Being the Ricardos

 

Being the Ricardos
Starring Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda
Directed by Aaron Sorkin

In the annals of television history, there's numerous actors and actresses who have left their indelible print in the medium, and one of them is Betty White, who tragically just passed away just weeks before her one hundredth birthday. Her impact on the medium is unparalleled, and no one will ever accomplish how much she managed to achieve in her long life on earth, culminating in a life truly well lived. Another actress of the bygone era is Lucille Ball, who's show "I Love Lucy" was watched by up to 60 million people a week, a feat unheard of even today. She, along with Betty White and others, paved the way for comediennes to step into their own, by not allowing men to step over them and stand up for their beliefs and values. "Being the Ricardos" focuses on just one week in the life of Lucille Ball, but it was a week that threatened her career, her marriage, and even her life.

As the cast and crew prepare to shoot the "I Love Lucy" episode titled "Fred and Ethel Fight," Lucille (Nicole Kidman) is facing several personal crises. She thinks her husband, fellow actor and president of the company Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) is cheating on her, and news has reached the press that she was a registered member of the Communist Party, and during the time of McCarthy this could spell the end of her successful career as well as possible imprisonment and maybe worse. While she clashes with the director of the episode, she envisions the script differently than it's written, angering and annoying the people around her, including fellow actors William Frawley (J.K. Simmons) and Vivian Vance (Nina Arianda). Yet despite these hardships, Lucille pressed on and maintained a stiff upper lip as she faces these multiple issues, showing herself to be a true class act and consummate professional.

Aaron Sorkin is best known for writing fast-paced stories with wit and finesse that makes him perfect for procedural, political, and courtroom shows and movies like "The West Wing," "The Newsroom," "A Few Good Men," "The Social Network," and "The Trial of the Chicago 7." While he's relatively new to the director's chair, he proved himself to be more than capable there as well, directing "Molly's Game," "The Trial of the Chicago 7," and now "Being the Ricardos," a film that contains his trademark style, but offers a few nonsensical plot points that deviates from the main story being told.

Focusing on one week in the life of a famous celebrity isn't an easy feat to accomplish, especially when you want the audience to keep their attention. In hindsight, it's a fraction of the celebrity's life, but here it's the turning point for Lucille Ball in ways that other events pale in comparison to. Not only is news being released that she's a Communist, but she keeps finding little pieces of evidence that shows her husband might be fooling around on her - and it's not easy due to the fact that he works with her on the show, and possesses a strong presence over the entire project. She sometimes interjects her fears with the cast and crew, culminating in an episode unlike any other - one that needs to be re-watched in order to appreciate all the tension taking place behind the camera.

That episode - "Fred and Ethel Fight" - served as more than just another episode in the long-running series, but could've spelled doom for Lucille's career. Before the live showing, the week is spent with tumultuous fighting at home and on set, as Lucille combats the director and writers and interjects her own thoughts into the script, while visualizing what would happen. These snippets show a deeper sense to Lucille, and proves that she's more than just a yes-woman, but someone who knew comedy and knew how to use it to her advantage. She didn't allow anyone to tell her what to do, and was strong-willed and determined in a time where women weren't generally allowed to be.

Growing up I remember watching old "I Love Lucy" episodes and had no idea of the impact she had on television and comedy as a whole, but as the years have gone by I've learned more about her and her own sense of worth and intelligence. While she played a bumbling fool-type, she was anything but, and Nicole Kidman was the perfect choice to portray her for the film. Instead of coming off as a cheap imitation, she instead imbued Ball with her own interpretation, providing something more than just a carbon copy. While some actresses have disappeared into their roles (like Kristen Stewart did in "Spencer"), Kidman remains on the screen and plays Lucille Ball as she'd expect her to. On the other end, Javier Bardem was an odd choice to play Desi Arnaz, as he looks absolutely nothing like the real Desi, but he managed to capture his essence and being that transcends mere physical appearances. Throw in J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda as their co-actors for the show, and you've got four tremendous performances that elevate themselves above what's expected from them.

When it comes to directing, Sorkin still has some work to do, as "Being the Ricardos" was almost perfectly done, except for some head-scratching moments where the film moves from the story being told to "interviews" with older versions of producers, directors, and writers surrounding Ball, making it feel more like a documentary than a straight-on biopic, which separated the viewer from the experience on more than one occasion. Despite this, everything else about the film flows with a seamless ease, even incorporating flashbacks that make sense in the grand scheme of things, providing a unique, personal look into the lives of two of the most influential actors of their generation (albeit many of the moments didn't happen, but I never go into a biopic thinking it's going to be 100% accurate).

Showing what happens behind the camera for one week, "Being the Ricardos" shed light on Lucille Ball's story and provided deeper insight into who the woman really was, thanks to a compelling and powerful performance by Nicole Kidman.

The Score: A+