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‘On the Basis of Sex’:
A Revealing ‘RBG’ Bio-Pic
by Sandra Olmsted
Most people probably think that the first lawsuit regarding gender bias in the law was based on a woman’s experience. Watching this biopic about the rise of Ruth Bader Ginsburg (play exceptionally by Felicity Jones) will reveal much about her struggles and those universally shared by women. The film opens with Ruth’s first days at the very male-dominated Harvard Law School, where the few women allowed to enrol are constantly “put in their place” or systemically ignored. In addition to law school disappointments and challenges, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her husband Martin (Armie Hammer), a fellow law student, receive a devastating diagnosis of Martin’s cancer. Following tough decisions to accommodate Martin’s illness and career, Ruth graduates at the top of her class, having been editor of the law review. Now, the wall of discrimination precludes her from doing the one thing she wanted and worked so hard for — to practice law.
Discrimination in the workplace so blatant forces Ruth to teach law rather than practice it. Years later, Martin helps her find her first case of sexual discrimination. The case entails defending Charles Moritz (Chris Mulkey), a man denied a tax deduction on the basis of his gender. When the Ginsburgs’ daughter, Jane (Cailee Spaeny), challenges her mother about the ERA movement, Ruth realizes that she needs to fight against all the discrimination that she and other women confront on a daily basis. Ruth takes Moritz’s case and gets advice from Dorothy Kenyon (Kathy Bates ).
Tax court might sound boring, yet with the help of Martin, who is a tax attorney, and several friends and because of a mistake by the other lawyers, which include old nemesis, Erwin Griswold (Sam Waterston), the Dean of the Harvard Law School, Ruth file the lawsuit. Despite being told that losing Moritz’s case might jeopardize the ERA-related court cases, Ruth rises to the occasion and finds her calling. ‘On the Basis of Sex’ provides a surprising twist in the history of women’s fight for equality under the law and reveals how men also benefit from these changes in the laws.
Another film about Ruth Bader Ginsburg was also released in 2018, titled simply ‘RBG,’ and ‘RBG’ received Oscar nominations for Best Documentary Feature and Original Song for ‘I’ll Fight.’ The battle of the Ginsberg films comes down to Fact v. Dramatization. Bio-pic and documentaries manipulate both the facts and drama of events to make their points. According to the critics, neither film gets it all right. Although most critics don’t mention that it probably because Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a complex person in both private and public aspects of her life and telling her story on film requires condensing many events into a few that emphasize the pivotal moments in her life. Both films are somewhat valentines to the Supreme Court Judge who has been a stalwart of social justice and justice in many forms. Both films are also revealing and well made.
‘RBG’ relies on clips, both current and archival, of interviews with Ruth, Martin, who died in 2010, and many others whose inclusion seems obvious and others whose inclusion is surprising. Bill Clinton, Orrin Hatch, and Antonin Scalia seem obvious choices, as do Lilly Ledbetter, Gloria Steinem, and Nina Totenberg. The inclusion of the likes of The Notorious B.I.G. and Rush Limbaugh provide an additional an unusual range of voices regarding RBG’s life and career. ‘RBG’ may be a valentine to its subject, yet is it not all hearts and flowers.
In ‘On the Basis of Sex,’ Felicity Jones embodies a young woman of the 1950s and 60s who is trying to live her life and fulfil her dreams and able to make lemonade out of the lemons she is handed all too often. Excellent costuming and hair and makeup design add to the feeling of stepping back and watching Ruth Bader Ginsburg emerge from the repressive 1950s and the turbulent 1960s and 1970s to become a Supreme Court Justice. Be sure and stay until she walks up the steps of the Supreme Court. Jones’ performance is so powerful, she tends to overshadow the other performers, who all turn in thoughtful and fully fleshed performances. The script follows the history of RBG through the events that moulded her into the crusader she became.
Although the late release of ‘On the Basis of Sex’ may have contributed to it being overlooked by the Oscar nominations which were announced Tuesday morning, audiences cheer for Ruth’s victories during screenings, and the performances, direction, script, and production design elements are top notch. ‘On the Basis of Sex’ may well go down as one of the most overlooked films of 2018. ‘RGB,’ a Magnolia Pictures release is rated PG for some thematic elements and language and runs 98 minutes; ‘RBG’ is on Hulu streaming subscription for free or for purchase on other streaming services. In theaters now, ‘On the Basis of Sex’ is a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive content, and runs a well-paced 120 minutes.
