Keswick Film Club - Reviews - Being The Ricardos

Back in the 1960s, when repeats of I Love Lucy used to come on the TV, it was time to leave the
room. It was brash, loud and well, not really funny.

Millions of Americans thought differently and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, who played the Ricardos in
the series, for 36 weeks in every year.

Being the Ricardos followed the filming of a single episode, from the first read through on Monday
to the recording on Friday. It was a turbulent week, with Lucille Ball being branded a communist on
the radio and the gossip sheets accusing Desi Arnaz of being an adulterer.

Written and Directed by Aaron Sorkin (writer of The West Wing), Being the Ricardos took us behind
the scenes, to the conflicts between the cast, rivalries between the writers and the commercial
world that underpinned the making of the series. I Love Lucy was a co-production between CBS and
Philip Morris, with the tobacco company having huge editorial control over its content.

Aaron Sorkin's writing was never going to be in doubt, he is a master of his craft and the dialogue
zinged. As a Director he impressed as well, cleverly intercutting flashbacks to flesh out the
relationships between the players. He gave the audience a real insight in to just how much making a
comedy can be such hard work.

Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem excelled as Lucille and Desi, not caricatures but capturing the soul
of the characters they played. J K Simmons and Nina Arianda also sparkled as William and Vivian,
actors who played the Ricardo's neighbours and so hated each other in real life.

Being the Ricardos is a really clever, engaging film, showing just how far the writers' craft has
developed over the last 60 years.