Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Young lawyer Ruth Bader Ginsburg teams with her husband Marty to bring a groundbreaking case before the U.S. Court of Appeals and overturn a century of sex discrimination.
On the Basis of Sex is a competent, earnest biographical drama that follows the well-worn template of the legal inspirational film. The plot hits familiar beats of the underdog legal battle with clarity but little surprise. Acting is solid — Felicity Jones and Armie Hammer share good chemistry and give sincere performances, though the script doesn't push them into deeply complex territory. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable, favoring safe period staging over any distinctive visual voice. Novelty suffers from the film's adherence to genre conventions; despite its important subject matter, it rarely distinguishes itself from other biopics, and the storytelling approach is largely by-the-numbers. The ending provides satisfying emotional payoff and cleverly connects Ginsburg's legal journey to her Supreme Court legacy, giving the film a meaningful close.