Follows Lucy and Desi as they face a crisis that could end their careers--and another that could end their marriage.Follows Lucy and Desi as they face a crisis that could end their careers--and another that could end their marriage.Follows Lucy and Desi as they face a crisis that could end their careers--and another that could end their marriage.
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 13 wins & 60 nominations total
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaPrior to filming, Lucie Arnaz (daughter of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) had told writer/director Aaron Sorkin that it was okay to make Lucille stubborn and headstrong in the movie, as this was how she was in real life. After seeing the movie, Arnaz released a video on her YouTube Channel on 17 October 2021, in which she called the movie "freaking amazing." She complimented Sorkin for making a great movie that really captured the time period and had wonderful casting. She also said that Nicole Kidman "became my mother's soul." She also said that Javier Bardem didn't look like her dad but, "he has everything that dad had. He has his wit, his charms, his dimples, his musicality."
- GoofsThe movie portrays Lucy's contract at RKO being dropped after her performance in The Big Street (1942) and has RKO's head of production state that at 39 years old she should try radio. In reality Lucy was only 31 when "The Big Street" was released in 1942. Her contract was not dropped by RKO, but rather bought out by MGM, who was impressed by her performance. While working for MGM, Lucy became a redhead. She remained under contract to them until 1946. Additionally, Lucy did not seek out radio until 1948 while concurrently working in movies as a freelance actress.
- Quotes
Lucille Ball: I am the biggest asset in the portfolio of the Columbia Broadcasting System. The biggest asset in the portfolio of Philip Morris Tobacco, Westinghouse. I get paid a fortune to do exactly what I love doing. I work side by side with my husband, who's genuinely impressed by me. And all I have to do to keep it is kill every week for thirty-six weeks in a row. And then do it again the next year.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Javier Bardem/Gang of Youths (2021)
- SoundtracksShe Could Shake the Maracas
Written by Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers
Produced by Michael Andrew
Performed by Javier Bardem with The Michael Andrew Orchestra
Couple of comments: this is the latest from writer-director Aaron Sorkin ("Molly's Game", "The Trial of The Chicago 7"). Here he goes behind the curtain to give us a glimpse of what life for Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz was like both within the TV hit show, and outside. Not that the film isn't titled "Being Ball and Arnaz", but instead "Being the Ricardos" (the TV characters). Despite what looks to be an amazing production set and a massive amount of other talent attached to this film, I found the overall viewing experience strangely off-putting. I never did buy into Nicole Kidman's role as Lucille/Lucy, nor for that matter into Javier Bardem's role as Desi/Ricky. It all felt so... clinical, and very much 'staged' (in fact, the scenes involving the making of the weekly TV show felt as if it was a theater production). All of this is a bit surprising as Aaron Sorkin's track record not only as a director but even more so as a writer ("The Social Network", "Moneyball", "Steve Jobs", just to name those) is nothing short of stellar, but here the sum of the parts simply doesn't add up.
"Being the Ricardos" was given a limited 2 week theater run before shifting a few days ago to Amazon Prime, where I caught it. I couldn't help but be disappointed with this film. But you don't have to take my word for it, and I encourage you to check it out, be it on Amazon Prime, Amazon Instant Video, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion.
- paul-allaer
- Dec 24, 2021
- How long is Being the Ricardos?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Lucy and Desi
- Filming locations
- RMS Queen Mary - 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach, California, USA(Ricky's club interior)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime2 hours 11 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1