Ok, sorry for the 80’s flashback of Hey Mickey, but Ricky Ricardo was so fine according to the new Aaron Sorkin movie Being the Ricardos. I don’t know who he ticked off this year, but the film is getting little distribution and is far better than the Rotten Tomatoes 70%. I’d give it a 90 without question.
Here’s why:
1. Much like tick tick, Boom, Sorkin is wise to take just a week of Lucy’s life and expand on those critical moments that happened within. And what a week it was…
2. Sorkin tackles three thorny issues keeping the story flowing: a. Desi’s alleged dalliances with call girls and Lucy’s understandable chagrin. b. Lucy’s interview with the McCarthyesque communist fear mongers which sounds eerily familiar in the 2021 cancel culture of which we exist. and last c. Lucy’s pregnancy and how CBS would handle that given the Victorian rules of 50’s television.
3. The acting is superb: Nicole Kidman can do no wrong in my book and between Jessica Chastain’s Tammy Faye Baker and Nicole’s Lucy, I’d have to give it to Nicole by a nose. Javier Bardem who I am weird and don’t really care for, was surprisingly terrific. My favorite character of the film though is JK Simmons, dang, bravo for being able to carry off Fred, aka William Frawley. And Nina Arianda is also wonderful as Ethel. The other minor characters, writers and producers all held their own.
My only quibble is the beginning awkwardness, tick, tick, Boom had the same trouble in being able to settle into the film. I also found the modern ‘interviews’ with the writers in present time (Linda Lavin is one) felt off putting somehow. It’s ok to leave us in 1960.
But worth seeing and goes to the old adage ‘don’t believe the reviews’. And my title will make more sense once you see the film…no spoilers here:)
Hey Ricky You’re So Fine, You’re So Fine…
