On the Basis of Sex Review

by Myla Tosatto

(l to r.) Armie Hammer as Marty Ginsburg, Justin Theroux as Melvin Wulf, and Felicity Jones as Ruth Bader Ginsburg star in Mimi Leder’s ON THE BASIS OF SEX, a Focus Features release.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) is a living legend. On the Basis of Sex makes the case for that. From the very first glimpse of the extremely petite Justice to the last, we are given a glimpse into the brain and family life of RBG. It makes for a very striking motion picture.

In 1956, Ruth Bader Ginsburg was one of only nine women admitted to Harvard Law School. Not only was she a first year law school student, she was a mother to an infant and married to second year student, Marty Ginsburg (Armie Hammer)*. Director Mimi Leder’s film from Daniel Stiepelman’s script mostly explores her law school years through her first actual case as an attorney (and it’s a big one!).

Felicity Jones stars as Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Mimi Leder’s ON THE BASIS OF SEX, a Focus Features release.

Anyone who is interested in the law, equal rights and powerful women will love this movie. I know I did. I came away from it gobsmacked and I was already in awe of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. This movie is perfect for kids, though it is rated PG-13. Don’t let the rating scare you. It may not be animated or have musical numbers, but it makes history very interesting.

* How exactly did she do that? Mr. Movie Myla could barely handle dating me while he was in law school. Law school is supposedly hard. At least, that’s how I hear it. I think Ms Bader-Ginsburg may just be Superwoman.

On the Basis of Sex is now playing in theaters!