By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.6
Director: Aaron Sorkin
Starring: Alia Shawkat | J.K. Simmons | Jake Lacy | Javier Bardem | Linda Lavin | Nicole Kidman | Nina Arianda | Tony Hale
Country: united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 131
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995540/reference
Thom says: “I went into this thinking a million different things. Director Sorkin after making a huge impression as a writer and creator of monster television successes SPORTS NIGHT, THE NEWSROOM, & THE WEST WING, entered the director’s game with MOLLY’S GAME & THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (neither of which I have yet to see), but certainly returns to his television roots with this time capsule to one of the most iconic television shows in the entire history of this media art form I LOVE LUCY. And it is a loving tribute to the legendary couple who made this all possible. I felt especially attached to it because it featured 4 must-see actors, 3 in crucial, star-turn roles. Honestly, because I wasn’t the largest fan of Lucille Ball (while cheerfully admitting that she is a great comic genius), & even less so for her philandering husband, I thought I would be able to follow this with sweet objectivity. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Various memories from my childhood kept resurfacing and I was lost in a reverie. The story here is over a week of finalizing a last episode of the show that Lucy & Desi had an obsession to make perfect mixing in with a dissolution of their rather public marriage. Mixed in is a representation of talking heads (actors) describing past and current events in the couple’s lives, often with long, visual asides. One rather jarring inclusion that supposedly was wrapped around that final week of shooting was Walter Winchell declaring that Ball had been a member of the Communist Party (a career death knell at the time) which needed to be refuted and put to rest. I question if that really left much of a dot on their legacy, so it seemed unnecessary.
“Screen goddess Kidman comes through on the mark as Lucy although her performance is mannered, it’s assured and incredibly focused. Bardem might be even better as a spot-on Arnaz, he’s frazzled but always hustling with his not-fully-recognized talent as one of the best straight men in the business brilliantly presented. Simmons also makes a remarkable contribution as the acerbic William Frawley, making the most of his basically background character. Tony Hale could have assayed his background writer pitchman in his sleep I admired how he toned-down his usual comic mania to a subdued level that didn’t intrude on the ‘stars’. Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance managed to hold her own without being outstanding. All in all, it was enough of a remarkable effort to warrant a look to refresh those indelible memories that will live with you forever. 3.5 cats”
Julie responds: “Great review Thom. I agree about 3.75 cats or so on this one.
“Bardem was perfect as Ricky for sure. Kidman did a great job as well really transforming herself. Simmons was amazing. I did not realize it was him at first as he so became William Frawley. Nina Arianda was also very good as Vivian Vance.
“I heard an interview with Nicole Kidman who spoke about working with a dialect coach to get the Lucy voice and the Lucille Ball voice (two different voices she switched between). That was really impressive how she did that. She said she also took up smoking (to help with the voice and because Lucille Ball was always smoking). OMG! She did this for Virginia Wolfe as well!
:I was so impressed with her intelligence and willingness to delve so much into her family background (regarding her parents) and talk about her career. She has had such an interesting career and life.”
Thom responds: “I am especially crazy for Nicole Kidman, everything she does she brings a special magic of transformation. While not all her films are brilliant, she certainly always brings it all.”