Being the Ricardos - A Movie Review

You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world.

Being the Ricardos is a 2021 biographical film that follows the life of the actress, Lucille Ball in her famous show, ‘I Love Lucy.’ There is a crisis at hand that could very well end the successful run of the show.

While I have heard of the actress Lucille Ball, and her show, ‘I Love Lucy’, Being the Ricardos taught me an assortment of facts on the life of this bold woman. Living in a time where women didn’t have much of a say, especially in Hollywood, the film emphasizes that you should never lose a challenge without a fight.

Nicole Kidman disappears into her performance as the bold and feisty Lucille Ball. She studied her mannerisms and personality closely. For me, watching this film was a learning experience. Without this film, I would never have known who Lucille Ball was as a person off the screen.

She always looked out for herself. That’s my favorite quality. Ball did not want to be made out as a fool on TV. Standing up for herself in a male dominating world, I am proud of the fight that Ball endured. An incredible influence of her time, Ball illustrates how women have more power than they think.

Being the Ricardos is cast well. Javier Bardem was excellent as Desi Arnez. Bardem and Kidman did a great job in their interactions. Though, I would agree with some viewers that writers could have done a better job instituting this relationship.

You can never go wrong with J.K. Simmons. He always adds his comedic charm to anything. He and Nina Arianda made me laugh in their scenes. More credits include Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Jake Lacy, Linda Lavin, Ronny Cox, John Rubinstein, Clark Gregg, and more,

The pacing was dictated well. Since I’m not the best person to know if the film is authentic to the source material, I enjoyed it for what it was. After watching, I was so curious that I researched more about the life of Lucille Ball. That should be the main intent of any biographical film.

Aaron Sorkin addressed the life of a famous actress with a genuine tone. I like what Sorkin did to depict the world of TV. According to Lucy Arnez, the daughter of the late Lucille Ball, she was amazed by how well the time period was captured.

Speaking of the period, production did a fantastic job with the sets, wardrobe, and the style in which the film is presented. The makeup could have had better attributes, but all the details look rich.

Being the Ricardos is the best example of the limelight of Hollywood. It was intriguing to witness a show being rehearsed before its taping. A lot goes into it. As we all know, Hollywood is a tough place to work in. Over time, a lot has changed, including the strict standards that have let up for people, mainly women, to work in the business.

Women's roles play a monumental theme in Being the Ricardos. Lucille Ball fought hard for her rights. Women were not allowed to be shown pregnant on TV in the 50s. The film is a bold example of how feminine roles have expanded to let women be who they want to be.

Being the Ricardos is an enjoyable film that’s aimed to teach audiences new facts. I recommend Being the Ricardos to anyone who’s a fan or is looking to learn more about the life of Lucille Ball. I learned a lot while watching.