On the Basis of Sex

 

On the Basis of Sex 2018

• Director: Mimi Leder
• Seen by this director: Pay It Forward
• Based on the novel: no, but on a true story
• Cast: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux, Sam Waterson, Kathy Bates, Cailee Spaeny
• Personal “oh yeah him/her” reaction, i.e. have seen this actor in:
• Felicity Jones – Rogue One Star Wars, The Theory of Everything, Cheerful Weather for the Wedding, Hysteria, Like Crazy, The Tempest, Brideshead Revisited, Doctor Who
• Armie Hammer – The Lone Ranger
• Justin Theroux – Star Wars the Last Jedi, The Girl on the Train, Six Feet Under, American Psycho, Romy & Michele’s High School Reunion, I Shot Andy Warhol
• Sam Waterson – Homicide Life on the Street, I’ll Fly Away, The Killing Fields
• Kathy Bates – The Big Bang Theory, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Six Feet Under, About Schmidt, Third Rock from the Sun, Titanic, Dolores Claiborne, Fried Green Tomatoes, White Palace, Misery
• Why? The subject
• Seen: 6 November 2020      

       The world lost an amazing person when Ruth Bader Ginsburg died recently. She, her wisdom and fighting spirit are sorely missed.

       This is the story of her early career. In the 50’s Ruth (Jones) is one of the very few women in the Harvard Law School. Her education complete, she finds that she can’t get a job as a lawyer, so she becomes a law professor. But for years she longs to work as a lawyer.

       Finally, she steps into a courtroom.

       Jones carries this heavy role well. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for Hammer, playing her husband. Though playing a sympathetic and supportive character, Hammer lacks charisma and screen presence. A pity.

       It’s not easy to make a dramatic film about law and I’m not fond of courtroom drama films but this one is important. And it is good. It’s just not a film to love. Admire and respect, yes.

 3½ * of 5.