Jeri
Jacquin
Coming
to theatres and then to Prime Video from writer/director Aaron Sorkin and Amazon
Studios tells the story of BEING THE RICARDOS.
In
1952, Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) are
televisions power couple of television and are very married. Going into a critical
week, Lucy is dealing with stories of Desi’s infidelity, script problems and
being called a communist all while preparing for the Friday night performance
of I Love Lucy. Desi makes it clear to everyone that he is going to take
care of it all.
On
the set, the writers Madelyn Pugh (Alia Shawkat) and Bob Carroll Jr. (Jake
Lacy) are arguing changes with Jess Oppenheimer (Tony Hale) tries to keep the
peace at a table read. Not helping is the William Frawley (J.K. Simmons) who
plays Fred and Vivian Vance (Nina Arianda) who plays Ethel being just as
sarcastic with each other off stage as well as on.
Tensions
rise when Lucy tries to make changes and hits a wall with Oppenheimer.
Believing she is right; it is Frawley who tries to guide her into getting the
changes she wants. Desi is still jumping through hoops proving that he has more
control of the show than the network would like.
As
the "Ricardos" and the staff try and handle each disaster, they also tell the
story of a young Lucille Ball who sees the young Cuban singer Desi Arnaz and
how their affair began. As both of them try to find their way into Hollywood,
their life really takes off when I Love Lucy hits television.
All
of this leads to Lucy trying to keep her family together, Desi dealing with the
CBS network and Phillip Morris agency. The television family comes together to
fight it all, but some things can not be re-written into the script.
Kidman
as Lucille Ball is changed a bit with the help of prosthetics and makeup and
gives us the best Ball we could have imagined. The actress invites us into Ball’s
world behind the camera of a tough woman who knew what needed to be done but
had to fight for every inch to move forward. Knowing that there were murmurs of
Kidman playing the iconic Lucille Ball, those who spoke out (and you know who
you are) can now just pipe down. Kidman gave it everything and everything pays
off.
Bardem
as Desi Arnaz gave us the Cuban bandleaders life prior to Hollywood and
although they do not go into detail, what is shared is sad but at the same time
gave Arnaz motivation to succeed. Bardem wraps himself in the role with singing
and drum playing and makes it look effortless. He gives Desi’s view of the relationship
with Lucille Ball as quick, passionate, loaded with transgressions, successful
and protective – but sometimes it is not enough. Well done Bardem!
Simmons
as Frawley is so cool, I cannot even stand it. He gives Frawley the quick wit,
grumpy sarcasm yet keenly aware of what is going on and supports in surprising
ways. I have always been a firm believer that the person who seems less
interested in the room is taking in everything in the room. Simmons does
all of this while wearing old man chest high well-creased pants. I so enjoyed
his performance.
Arianda
as Vance is like Lucille Ball, does not take any garbage and does not hold back
her emotions. There comes a moment in the script where her looks are called
into question and Arianda rolls up her sleeves and gives Vance a voice. I
appreciated that so much knowing that even back in the 50’s, women like Vance
who were struggling with who she wanted to be against who the public saw her
as.
Shawkat
as Pugh is a woman script writer in a man’s world with the same sharp wit at
the women around her, sometimes too sharp. Lacy as Bob is Pugh’s verbal sparring
partner and script writer who stands back at times and lets the chips fall
where they may. Hale as Oppenheimer is someone who not only created a show but
stays with it through everything, even when those he protects the most
sometimes tests his patience.
Other
cast includes John Ruben as elder Oppenheimer, Linda Lavin as elder Madelyn
Pugh, Ronny Cox as elder Bob Carroll, Dana Lyn Baron as Miss Rosen, Daniel
Sachoff as David Levy, Nelson Franklin as Joe Strickland, Jeff Holman as Roger
Otter, Baise Buzan as Mary Pat, Christopher Denham as Donald Glass, Max
Silvestri as David Hart, and Clark Gregg as Howards Wenke.
Amazon
Prime offers television shows and original content included in its Amazon Prime
subscription. Original programs such as CARNIVAL ROW, THE MAN IN THE HIGH
CASTLE, and THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL are hit shows. Coming soon is the next
series with GOLIATH starring Billy Bob Thornton and it promises to another
successful and intense series.
BEING
THE RICARDOS is funny, sad, interesting, intriguing, surprising and gave me
several ‘wow’ moments. This is the 1950’s and the world may have seemed like a
different time but interestingly enough, not so different at the same time in
the ways of values and barriers. That was the very first thing I noticed but
then, the story took me over (not to negate the above).
Kidman
and Bardem are absolutely fantastic together and Lucy and Desi. I was not
looking to see if Kidman could be Lucille Ball because all I saw was Lucille
Ball and the same applies to Bardem. I watched these two characters weave in
and out of a week of mayhem and chaos. Of course, although the events may be
real, the only thing that did not happen was it all happened in a week. That’s
Sorkin doing what Sorkin’s writing does.
From
pregnancy to infidelity to communism to friendship, BEING THE RICARDOS tackles
each of these because they had an impact on the Arnaz family and marriage. The
reverberations were felt throughout their friendships, the studio and the
production of a series that changed American television.
The
cinematography and costumes put a seal on the entire project giving is a look
of authenticity and kept me totally involved. From Lucy’s big eyes and red
lipstick to Desi’s perfect hair and stunning suits, the film is so darn
inviting and I fell hook, line and red headed sinker.
In
the end – television would never be the same!
