‘Being the Ricardos’ review: Aaron Sorkin puts the screws into the screwball

At least a couple of generations of Indians know of American comedienne Lucille Ball as a result of her blockbuster sitcom I Love Lucy being broadcast on Doordarshan. In the show, which showcased her talent for physical comedy and self-deprecation, Ball played Lucy Ricardo, the wife of her real-life spouse Desi Arnaz.

Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos, about a week in the life of the power couple, puts the screws into the screwball. Nicole Kidman, with the help of make-up and prosthetics, transforms herself into Ball, while Javier Bardem plays Arnaz.

The Amazon Prime Video release is made up of three sections, all of which are set indoors: a set of fake interviews with the show’s collaborators (played by actors), flashbacks to the romance that led to marriage and a flourishing business partnership, and the couple’s attempt to deal with a series of crises.

Ball has been accused of being a Communist. She is more worried about another story, which details Arnaz’s infidelity. In addition, Ball is pregnant – about as welcome to her producers and sponsors as the announcement of World War III.

The tensions spill out at the shoot and table reads and follow Ball and Arnaz into their dressing rooms. They’re either tearing each other’s heads off or tearing…

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