Back in the day, movies were predominantly created so an audience could simply go into a theater and for an hour and a half - two hours, could escape into something make-believe and fantastical. Although there are the aforementioned types of films, so many films now are those based on an actual person, people, event or situation in order to send a message or so the public could learn something. While I can appreciate this motive for producing films, rarely do I find a well written and produced fictional film in order to escape. Not to negate the importance of the likes of "On the Basis of Sex"--it preaches something we all need to be reminded of, it sure would be nice to see more fictional work out there.
The year is 1956. This film tells an inspiring and spirited true story that follows young Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) as she teams with her attorney husband Marty (Armie Hammer) to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals and overturn a century of gender discrimination in which she was forced to endure through the dean at her prestigious Harvard Law School, Erwin Griswold (Sam Waterston) where she was first in her class. Mind you, this was in the day where not only women couldn't be lawyers, but they couldn't even obtain a credit card unless it was in their husband's name. This film chronicles her incredibly tough climb to where she is today. And if it wasn't for her support from her husband, a fellow attorney, Mel Wulf (Justin Theroux), her daughter, Jane (Cailee Spaeny) and Dorothy Kenyon (Kathy Bates), it would've been that much tougher. The feature actually premiered in December of 2018 in line of Justice Ginsburg's 25th anniversary on the Supreme Court which she was sworn in in the year 1993.
Others to round out the cast are Wendy Crewson as Harriet Griswold, Jack Reynor as Jim Bozarth, Stephen Root as Professor Brown, Chris Mulkey as Charles Moritz, Gary Werntz as Judge Doyle, Francis Xavier McCarthy as Judge Daugherty and Ben Carlson as Judge Holloway.
This was directed with grit and passion by Mimi Leder ("Sisters" (TV movie) '90, "Woman with a Past" (TV movie) '92, "House of Secrets" (TV movie) '93, "The Peacemaker" '97, "Deep Impact" '98, "Pay It Forward" 2000, "Thick as Thieves" '09, "U.S. Attorney" (TV movie) '09, "Heavenly" (TV movie) '11) plus other TV movies and series TV. This film centers around gender equality, however it's ironic how Hollywood, who purports to be diverse and tolerant has zero female nominees for best direction at the Academy Awards. This film was directed with finesse, wit, passion and the literacy that is missing in many films today, Leder should've been nominated, however this is the kind of community Hollywood apparently is. The staid emotions at just the right timing from these actors was conveyed through Leder with perfection. There are many female directors out there that have soared in the director's chair: Penny Marshall, Kathryn Bigelow, Penelope Spheeris, Sofia Coppola and Ava DuVernay to mention a handful. So why is it that only one of these talented women have won an Oscar for her work--Bigelow for "The Hurt Locker"? Coppola won an Oscar but it was for writing. So much for a tolerant community. It was surprisingly written well by virtual newcomer, Daniel Stiepleman. Where did he come from!? Although, this wasn't a perfect screenplay, it was amazing in that he has no other work in the biz but art direction and working in an art department. I viewed the trailer not really expecting the film I saw. It was cohesive--spanning approximately one and a half decades. This would be a feat for any seasoned writer, but this writer pulled it off. Other than a couple of small slow areas in script, this storyline simply soared. Wow, this guy is either a natural or just stumbled into a good screenplay. But assuming that this writer is a natural--which I believe, I can't wait to see what he will be writing next, and there will be a next.
As aforementioned, I didn't see how well this film would be by watching the trailer. It's passionate, soul-searching, with wit and allowing us to see that Ginsburg, however a talented attorney, was still a wife and mother with frailties that we, the public never knew, and this alone is worth the price of admission. Also Jones gave a stunning portrayal of this formidable woman and she also should've received an Oscar nomination.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: PG-13 120mins.
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