On the Basis of Sex
(2018)Her story made history.
Multiple Emmy winner Mimi Leder (Deep Impact) directs Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this political biopic co-starring Armie Hammer. The film recounts Ginsburg's struggle for equal rights and what she had to overcome in order to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
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Directed by Mimi Leder ('Pay It Forward', 'The Peacemaker', 'Deep Impact')
Starring Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Jack Reynor, Kathy Bates, Sam Waterston, Stephen Root, Cailee Spaeny
Written by Daniel Stiepleman
Flicks Review
BY Katie Parker Flicks Writer
She may be 85 years old, but US Supreme Court judge and life-long feminist advocate Ruth Bader Ginsburg is more famous now than ever—so what better time than to give her a big shiny Hollywood biopic, On the Basis of Sex?... More
Beginning with Bader Ginsburg’s time as one of the few early students of Harvard Law and leading up to her first big precedent setting case targeting laws that unfairly discriminate “on the basis of sex”, director Mimi Leder takes us on a soft, sympathetic journey down the path that led her to be known as “the notorious RBG”.
Spanning several years, the film follows a pretty rigid formula: Someone says something sexist; she looks mad. Something discouraging happens; she looks dejected. Something inspiring happens; she looks hopeful and triumphant music swells.
As such, the film doesn’t exactly give a ton of credence to Bader Ginsburg's political prowess, and her cuteness is frequently emphasised over her apparent tenacity. There’s even a vaguely insulting arc in which she repeatedly flubs her courtroom performance before ultimately, suddenly, delivering a big amazing speech that blows everyone away.
Yet, while On the Basis of Sex may play more like a primary school history lesson than a grown-up biopic, perhaps, in a case such as this, simpler is better.
Wholesome, well-paced and never in danger of confusing anyone with the intricacies of legalese, the film flies happily and brightly through the various personal and professional milestones of Bader-Ginsburg’s life. “This is how she did it”, we are told, step by step.
In a way it's refreshing—you won’t find anything tricksy, stylised or gritty going on here. And, after all, with the subject still alive and representing the ‘resistance’ more than ever, there was no real chance of a biopic that attempted to offer nuance or critique.
Instead, On the Basis of Sex is an inoffensive, gentle guide to a figure who has spent a lifetime proving that women can bring about significant political change and progress—and right now, maybe that does need to be spelt out.Hide
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On the Basis of Sex
The Press Reviews
A limited, often idealistic window into Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life but it's one that conveys the significance of singular victories and the cumulative effect that leads to longterm change, and Felicity Jones aces every step of that journey as Ginsburg. Full Review
The conventional connect-the-dots approach and less-than-ideal casting of the leading role keep the film from being something more than a proficient but ordinary account of an extraordinary career. Full Review
Mimi Leder and Felicity Jones give us an origin story, a romance, an underdog tale, a courtroom drama and social commentary all wrapped up neatly in a smoothly executed, less-than-scintillating crowdpleaser. Full Review
There's a propelling motion that makes the film a swift, slick watch led by a figure rare in a genre still dominated by men. Full Review
For those not blessed with such courageous figures, Ginsburg's story will be especially inspirational, making it relatively easy to forgive a few manipulative and melodramatic touches in the telling. Full Review
Its pace is a little slack, and sometimes it feels too predictably prepackaged. But Jones and Hammer keep the picture moving even through its shakier phases. Full Review
Despite the low stakes, On the Basis of Sex has an uplifting and empowering tone that makes for an entertaining experience. Full Review
Although Jones works hard to spice up the dry world of constitutional law, On the Basis of Sex remains superficially inspiring and lacks the venom of Notorious RBG's reputation. Full Review
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a remarkable, unrepeatable human. On the Basis of Sex is an affectionate and overdue tribute to her. Full Review
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