Based loosely on the life story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Associated Justice of the Supreme Court of the USA), On The Basis Of Sex is a really enjoyable film.
Bader Ginsburg is a trail-blazer. In the late 1950s she was among a handful of women to study at Harvard Law School in a class of about 500 men. She broke down barrier after barrier (almost always due to her gender) that got in her way on a path to career success. The film follows her from law school to a career as a college professor which, though rewarding, wasn’t the court-room lawyer career she dreamed of. No law firm would give her a shot despite being top of her class academically because, well, on account her her gender she might get a bit too emotional, y’know?!
Felicity Jones doesn’t really knock it out of the park as Bader Ginsberg to be honest - she’s a British actress and she never really nails the New York accent. But it’s a serviceable performance and one that didn’t get in the way of me enjoying this. I don’t think I could honestly say I was inspired by it in the way I suspect the film-makers would like, but I definitely found myself brimming with gratitude for the gender equality Bader Ginsburg is famous for fighting for and winning.
Armie Hammer is excellent as Bader Ginsberg’s husband, Martin Ginsberg. There’s a moment towards the end of the film when you’re already loving him for playing the good guy when he gets out of a car dressed in a three piece suit, wearing sunglasses and generally being HOT AS HELL when you just can’t help but get your feathers up... OK maybe that’s just me. (Lusting after the lead guy is probably not quite the reaction the feminist movement would hope for but to that I say, I am human and he’s a total dreamboat.)
On The Basis Of Sex isn’t perfect but I really enjoyed it a lot and definitely happily recommend it to you. Here’s some additional reading from Rolling Stone if you’d like to know more about the film. I think the 3.5 star review is fair.
On The Basis Of Sex is rated M and opens on 7 February. Trailer here