Here are some photos from Thursday night’s premiere of Being the Ricardos, one of the most cursed films of the year. Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem are trying to muster up some chemistry for the cameras, which is funny because I tend to believe that Javier can have chemistry with anyone or anything. He could have chemistry with a lamppost. He could have sexual energy with a plant. If anything, I believe that his Spanish-accented take on Desi Arnaz will be accepted by audiences because Javier will coast on his own charisma. All of the negative energy is going towards Nicole as Lucille Ball.
As for fashion, Nicole wore Chanel. It’s not the best thing she’s worn but it’s far from the worst. RCFP posted the dress as it appeared on the runway, and I think Chanel actually improved it for Nicole. It was way too drapey and art-project-y on the runway. I mean, it’s still an ugly dress. But Nicole wore it better. Nicole is famous for being a fashion icon, and she’s someone who knows how to harness the power of fashion to help sell her projects. So doesn’t it feel like she’s already phoning this one in?
I’m reminded of how hard Nicole sells the projects she produces and puts together, like Big Little Lies. On Ricardos, Nicole was an actress for hire, and she’s indicated in interviews that she basically said yes to the project because she liked Aaron Sorkin’s script. It didn’t really occur to her that she was about to play one of the most iconic redheads in modern history, and that she might need to do some research and work into sounding and looking like Lucille Ball. On a recent TV appearance, Nicole said she wasn’t “initially” anxious when she took the role but “When the reality of playing her hit me, I went, ‘What I have said yes to?’ To which I then went, ‘Oh no, I’m not right. Everyone thinks I’m not right, so I’m going to try to sidestep this.'” Then Aaron Sorkin convinced her to stay on. Ugh. Nicole is giving us someone to blame when this mess blows up in her face.
The character posters are terrible too!! Why does everything about this cursed film look so low-budget?
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.
The early buzz on this has been really good. I listen to quite a few film podcasts and reviews are embargoed but discussion and chatter has been largely positive around this film. I’m definitely curious!
oof the dress is hideous
Her boobs look compressed or something. Weird.
it really is. even the “improved” version is uggo.
don’t @ me but I think that black/white combos rarely work except a tuxedo. it has to be done just right or I get referee vibes.
and this? just too much WHITE on that.
I should withhold judgement—maybe she kills it in The Ricardos. But casting frozen-faced Kidman as the iconically rubber-faced Lucy just seems like one of the hugest casting fails in history.
I don’t think it’s cursed. The buzz has been good and Nicole was already nominated for a New York Film Critics Circle award. It might end up surprising us.
That dress is awful and I don’t think Nicole has been a fashion icon in decades! She should never have been cast as Lucy. Debra Messing would have been fantastic.
Wow, it looks like something I could have picked up at Goodwill…
I love Nicole. I saw the cast on CBS Sunday morning and they were all so lovely together, and the clips they showed were really good. I don’t get all the negativity. Seems like everyone just jumped on the negativity bandwagon, in my opinion. I mean, there’s other things to be more outraged about in the world? School shootings, Trump, the Daily Mail . . .
This dress is admittedly not her best look. However, Nicole can look good in a paper bag. She has the figure and presence and always appears put together and elegant. I have greatly enjoyed her fashion choices over the years. Perhaps more than any other actress, with the possible exception of Cate Blanchett. The chartreuse green Galliano at the ’97 Oscars is legendary, as is the story behind it. It has it’s own Wiki page!
So true about Javier, he does seem he could have chemistry with anyone! Love him. They were cute together on the Morning Show. Good chemistry. Very interesting story — can’t wait to see this film.
Just because there’s “other things to be more outraged about in the world” doesn’t mean people shouldn’t give movies negative critiques. I personally think Nicole Kidman was miscast, and it’s a pity. That’s not jumping on the “negativity bandwagon,” that’s just my view.
For Before Night Falls, Javier made it a point to learn to speak English with a Cuban accent. I would be surprised if he didn’t do the same with this role. I can’t tell from the clips, because they are too short. Saw the CBS Sunday Morning segment, and this actually looks good!
I would have just said no to that dress. It’s truly hideous in so many ways.
I thought this sounded dreadful but apparently it’s good, according to early buzz. Go figure.
Anyway, I like Nicole. I won’t pay to see this but I always wish her well. Mainly due to the $cientology thing, although people who work with her say good things. It’s Tom I can’t stand. Amusing to think that Penélope Cruz dated Tom after Nicole. They’ve both moved on and seem happy in loving, stable marriages while he ditched his little girl for Xenu.
I am looking forward to this. DIdnt care for Spencer.