Jonathan B

I want to encourage you to watch Aaron Sorkin’s heavily nominated "Being the Ricardos” offered on Amazon Prime. Though I was not a big fan of the "I Love Lucy” TV show, Sorkin makes it easy to be a huge fan of Lucille Ball. Ball became an iconoclastic, feminist driver of the paternal studio system like Esther Williams, against huge odds and family background. The same can be said for husband Desi Arnaz, portrayed by Javier Bardem, who once played arguably the most detestable Bond villain in Skyfall (2012). The Red Scare and McCarthyism in the 1950’s had a devastating effect on many American industries most notably, movie making, science, and literature. In those days, anyone who checked the wrong box, or supported workers rights at any time in their past, was targeted for Black Listing. At one point it threatened to kill this hit TV show and Ball’s career with it. Banking on his wife's popularity among 60 million adoring fans, Desi resisted the repression which, helped set the stage for others to follow. Instead, McCarthyism soon got canceled. Nicole Kidman revels in Lucile Ball’s intelligence and comic genius while brandishing her feminism and production talent. Bardem sinks his teeth into the complex character of a promiscuous Cuban refuge, war veteran, talented performer, and television innovator. Though Sorkin’s effort to hide it is appreciated, Bardem is far from the consummate singer/musician that was Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III. Despite all the stresses, they're love lasted. Hopefully, JK Simmons will be recognized for his juicy portrayal of Fred Mertz, an extremely popular staple on the show and additional foil to the bold women. Now that you have dipped your television history toe into the water, its time to check out the supplemental shows on Amazon Prime that lend support to this true story, television legacy. "Fascinating", is what I would call daughter Lucie Arnaz’s production called “Watch Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie” featuring the family histories, oldest friends, relatives, and long lost 35mm, home movie footage. This lesser production puts luscious meat on the bones of this Oscar head turner. All that said, this cinephile/tennis coach is still rooting for "King Richard", the story about the Williams tennis family.