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On the Basis of Sex

2018

Mimi Leder

Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Kathy Bates, Sam Waterston ...

6.3

4,643

Drama A biopic about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones). It will tell the numerous obstacles in her fight for equal rights throughout her career. Ginsberg was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton and became the second female justice after Sandra Day O’Connor.

Shooting started in Montreal in September 2017.

	Media	Author	Review
		Todd McCarthy The Hollywood Reporter	"The conventional connect-the-dots approach and less-than-ideal casting of the leading role keep the film from being something more than a proficient but ordinary account of an extraordinary career."
		Peter Debruge Variety	"Engaging and well-acted biopic (...) Leder’s film gets its priorities right"
		A. O. Scott The New York Times	"Historical narratives are best when they pique curiosity as well as satisfy it, and this one is too conscientious to proclaim its own comprehensiveness."
		Peter Travers Rolling Stone	"You want to roar your approval — which means this movie can claim, in effect, 'mission: accomplished' (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 5)"
		Mark Jenkins The Washington Post	"As filmmaking, it's clunky, but as fan service, it's more effective (…) Rating: ★★ (out of 4)"
		Yolanda Machado The Wrap	"Though the film does play it safe, and falls to a formulaic narrative, the flaws are less within the film itself than in our expectation of what we want it to tell us"
		Nell Minow rogerebert.com	"Director Mimi Leder has an eye for telling detail and a sure sense of pacing (…) Rating: ★★★½ (out of 4)"
		Moira MacDonald Seattle Times	"While the structure occasionally feels a bit awkward, 'On the Basis of Sex' has the kind of crowd-pleasing story that skims over any minor shortcomings; by its end, you're ready to cheer (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		Eric Kohn IndieWire	"With few modifications, 'On the Basis of Sex' could have been made 30 years ago, and its rousing portrait of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg would be a cheesy tearjerker with purpose. Today, it's out of touch."
		David Edelstein Vulture	"[It] plays like a 'Rocky' movie, but it works"
		Peter Bradshaw The Guardian	"Well, by-the-numbers this might be, but it’s watchable and sympathetic (...) Subtlety isn’t this movie’s strong suit (...) But it’s got a worthwhile story to tell (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"
		James Berardinelli ReelViews	"[It] mostly avoids hero-worship in recreating the shameful truth of where the country was a half-century earlier and the importance of Ginsburg (...) that continues to this day (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 4)"
		Richard Brody The New Yorker	"Sacrifices character for intricate, and often fascinating, behind-the-scenes legal maneuvers and emphasizes, above all, the role of social activism."
		Tim Robey Telegraph	"[It] doesn’t do a trailblazing woman justice (...) The film has an ingratiating timidity (…) Rating: ★★ (out of 5)"

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