Aaron Sorkin's Lucille Ball Biopic (Kidman)

[Peyton Westlake]

Debra Messing anyone? She can do physical comedy.

 

[Finarfiniel]

Debra Messing anyone? She can do physical comedy.

Nah. This isn't going to be a comedy, it's a biopic. I have no doubt that Messing could do a passable imitation of Lucy's on screen persona, but she's not a good enough actress to really get under the skin of a person and make them more than just a cheap imitation like Blanchett can. Watch her Katharine Hepburn in The Aviator or Bob Dylan (!!) in I'm Not There for ample proof of that. Plus, Blanchett obviously has a lot more prestige and box office pull than Messing.

 

[Sawyer]

Make. This. Already.

 

[Silvermoth]

Debra Messing anyone? She can do physical comedy.

Oh my gosh she would be so fab, an absolute scream

 

[Finarfiniel]

Make. This. Already.

Last I read (and this was a month or two back), Aaron Sorkin was still writing the script. He talked a little about it in an interview so it sounds like it's definitely still happening. He comes across as being a real perfectionist so I'm not surprised that it's taking a while.

Again, people need to remember that this isn't going to be a film about Lucy Ricardo, it's a film about Lucille Ball, the real woman behind the scenes and specifically her tumultous relationship with Desi Arnaz. That requires a lot more than just an actress who can do screwball comedy well. She was a notoriously strong minded and independant trailblazer in real life, not to mention a formidable businesswoman.

 

[Sawyer]

Nicole Kidman to Play Lucille Ball in Aaron Sorkin Directed Biopic – Deadline

Kidman is good, but Blanchett was a home run. And Bardem as Ricky... ehh, I dunno. IMO, that role should be Oscar Isaac’s to lose.

 

[Schlosser85]

I have trouble seeing Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and I have even more trouble seeing Javier Bardem as Desi Arnaz.

 

[terry78]

Well somebody decided on those choices.

 

[The Shape]

Interesting choices. I can't see it yet, but that doesn't mean they won't be great.

 

[flickchick85]

I can kinda see Kidman...if I squint. But Javier as Desi? Hell no. I agree Oscar Isaac seems like a much better fit for that.

 

[Sawyer]

I can’t even contemplate Bardem doing Desi’s voice.

But if he can pull it off... start engraving his Oscar right now.

 

[DarkKnight88]

Bardem as Ricky is the more interesting choice. And yes, if he pulls off the voice, Oscar is calling.

 

[Frodo]

Cate Blancett is alot closer to Lucille Ball is imo.

They're not twins, but Kate does look like she could be a descent of Ball, at least I think so.

Bardem as Desi? He wouldn't be the first actor to come to mind for me either. I like the Oscar Issac suggestion as Desi as well.

Then again, this is Sorkin's Baby , so he's gonna go with who he wants.

 

[Schlosser85]

I don’t know how much Blanchett looks like Ball, but it’s easier to see than Kidman.

 

[Sawyer]

I wouldn’t say Blanchett is Ball’s twin or anything, but as far as biopic casting goes, I think she would’ve been as good as it gets.

 

[Schlosser85]

I also think Blanchett is more of a chameleon than Kidman.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I can kinda see Kidman...if I squint. But Javier as Desi? Hell no. I agree Oscar Isaac seems like a much better fit for that.

Eh... I would say it's closer than some here think.

 

[Shinobi Shaw]

Julianne Moore would’ve been such a better choice than Kidman or Blanchett, IMO. I mean Lucille Ball was expressive and while I love Nicole immensely, she can barely move her face these days with all that work she got done.

But I am here for this production. I love the whole Desilu behind the scenes drama. Old Hollywood was so much more interesting.

 

[Pennywise]

J.K. Simmons Joins Lucille Ball Pic ‘Being The Ricardos’ – Deadline

 

[Sawyer]

I’m iffy on the two leads, but that casting is spot-on.

Wonder if they’ll include how much he and Vivian Vance ****ing hated eachother.

 

[CaptainWagner]

The leads are... a choice, that's to be sure. But Simmons and Arianda are pretty spot on. Above all, though, I'm still not sold on Sorkin as a director, especially for something as dynamic as this.

 

[Frodo]

I agree that they did well with Vivian Vance and Frawley. I actually suspect Sorkin is going to cover Lucille Ball's brief brush with the Red scare, when it turned out her Grandfather was registered as a communist , and she was put under the microscope over questions of her patriotism, and whether or not she was a communist as well.

It did cause a brief controversy which she obviously survived. There was a documentary about it several years ago .

That seems more of a Sorkin-like subject that he would tackle. Either that, or the film is about when Desi's affairs were exposed by a tabloid during the height of the series.

 

[Sawyer]

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Movie 'Being the Ricardos' Rounds Out Cast - Variety

 

[Sawyer]

The Debra Messing stans really need to calm the hell down.

 

[Eddie Dean]

I honestly don't think actors in biopics need to look that much like who they're portraying. Like Johnny Cash does not look like Joaquin Phoniex.