Being the Ricardos REVIEW: Great Performances, But It’s Too Safe
Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos generates media buzz right from the beginning. This is primarily due to the controversial casting choices of Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman as Lucille B and Desi Arnaz as Javier Bardem. They don’t look anything like their counterparts, and viewers were curious how this would translate onto screen, mainly since they make little effort to look like the characters they are playing.
The film is mixed, in my opinion, after watching it. While Kidman and Bardem are great actors and do a good job, something is missing in their performance as a couple.
We get a behind-the-scenes look at Lucille’s most stressful week. She’s accused of being communist and suspects that her husband is cheating. But there’s also their pregnancy news and its effect on their sitcom. This is a similar premise to the Steve Jobs movie, and it’s not surprising considering Sorkin was the film’s screenwriter.
We get to see the couple in action as they participate in many meetings, table reads and takes part in creative decisions. They are a strong team at work and a force to reckon with. However, things at home tell a different story.
Lucille is shown in the movie as having done the show to be with Desi more. Many Being the Ricardos focuses on flashbacks about how the couple lived apart during their marriage due to their careers. It would be great if they could spend more time together as the show’s leading couple, but that is not the truth. Their relationship is magical on-screen but fades to black in real-life.
The film employs an intriguing conceit, which involves Lucille’s frequent imagining of staging during a script read or when the premise of an episode is being brainstormed/discussed. Many people believe that physical comedy comes naturally. The film explores how each move is choreographed, staged and staged perfectly. How can props be effectively used? How can actors work together to make the most of props? It’s a huge hit TV show and the reason it’s so funny is that every detail has been carefully laid out.
Although Lucy may seem a bit slut, Lucille, as a character, is intelligent, mercurial, and ambitious. Kidman has the perfect role for her. She’s riveting as Lucille, and she does a fantastic job. Although she doesn’t have Lucy’s comedy flair, that’s okay. This is not meant to be a rerun of I Love Lucy. If you’d like that, go back and rewatch the show.
Given the role of Lucille Ball as a pioneer, it is no surprise that the film contains feminist themes. Lucille’s constant tug-of-war with the men in charge shows how difficult it was for women to be taken seriously within the male-dominated Hollywood world. Lucille’s obsession with perfection makes her pushy and demanding. The male consensus is that Lucille should keep her place as the show’s star and not lose her weight. It is also possible that Desi’s philandering may result from her constant undermining and emasculation of his authority.
