On the Basis of Sex

Starring: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterston, Kathy Bates, Cailee Spaeny, Jack Reynor, Stephen Root, Chris Mulkey
Directed by: Mimi Leder
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama
2018

Times Seen:
Tim: 1


Summary: Follows the early years of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) as she fights for equal rights for both sexes.

Review:

Tim: I'm embarrassed to say that before this movie, I didn't know much about Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg. I was familiar with her only in the highest degree. I had no idea how she started her career, the impact she's on the entire country and millions of lives. I really enjoyed this movie- not only did it entertain, but it informed quite a bit about this iconic lawyer. What I enjoyed most wasn't just that this film covered the events of her early career, but it helped you to understand something about her as a human being. Some biopics lose that essential balance. It's not enough just to tell us what someone did- we have to understand their character and their motivations to understand why they did it. On the Basis of Sex is able to achieve both, which is why it's such an effective film.

The movie does a great job of establishing Ruth as a complex, fascinating character (and obviously giving us insight into the real human being behind the character). It was so engaging to watch her early years. The scenes where she is attending law classes for her husband in addition to herself were exceptionally well done and illustrated her genius. It also helped you to understand her brilliance. Not many people could do that and it obviously developed her mind in ways that allowed her to achieve all her later success. We watch as Ruth works her way through law school, faces a series of early career setbacks, runs up against situations where she's not enough, and see her overcome those obstacles and change the course of history. By all accounts, she's a remarkable woman who has lived an exceptional life serving the good of the public and I loved watching it unfold here.

Felicity Jones continues to impress. I feel like she hasn't quite hit the level of stardom that her talent demands. Hers is not a name that pops into my head when I think of my favorite actresses, or the most talented actresses working today. And yet, she deserves to be included in both those lists. She's still fairly young in her career but has built an impressive resume. Her performance here was excellent in subtle ways. It's not flashy enough to generate Academy Award buzz, but it was effective and she makes a connection with the audience. She's of the most exciting actresses working today and her performance here is the best part of the movie.

I really enjoyed Armie Hammer, too. It's funny to think about him playing the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network and to see how he's build an impressive career from that. I think he's quite a talented actor and succeeds both in lead roles and in supporting ones like this. I enjoyed him a great deal in this film and it was fun watching him interact with Jones. They worked well together. Justin Theroux gives a strong supporting performance. It was fun seeing Sam Waterston and Kathy Bates in small supporting roles, too. Both leverage their screen time well to make an impact on the film. Overall, the cast was quite good.

On the Basis of Sex might not quite be powerful or well-crafted enough to be a great movie, but it's a thoroughly enjoyable one. It felt like this movie was timely and relevant with the embarrassment of a President we currently have in the oval office. This was a great reminder of an extraordinary life and how one woman really can change the world. I walked away from this film with a newfound appreciation for Ruth Bader Ginsburg and what she was able to achieve. This is a movie I have recommended to other unhesitatingly and will continue to do so. It's a movie that everyone should see.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: RBG, The Theory of Everything, The Social Network