Being the Ricardos

Name: Being the Ricardos
Genre: Biography, Drama, History
Released: December 10, 2021
Duration: 131 min
Rating: 60
Cast: Alia Shawkat, Clark Gregg, J.K. Simmons, Jake Lacy, Javier Bardem

2021

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 51 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 116 Ratings

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6.1	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 116 Ratings

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Being The Ricardos

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Movie Details & Credits

Amazon Studios | Release Date: December 10, 2021 | Not Rated

Starring: Alia Shawkat, Clark Gregg, J.K. Simmons, Jake Lacy, Javier Bardem, John Rubinstein, Linda Lavin, Nicole Kidman, Nina Arianda, Robert Pine, Ronny Cox, Tony Hale

Movie Facts:

Available on Prime Video December 21, 2021.

Summary: Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) are threatened by shocking personal accusations, a political smear and cultural taboos in Being the Ricardos. A revealing glimpse of the couple’s complex romantic and professional relationship, the film takes audiences into the writers’ room, onto the soundstage and behind closedLucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) are threatened by shocking personal accusations, a political smear and cultural taboos in Being the Ricardos. A revealing glimpse of the couple’s complex romantic and professional relationship, the film takes audiences into the writers’ room, onto the soundstage and behind closed doors with Ball and Arnaz during one critical production week of their groundbreaking sitcom I Love Lucy. … Expand

Director: Aaron Sorkin

Genre(s): Biography, Drama, History

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 131 min

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

Kim Hughes

Dec 14, 2021

Given the devotion Ball continues to inspire in fans, it was perhaps too great a challenge for anyone to live up to casting expectations. Still, Being the Ricardos hits all the right notes, making these larger-than-life people seem at once pointedly human and even more ground-breaking than ever. Read full review

Alan Ng

Dec 22, 2021

I should be complaining about how bloated Being The Ricardos is, but I can’t. There’s a lot going on, but I wouldn’t cut a single word or scene. Like Lucy herself, the film is funny, deadly serious, and heartwarming all in one package. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Tomris Laffly

Dec 10, 2021

It is with a zippy touch and a number of questionable directorial choices—Sorkin is still a much better writer than director—as well as an immersive, pressure-cooker structure that is never less than enthralling, that Sorkin implants his aforesaid signature style into Being the Ricardos. Read full review

Mike Scott

Dec 21, 2021

You want to introduce your kids or grandkids to the undeniable pleasures of I Love Lucy? Then I’ve got one word for you: re-runs. Because Being the Ricardos doesn’t do Lucy justice or suitably celebrate her career. Read full review

Jason Bailey

Dec 21, 2021

There are moments when the movie pops and the filmmaker seems in sync with his cast, his cast seems in sync with one another, and the intended sparks fly. But they’re fleeting. Read full review

Mae Abdulbaki

Dec 7, 2021

It’s unfortunate that Being the Ricardos never becomes as interesting as the people it’s centered on. The film offers enough interpersonal drama to keep audiences watching and intrigued, but while Sorkin’s script moves steadily towards the ending, the story wanes and never builds enough momentum to truly impress. Read full review

Robert Abele

Dec 7, 2021

A Wikipedia entry fed into what can only be called The Sorkinator, but missing the wit module, Being the Ricardos is cultural-television-marital history flattened into a babbling stream of airless, horribly shot scenes that never come close to the glorious timing of a single comic exchange on “I Love Lucy.” Read full review

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User Reviews

Dedy

Dec 21, 2021

Being The Ricardos was absolutely perfect ! Kidman was astounding, she so many different things in the film, nailed it! She completely embodied Lucille Ball and I believed her as such. Oscar worthy performances! SEE IT!

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

Lisaqw

Dec 12, 2021

Such a masterpiece,I think Nicole Kidman will get her second Oscar for sure

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

curdey

Dec 21, 2021

I enjoyed it - the acting was top-notch. Nicole gave I think the most technical performance of her career. For people who love technicality, she hits EVERY note. Nina Arianda is also 100% flawless, she should be getting noms and wins left and right, but because she's not as big a star + theI enjoyed it - the acting was top-notch. Nicole gave I think the most technical performance of her career. For people who love technicality, she hits EVERY note. Nina Arianda is also 100% flawless, she should be getting noms and wins left and right, but because she's not as big a star + the movie isn't getting raves, she isn't, which is such a damn shame.

Nicole absolutely NAILS NAILS NAILS the I Love Lucy show scenes. You could see she studied and studied and studied every part of those bits.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

DawdlingPoet

Dec 27, 2021

This is quite an insightful film, in terms of what happened, seeing the supposed reality of family life away from the TV show 'I Love Lucy' and how the main actress was treated at the time. I liked how she stood up for herself and I thought that Javier Bardem also did well playing herThis is quite an insightful film, in terms of what happened, seeing the supposed reality of family life away from the TV show 'I Love Lucy' and how the main actress was treated at the time. I liked how she stood up for herself and I thought that Javier Bardem also did well playing her husband, Desi. I can't say I know, or knew, too much about the show or actors themselves, as 'I Love Lucy' was never as successful in the UK as it was in the US but it was still an interesting film with some good dialogue and somewhat amusing scenes, as well as more serious societal themes being in play. Its perhaps a little bland/slow plot wise perhaps, hardly gripping stuff but its got good performances and is generally an ok watch regardless, so I'd say its still worth a watch, if it particularly interests you, otherwise perhaps not.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HerickDiener

Dec 21, 2021

"Being the Ricardos" é mais uma prova de que Aaron Sorkin é um ótimo roteirista, mas ainda tem muito para provar como diretor, e nós estamos esperando.

Ele sabe o que escrever para ter uma cena de impacto, especialmente nos finais de seus filmes. E não existem diálogos longos e rápidos"Being the Ricardos" é mais uma prova de que Aaron Sorkin é um ótimo roteirista, mas ainda tem muito para provar como diretor, e nós estamos esperando.

Ele sabe o que escrever para ter uma cena de impacto, especialmente nos finais de seus filmes. E não existem diálogos longos e rápidos melhores do que os seus. Mas você sempre se pergunta: "o que difere sua direção das demais"?

Por outro lado, Nicole Kidman é Nicole Kidman. Você nunca espera menos do que uma ótima performance de sua parte. E temos mais uma aqui.

Entendo a presença da camada política no filme servindo como contraponto para a história, já que focar apenas nas desconfianças da personagem ficaria maçante, porém, poderia ser melhor explorada.

Ahh, e foi difícil engolir esse bronzeado barato do Javier Bardem, viu?… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

JLuis_001

Dec 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 good and its two lead actors deliver solidSorkins 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

Conzilla

Dec 21, 2021

Complete and utter trash. This is what happens when you allow kids of subjects to control the narrative. I particularly "love" how they made Desi look like a sober saint when he was famously drunk by 11am daily. To say nothing of the horrible casting; Kidman's facial prosthetics are so badComplete and utter trash. This is what happens when you allow kids of subjects to control the narrative. I particularly "love" how they made Desi look like a sober saint when he was famously drunk by 11am daily. To say nothing of the horrible casting; Kidman's facial prosthetics are so bad they're distracting, and she's just not convincing as Lucy. I don't understand the positive reviews; the story itself is boring, hard to follow and convoluted. I was so triggered by how bad this movie was, I created an account here just to review it.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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