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Being the Ricardos

  • 20212021
  • RR
  • 2h 11m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,896
150
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in Being the Ricardos (2021)
Follows Lucy and Desi as they face a crisis that could end their careers and another that could end their marriage.
Play trailer1:48
8 Videos
32 Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
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.
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
39K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,896
150
  • Director
    • Aaron Sorkin
  • Writer
    • Aaron Sorkin
  • Stars
    • Nicole Kidman
    • Javier Bardem
    • J.K. Simmons
Top credits
  • Director
    • Aaron Sorkin
  • Writer
    • Aaron Sorkin
  • Stars
    • Nicole Kidman
    • Javier Bardem
    • J.K. Simmons
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 625User reviews
    • 177Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 11 wins & 58 nominations total

    Videos8

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:48
    Official Trailer
    Watch the Trailer
    Trailer 1:48
    Watch the Trailer
    Teaser Trailer
    Trailer 1:18
    Teaser Trailer
    Being The Ricardos
    Trailer 1:48
    Being The Ricardos
    Being The Ricardos
    Trailer 1:18
    Being The Ricardos
    How the Cast of 'Being the Ricardos' Became the Cast of "I Love Lucy"
    Clip 3:41
    How the Cast of 'Being the Ricardos' Became the Cast of "I Love Lucy"
    The Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows to Stream in December 2021
    Clip 2:51
    The Most Anticipated Movies and TV Shows to Stream in December 2021
    Lucille Ball's Lasting Legacy & Her Biopic Details
    Clip 4:15
    Lucille Ball's Lasting Legacy & Her Biopic Details

    Photos32

    Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in Being the Ricardos (2021)
    J.K. Simmons in Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Javier Bardem in Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Natasha Lyonne, Amy Poehler, Kathryn Hahn, and Aubrey Plaza at an event for Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at an event for Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Taika Waititi and Rita Ora at an event for Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Nicole Kidman at an event for Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban at an event for Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Javier Bardem in Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Alia Shawkat in Being the Ricardos (2021)
    Jake Lacy in Being the Ricardos (2021)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nicole Kidman
    Nicole Kidman
    • Lucille Ballas Lucille Ball
    Javier Bardem
    Javier Bardem
    • Desi Arnazas Desi Arnaz
    J.K. Simmons
    J.K. Simmons
    • William Frawleyas William Frawley
    Nina Arianda
    Nina Arianda
    • Vivian Vanceas Vivian Vance
    Tony Hale
    Tony Hale
    • Jess Oppenheimeras Jess Oppenheimer
    Alia Shawkat
    Alia Shawkat
    • Madelyn Pughas Madelyn Pugh
    Jake Lacy
    Jake Lacy
    • Bob Carrollas Bob Carroll
    Linda Lavin
    Linda Lavin
    • Older Madelyn Pughas Older Madelyn Pugh
    Ronny Cox
    Ronny Cox
    • Older Bob Carrollas Older Bob Carroll
    John Rubinstein
    John Rubinstein
    • Older Jess Oppenheimeras Older Jess Oppenheimer
    Clark Gregg
    Clark Gregg
    • Howard Wenkeas Howard Wenke
    Nelson Franklin
    Nelson Franklin
    • Joe Stricklandas Joe Strickland
    Jeff Holman
    Jeff Holman
    • Roger Otteras Roger Otter
    Jonah Platt
    Jonah Platt
    • Tip Tribbyas Tip Tribby
    Christopher Denham
    Christopher Denham
    • Donald Glassas Donald Glass
    Brian Howe
    Brian Howe
    • Charles Koerneras Charles Koerner
    Ron Perkins
    Ron Perkins
    • Macyas Macy
    Baize Buzan
    Baize Buzan
    • Mary Patas Mary Pat
    • Director
      • Aaron Sorkin
    • Writer
      • Aaron Sorkin
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Prior 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."
    • Goofs
      The 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.

    • Connections
      Featured in The Late Show with Stephen Colbert: Javier Bardem/Gang of Youths (2021)
    • Soundtracks
      She Could Shake the Maracas
      Written by Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers

      Produced by Michael Andrew

      Performed by Javier Bardem with The Michael Andrew Orchestra

    User reviews625

    Review
    Top review
    Superb, just delightful and superb!
    This new Amazon original movie came available today, my wife and I watched it streaming.

    I suspect there are two different audiences and levels of appreciation for this movie - those who grew up watching "I Love Lucy" and those who didn't. My wife and I are the former, I was 12 when the show ended its run, I have a very clear memory of the TV show, a little from original shows and more from watching reruns. In the hit show, Lucille Ball as Lucy was a bit dimwitted.

    In real life Ball was nothing like that. She was bright and driven and often attended too little to the feelings of others. She had high standards for episodes, while her husband Desi was the businessman behind it all. Together they formed quite a team and "I Love Lucy" was one of the most successful entertainment enterprises ever.

    This movie focuses on a particular week during which they geared up for that week's episode, but also were hit with headlines that implicated Ball as a member of the Communist Party. Plus Lucille found out she was pregnant with her second child. When the episode was about to be filmed for the week there was a call from J Edgar Hoover to Desi, shared with the live audience, but that was creative license, in real life it didn't happen. The movie also shows some of the formative years, as far back as the 1940s, and the events that shaped her career direction.

    Kidman and Bardem are wonderful in their roles and the whole movie is a superb glimpse into what "I Love Lucy" was all about, especially all the things we DIDN'T see during the telecasts. I viewed it again a few weeks later and enjoyed it even more because I had a clearer image of what all was going on. I will likely view it a few more times, it is that good.

    Also worthwhile looking up is a 2020 documentary "Finding Lucy", 83 minutes long, now easily available for free viewing on the internet. I watched it also and it helps appreciate the movie even more. After she and Desi were divorced she bought out his share of Desilu studios. She became the boss, she made the tough decisions. To her credit it was during her watch that two groundbreaking TV series were approved - 'Mission: Impossible" and "Star Trek." I'd say she was overall a pretty successful lady in show business. I love Lucy.
    helpful•111
    55
    • TxMike
    • Dec 22, 2021

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 21, 2021 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Lucy and Desi
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Amazon Studios
      • Escape Artists
      • Big Indie Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 11 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.39 : 1

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