Movies
Courtroom dramas aren't my favorite form of entertainment, but Sorkin's writing saves this film. It also turns it into a bit of a carnival, which may not be ideal for a film based on true events. Then again, I don't watch films for their historical value. Your mileage may vary, so take that into account before starting this film. The performances are strong and for a courtroom drama the cinematography is somewhat dynamic (but that's only in comparison to other films in the genre). The dialogue is fun though and there are some pretty quirky characters to liven things up. The finale didn't hit the mark for me, but other than that, this was much better than I expected.Read all
Maybe I don't know enough about Lucille Ball and this particular period in her life, but Sorkin's choice to feature a single week on the set of her most successful show doesn't really pay off. The basic premise is utterly boring and the additional drama plus the narrative digressions feel forced. There's little chemistry between Kidman and Bardem, the cinematography is stuffy, and the life of Ball and Desi is simply not interesting enough, unless you care about fame and gossip. All the extra narrative padding brings the film to a 130-minute+ runtime, which is excessive. A pretty big bore.Read all