somewhat ham fisted in there but that's forgivable. From some reviews it sounds like some people where expecting a look in to his writing process but at the point in his career this covers that's an unrealistic expectation.
I saw this on a whim and was pleased. I almost wrote Tom Waits a letter. lol This is my new relationship goal. Ernie and Mary's relationship was volatile and unstable. It was a love choked by pride and disillusion but a love none the less. While I watched this movie, I couldn't help but admire how much poise and grace Mary had. Her husband tells her an extremely sensitive story about one of the most powerful men to ever wield authority. Her husband is smuggling weapons while a revolution is going on. SHE never wavers all of these things were happening in her world and she had little to no control but still managed to make the best of it.