Being the Ricardos (2021)

My Review

“Being the Ricardos” takes a look at the relationship between “I Love Lucy” stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. This finely crafted drama by director-screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (“Molly’s Game” 2017) is set in one week of their lives in 1953 at the height of the show’s popularity. The film flows smoothly for the 131 minute running time.

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem deliver performances that remind us of the couple, but do not appear as straight impersonations. Kidman is especially subtle in her role of one of the most popular women in show business history. She does the two Lucy’s quite well: The Lucy on television and the Lucille Ball behind the scenes, who works hard to deliver a good product for the television viewers. Another performer worth mentioning is J. K. Simmons as William Frawley. All three were nominated for Academy Awards.

Co-stars include Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance, Tony Hale as Jess Oppenheimer, Alia Shawkat as Madelyn Pugh, Linda Lavin as the older Madelyn Pugh, Jake Lacy as Bob Carroll Jr., Ronny Cox as the older Bob Carroll Jr., as well as Clark Gregg, Nelson Franklin, Jeff Holman, Jonah Platt, Christopher Denham, Brain Howe, and Ron Perkins.

“Being the Ricardos” had success in limited theatrical release and on live streaming for Amazon Studios, Escape Artists, and Big Indie Pictures.