Being Aaron Sorkin

Aaron Sorkin is one of the few film and television writers whose name is as well-known as most actors. His style is often imitated, occasionally mocked, but has proven again and again to be high caliber. Being the Ricardos is his latest movie, an examination of the relationship between Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz during turbulent events in the run of I Love Lucy.

It's an interesting entry in Sorkin's resume. It feels to me like at times, he's trying to tamp down a bit on some of the flourishes for which he's known. In this movie, his typically breathless pace often gives way to slower, almost contemplative scenes. And his urge to make all his characters exceptionally witty feels more realistic, because the setting is a natural home: behind the scenes at a successful sitcom, you'd expect everyone to be exceptionally witty.

Helping Sorkin fight his instincts, to the degree that he wants to, is an outstanding cast. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem anchor the movie as Lucille and Desi, and both are at the top of their game. Their performances thread the needle, being enough of an impersonation of real, widely-known people to quiet the mind, while still being realistic enough to not bump the audience out of the story. The further affectations they slip on for the characters of Lucy and Ricky are especially fun. And these two, more than anyone else in the cast, are key to the moments where Sorkin actually slows down the pace. Their scenes together still crackle with energy, even when they're not rushing to fill any possible pause in the patter.

The supporting cast is great too. J.K. Simmons and Nina Arianda play I Love Lucy co-stars William Frawley and Vivian Vance, and both get in their share of impactful moments, both dramatic and comedic. The TV series staff is populated with Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale (yes, it's a mini Arrested Development reunion), Jake Lacy, Clark Gregg, and others. (Ronny Cox, Linda Lavin, and John Rubinstein also appear as older versions of the characters in a sort of "fake documentary" framing device for the story -- but, despite their performances, is one of the less successful elements of the movie.)

But here's the thing you've gotta know about Being the Ricardos. (If you haven't seen it, that's a small inside joke.) Sorkin's gonna Sorkin. If his writing has not been "for you" before, there's no particular reason you should give this film a chance to change your mind. There are scenes where he just can't help himself, cramming three pages of dialogue into 20 seconds, staging elaborate and showy walk-and-talks, and pitting characters in a "last line"-off competition.

And there is a theatrical artificiality to the story. While the events chronicled in Being the Ricardos are essentially true, Sorkin's playwright origins have compelled him to unify the time and action as much as possible. Three separate Very Important Events which, in reality, took place three years apart are all compressed into a single week for this movie. (And the I Love Lucy episode that the movie says was being filmed at the time? It doesn't actually line up with any of those events.) It serves the narrative to amplify things to this degree, but the "when it rains, it pours" energy is amped so high that it does at times feel artificial.

Still, if you've liked anything by Aaron Sorkin, you're probably going to like this. The performances are quite strong. There are solid funny moments and solid dramatic moments. And in general, it feels like a worthy spotlight on one of the biggest Power Couples ever to work in Hollywood. I give Being the Ricardos a B.