Being the Ricardos

I thought it was very good

Aaron Sorkin (Greatest of All Time) wrote and directed a Masterpiece of a film! This is Nicole Kidman's (Greatest of All Time) BEST FILM! She deserved an Oscar playing Lucille Ball! Javier Bardem (Greatest of All Time) was BRILLIANT playing Desi Arnaz and also deserved to win an Oscar! Fabulous supporting performances from the always delightful J. K. Simmons (Greatest of All Time). This movie reminds me of the movie Birdman directed by the great Alejandro González Iñárritu.

I had such high hopes for this movie, and it was one of my most anticipated of the year. And while there were certainly flashes of inspiration here and there, and a couple of truly wonderful scenes, my overall takeaway was one of extreme disappointment. Kidman and Bardem, two of the greatest actors on the planet, have been garnering quite favorable reviews in general, and I wouldn't be surprised to see both of their names mentioned on Oscar nominations morning. But, despite some occasional inspired moments, I can't honestly say I felt the spirits of Lucy and Desi in their performances. I hate to say it, but I was rather bored by the whole enterprise, and I don't feel like I learned anything new or surprising by any of the events that were portrayed. I didn't respond well to the whole framing device in which we jump back and forth between the present day AND the events of 1952 AND the background of their courtship and subsequent marriage. I frankly would have preferred a more linear narrative, as the early scenes prior to I LOVE LUCY really add nothing to the production as a whole. I commend the attempt to portray such beloved and iconic personalities of 20th century entertainment, but the result is a letdown. Then again, the film was produced by their children, so if they're happy with the movie, who am I to judge?!?!

Honestly, it's a a slog to get through. I can't help but feel that these two deserve a more inventive and fun biopic.

I am such a big fan of Sorkin, but I just did not connect with "Being the Ricardos". Everything just felt so artificial. JK Simmons was the only actor who drew me in, and he had a pretty small role. It seems like it all should have made for a terrific movie plot, but it just didn't gel.

Very well acted and staged. Beautifully shot with great attention to the accuracy of the era. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem were very effective in their lead roles. Kudos also to Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance and J.K. Simmons as Bill Frawley. Two things bothered me, though: First of all, Kidman played Lucy as a cold, controling, often angry person in almost every scene. I know that family and friends said that Lucy could be icy and stern, but that she also loved to laugh and have fun, so there should have been more balance. Also, sometimes timelines were unclear, as events of various years flew around in a sometimes confusing way. Otherwise, probably the most serious biopic of the Ricardos.

Didn't recognize Nicole Kidman! I did fall asleep to it though.

I grew up on I Love Lucy reruns... watching this couple who loved each other and their neighbors the Mertzs through all their ups, downs, disagreements, successes and failures as they lived their day to day life that always ended "happy." We did "Love Lucy" with all her quirks, idiosyncrasies and hilariously animated antics....all the way to the "happy end." This movie is not about any of that. This is about real life and not so happy endings. An incredibly transformed Nicole Kidman does an excellent job playing the extremely professional perfectionist career woman Lucy. Javier Bardem is absolute perfection playing the gorgeous latin musician, actor, innovator and shrewd businessman who made "Desilu" the financial success it was; if not for Desi there would not have been film of the Lucy episodes! No reruns! The movie delves into Lucy's pre-television film career, the communist scandals that threatened the future of the show, the fight won to have Lucy's pregnancy and birth of her second child incorporated into the show as well as the problems that plagued Lucy and Desi's marriage. Their children are the producers. The movie is a "dialogue" movie that will not appeal to those that look for the non-stop noisy action of todays ridiculous fantasy films. This movie is for those who enjoy learning about real people, their lives and history. This movie is for those who really "Love Lucy"..... and Ricky too!

Bad so bad. Couldn't even finish it.

"Being the Ricardos" is Aaron Sorkin's film about a week in the life of Lucille Ball and her husband, Desi Arnez, and production of their hit TV show "I Love Lucy", when their life is rocked by two news stories. The performances are strong; Nicole Kidman paints a portrait of a serious comic performer and Javier Bardem gives us a husband, co-star and producer who is very much at the core of the show's success. It is well-written and fans of the TV show will enjoy its references to iconic episodes and comic scenes.