Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) are two of the biggest stars on television as they star in the popular show I Love Lucy. Their lives are grand, but on September 4, 1953, their lives begin to change. With word circulating the soundwaves of Hollywood and politics about who and what Lucille is, Ball and Arnaz’s lives are thrown into a tizzy. As they butt heads and have to deal with the aftershock of everything that follows, they will both learn that Being the Ricardos isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.
Often regarded as one of the best films of 2021, I began Being the Ricardos with high hopes. I don’t often like to toot my own horn, but I know that, regardless of whatever preconceived notions I may carry with me into a film, my reviews are honest–not skewed by what others might think. So, with that being said–take the following as my honest opinion, not something manipulated or encouraged by the words of others.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz are pop culture icons, and the entire world knows what they look like–and I’m not convinced of the aesthetics of Kidman and Bardem. Something looks off, and I honestly believe that one of the issues is that both Kidman and Bardem look a little too rough around the edges–whereas I can always remember the real life Ball and Arnaz possessing a physical innocence on screen (even if that wasn’t the case in real life). Their acting is great, and with my eyes closed I can picture the two stars–but I’m not sure that these two, as talented as they are, were the right choices for Being the Ricardos. Regardless, however, of the fact that the two leads don’t look the part–I appreciate the vigor they bring with them as they approach the roles of these larger-than-life individuals. They are passionate about their art, they care about the characters, and the project appears to be one that they genuinely care about. That passion allows viewers to suspend their disbelief to a degree–but the gap in the aesthetic of the characters threatens to unhinge the film, and to a degree, I believe that it does.
I’m torn between my feelings on how Being the Ricardos is told. With occasional breaks in the narrative, viewers are exposed to a fake documentary, led by faux real-life testimonies of Madelyn Pugh (Alia Shawkat/Linda Lavin), Bob Carroll (Jake Lacy/Ronny Cox), and Jess Oppenheimer (Tony Hale/John Rubinstein)–writers and executives from I Love Lucy. On one hand it's nice to hear what the three aforementioned individuals would have said, as it adds to the suspense and the drama present in the film. On the other hand it feels like the shift between narrative and pseudo-documentary causes Being the Ricardos to be cumbersome, even fractured. When things just start moving at a relevant pace, the narrative turns to what feels like a commercial break, and the speed that the film had begun to develop slows to a snail's pace.
The sets are splendid. They truly bring the magic of I Love Lucy back to life, and fans of the 50’s sitcom, I’m sure, are instantly filled with nostalgia, pulled back into the comedy that existed seventy years ago. The set design is truly magnificent, and, honestly, this is the most appealing aspect of Being the Ricardos.
I’m not sure that Being the Ricardos ever really gets itself going, and I often found myself struggling to focus on what was occurring. The acting is great, and I would swear it were Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz on screen if I closed my eyes and simply listened to their voices. However, that issue regarding their aesthetic takes so much away from the performance. Between the narrative struggling to ever get going and the visual issues dangling over Kidman and Bardem’s performances, I failed to see the allure of the biopic.
Written & Directed by Aaron Sorkin.
Starring Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda, Tony Hale, Alia Shawkaat, Jake Lacy, Linda Lavin, Ronny Cox, John Rubinstein, Clark Gregg, Nelson Franklin, Jeff Holman, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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