Being the Ricardos is writer/director Aaron Sorkin’s engrossing dramatization of the
relationship of Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz, TV icons of the classic
show, I Love Lucy. It’s a must
for Lucy fans.
Shuffling
between the 1940s and 1950s, we see how Lucy (Nicole Kidman) and Desi (Javier
Bardem who gets to sing) meet in Hollywood and achieve stardom. During their hit
TV show as they prepare for a table reading, three key events intersect: Lucy is branded a Communist in the newspapers,
Desi wants to include her newly announced pregnancy in the show, and rumors of
Desi’s womanizing begin to make the news. As the temperamental stars, harried writers,
and nervous sponsors navigate the treacherous landscape littered with bruised egos,
constant rewrites, and the unexpected, the show approaches its live taping in
front of a studio audience with the stars’ careers and marriage at a crossroads.
The excellent screenplay is smart and amusing with occasional, rapid fire dialogue as it offers a fascinating glimpse at the creative process (much will resonate with Lucy fans as moments from the show are recreated) while revealing dark, sobering truths about their marriage. Lucy is portrayed as a savvy comedienne constantly perfecting her material for audiences while Desi was the innovating, behind-the-scenes producer.
The
cast including J. K. Simmons and Nina Arianda as Bill Frawley and Vivian Vance,
is quite effective, but Kidman’s
transformation into Lucy is remarkable with stunning makeup and her vocal and
physical mimicry; it’s a great performance.
Perhaps
the events did not happen quite as they are presented, but Sorkin makes a
compelling case that it could have. This
loving homage to their legacy is a candid,
bittersweet valentine for I Love Lucy
devotees.
***1/2
of **** stars (add ½* for Kidman)
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