(4 / 5)
The story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, her struggles for equal rights and what she had to overcome in order to become a U.S. Supreme Court Justice.
It’s Oscar season and that means it’s time for prestige dramas to fill up the theaters and exist opposite classic studio seasonal blockbusters. This time around we have the Oscar hopeful “On the Basis of Sex,” telling the true story of Ruth Bader-Ginsberg’s climb to the Supreme Court by making a name for herself in a landmark court case. Incredibly relevant as Ginsberg holds icon status within our pop culture this movie helps to demystify the robed woman and tell her story.
“On the Basis of Sex” exists within that culturally ripe era: the ’70s and it does an excellent job capturing the dichotomous flow of ideas from one generation to the next. Instead of a specific underdog story, we’re granted a look into the various strands of feminism that sprouted in that time period. Through the viewpoint of generations of women, we’re granted a look into just how a multitude of forces collided to give our protagonist the firepower to take down the system. Felicity Jones sells Ginsberg at every step with a determined focus and I will forever go on to sign Armie Hammer’s praises. Add Kathy Bates to the mix and I’ll be hard pressed to say the performances were remotely boring.
I enjoyed the movie and found it to be exactly what you might expect of it. I’m secretly hoping it’s the historical piece that might occupy a spot on the Oscars best picture category. After all, last year we received a look at the hard decisions of Winston Churchill (that notorious alcoholic), perhaps this time it’s a better year for a woman and a much more endearing character to shine. I certainly found inspiration within Ruth’s struggle.
It was a privilege for me to watch the movie and it’s a privilege for me to write about it. It’s certainly an odd sentiment being the not-so-unique apple pie cis hetero Christian white male that so intensely vilifies itself. I’ve nothing but agreement with the film and I genuinely hope people see the same things I did. Truthfully, I don’t feel very qualified to review this movie. Truthfully, as this film demonstrates, it’s a privilege to occupy the spot I do and I happily abdicate my review for someone more qualified. I recommend you find a female critic out there and look to her review. It will certainly bear more value than my own. I wish I could give you more of but this time around I’d tell you: if you want to see it consult with a female critic (there are many excellent ones) but if you want a quick guess? Go. Go check this movie out. Learn something you might not already know.
In theaters Friday, January 4th
