Being the Ricardos

Amazon Studios | Release Date: December 10, 2021

6.1	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 116 Ratings

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crankyermaDec 20, 2021

Aaron Sorkin, a man who is best known for spending several years writing masturbatory Centrist fan fiction where all of the characters sounded the same, wrote and directed "Being the Ricardos," a film that seems to take the position that oneAaron Sorkin, a man who is best known for spending several years writing masturbatory Centrist fan fiction where all of the characters sounded the same, wrote and directed "Being the Ricardos," a film that seems to take the position that one of the greatest and best loved television comedies of all time was essentially hacky. It's ironic that in the script, Sorkin has Lucy criticize her showrunner for keeping a gag that she feels essentially says the audience is stupid, which is an unforgivable transgression. What are we to think Sorkin is saying to all of the fans of the original show watching his film by portraying that classic as absurdly hackneyed, stale and yes, even stupid?… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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bertobellamyDec 22, 2021

Just your regular dialogue-heavy Aaron Sorkin film. Still, I thought it would be worse. Nevertheless, the plot is hard to follow; the two timelines presented here make for a convoluted story, and sometimes it's hard to know when or where youJust your regular dialogue-heavy Aaron Sorkin film. Still, I thought it would be worse. Nevertheless, the plot is hard to follow; the two timelines presented here make for a convoluted story, and sometimes it's hard to know when or where you are.

I didn't know about Lucille Ball or Desi Arnaz — the protagonists of the 'I Love Lucy' show —, but 'Being the Ricardos' gives you a clear idea of who these people were inside and outside the tv set. Nicole Kidman gives a fine performance, although I found the makeup very distracting. Javier Bardem is also great as Arnaz. Their chemistry just goes up the roof.

Unfortunately, I didn't find the story that interesting. Aaron Sorkin is a great writer, but not that good as a director.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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MattyIce34Dec 10, 2021

Not Sorkin’s best script, it’s very jumpy. I also don’t love him as a director, he should give that a break after starting just 1-for-3. Well acted, though.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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fatrabbitDec 24, 2021

Very good performances working with a very bad script. Sorkin's idea of singular genius that he projects onto the Lucille Ball character, combined with his view of how television is made, seems to point to what an amazing genius Sorkin is.Very good performances working with a very bad script. Sorkin's idea of singular genius that he projects onto the Lucille Ball character, combined with his view of how television is made, seems to point to what an amazing genius Sorkin is. But the ideas of the movie are trite and worn and the direction is self-congratulatory.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Brent_MarchantDec 12, 2021

Who would have thought that it would be possible to make the cast of "I Love Lucy" boring, but writer-director Aaron Sorkin has found a way to do it here. This inside look at a week of production of the legendary sitcom, as well as the livesWho would have thought that it would be possible to make the cast of "I Love Lucy" boring, but writer-director Aaron Sorkin has found a way to do it here. This inside look at a week of production of the legendary sitcom, as well as the lives of its two principal stars, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, is woefully unfocused, both in terms of what it's trying to say and the chronology in telling it. Worse, however, is the fact that there's not a lot here that's especially interesting. But perhaps the biggest issue with this production is the casting of Nicole Kidman as the iconic Lucy, turning in a mugging, self-conscious performance where viewers are not seeing "Lucille Ball" but "Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball." That's unfortunate, given the commendable portrayal of Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz, effectively showcasing the actor-producer's often-underappreciated efforts as the brains behind this operation, one that changed television history forever (even if one wouldn't necessarily get that from watching this film). It's often said in Hollywood that it's unwise to attempt to remake the classics -- or, in this case, to even attempt to re-create them.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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JLuis_001Dec 21, 2021

Sorkins is a better writer than director and although so far his films have felt right enough, he has yet to do anything memorable in that regard.

Being the Ricardos is another attempt that manages to stay afloat because its script is goodSorkins is a better writer than director and although so far his films have felt right enough, he has yet to do anything memorable in that regard.

Being the Ricardos is another attempt that manages to stay afloat because its script is good and its two lead actors deliver solid performances.

Even in the moments when it tries to be more complex than it can really handle, it doesn't collapse, let's just say it lacks more bite.

It deserves attention, of course, just don't expect anything special.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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alejandro970Jan 8, 2022

Like a historical look at some television icons from the 1950s, a lot remains to be said. The actors did their best but the plot at times becomes soporific, and by the second half I was already anxious for it to end soon. Better luck next time.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Iamcritical86Dec 22, 2021

There were a couple of obvious flaws that I'm sure only the biggest Lucille Ball fans would've spotted. Overall, this was a good take on the behind the scenes drama between Ball and Arnaz. Kidman's portrayal of Lucy was a little hit and missThere were a couple of obvious flaws that I'm sure only the biggest Lucille Ball fans would've spotted. Overall, this was a good take on the behind the scenes drama between Ball and Arnaz. Kidman's portrayal of Lucy was a little hit and miss here and there - she looks NOTHING like Lucy. The other characters were well cast in my opinion. I hate to say it, but I think this whole project was a bit of a cash grab for Lucie and Desi Arnaz Jr.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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Mauro_LanariDec 29, 2021

(Mauro Lanari)
Sorkin signs another film thematising the importance of his own role as a screenwriter and of his own political commitment against recent or past forms of McCarthyism. This time the ("diarrheally logorrhoeic") rally invests the(Mauro Lanari)
Sorkin signs another film thematising the importance of his own role as a screenwriter and of his own political commitment against recent or past forms of McCarthyism. This time the ("diarrheally logorrhoeic") rally invests the true story of a marriage in crisis: the accumulation of topics already addressed in abundance does not benefit any of them, also because the director insists with the defect of attributing more importance to words than to staging, to dialogues than to their audiovisual transposition.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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OstrichgamblerJun 1, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. No spark in this movie. Everything seemed dreary and reflects the sensibility of today's view of the world. Nicole Kidman's performance was good, but her facial prosthetics were distracting and made her look like a mannequin. Javier Bardem lacks the handsomeness of Desi Arnaz and didn't resonate at all. The actors playing Fred and Ethel were good. Overall, it lacked any humour or wackiness that embodies the beloved sitcom.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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