I had little interest in this Lucy and Desi bio-pic until I learned of the involvement of Aaron Sorkin. 'Becoming the Ricardos' is set amidst a turbulent week of production on 'I Love Lucy', in which Lucy is accused of being a communist by Walter Winchell, Desi is accused of having an affair by Confidential Magazine, and a way of dealing with Lucy's pregnancy must be found at a time in which such subject matter was (in hindsight, rather perplexingly) verboten on television. The film also contains flash backs on the title couples relationship over the years.
Nicole Kidman, a somewhat controversial casting choice for Lucy does an excellent job, Javier Bardem is also very good in a part that's a natural fit for him. Fine supporting work by J. K. Simons, Nina Arianda, Alia Shawkat and Tony Hale in the most against type performance I've seen him in. Sorkin's writing is solid, there is some really good stuff in here, though he's not exactly stretching, his direction is for the most part a little bland. One does wonder why make this story now as the Ricardo's have largely faded from the collective memory of Millennials and is likely absent from that of Gen Z, but maybe that's the reason to make it. ***
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