Being the Ricardos
★ ★★★
I can freely admit that I'm an Aaron Sorkin apologist. Even when things don't work perfectly in his shows or films, I'm in awe of his craft. There is no denying that there are scenes in Being the Ricardos that work better than others, but I love the rhythm and flow that Sorkin gives to the characters of this film. Most of the time it is his script that gets all the accolades, but things have turned a bit in his craft because this is a film that becomes a showcase for the actors. At this point, Sorkin has worked with various talents and his experience shows because he trusts these actors to carry his film and not necessarily, just his words, which provides for a very entertaining story.
I'm always so torn about how I feel about Nicole Kidman. It's no doubt that she has a screen presence and she absolutely can carry a film, but although her performance of Lucille Ball is admirable, her voice goes in and out of the shrill voice that Ball was known for. Javier Bardem is the standout as Desi Arnaz, but I was more taken by the strong supportive performances, especially by the always great J.K. Simmons, Nina Arianda and one of my favorites, Tony Hale, who shows great comedic and dramatic range in a pivotal role.
Sorkin is guilty of trying to do too much in this film. There seem to be ten different plot developments going on at once, but this isn't a criticism that hasn't been made of him before. He still seems to juggle it all and creates a film that will thoroughly entertain most audiences. It's both a behind-the-scenes look of television and stardom in the 50s and plays with themes of political and tabloid scandals that are still relevant today. Though there are dramatic beats that are over-the-top and downright cheesy, especially at the end, it didn't hinder my enjoyment of living in this world of old Hollywood.
