Writer/director Aaron Sorkin has brilliantly crammed several stories into this fascinating look at Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem). It starts with Lucy being accused of being a communist, while Ricky’s supposed affair is chronicled in print. Instantly, there are 2 issues that need to be addressed. They’re played out over a week, while we watch the process of creating an episode of I Love Lucy from table read on Monday to the show on Friday. Once you get past Kidman not really looking like Lucy (even with some prosthetic help), she turns in a layered performance as the determined, powerful comedian with a fragile side. In the black & white show re-creations her resemblance is more convincing. Bardem captures the singer’s magnetic charms and the rest of the ensemble is superb, especially J.K. Simmons as William Frawley (Fred on the show). For a change, Sorkin has mostly abandoned his machine-gun dialogue for a more comfortable period cadence. His direction keeps the multiple stories on point, while adding interesting historical information. Fans of the series will find lots to enjoy in the behind-the-scenes moments, but anyone can appreciate the show’s innovations and the talented, fascinating couple behind it. 
(4 / 5)
