Director
Mimi Leder
(PAY IT FORWARD)

Starring
Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer and Justin Theroux

Following the Oscar nominated documentary RBG, it would appear that everything is coming up Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This time around it’s the biopic with Felicity Jones filling Bader Ginsburg’s pint sized shoes, in what should have been a home run for director Mimi Leder, given the propensity for awards voters to drool over this type of film. Instead, On The Basis of Sex is more like a two base hit with no runners on; solid, but lacking any real excitement.

The film focuses on RBG’s early legal life, starting out at Harvard Law School and culminating in her first foray into Supreme Court litigation. It’s an interesting enough part of her life, but probably not substantial enough to be truly riveting. The film has a tendency to skim over the timeline without really delving into any part of it with substance.

Felicity Jones plays the part well, but part of me can’t help but think how much better the film might have been had the role been played by Natalie Portman as originally intended. Jones seemingly lacks a certain amount of chutzpah that could have made her Bader Ginsburg really come to life.

What the film also lacks is any sense of crescendo. It feels like we’re building to something that doesn’t eventuate with any real level of satisfaction. The screenplay lacks focus and wants to tell so many stories, but as a result of trying to fit so much in, it doesn’t tell us much of anything.

What could have been a triumphant film focusing of one of the true heroes of the women’s rights movement, instead becomes a nice, neat little vignette that I fear will be somewhat forgettable. Overall, On The Basis of Sex is a nice enough film, but certainly one that isn’t fitting of the achievements of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

3 stars

Trailer
ON THE BASIS OF SEX

Moviedoc thanks Entertainment One for the invite to the screening of this film.

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