Review of On the Basis of Sex, directed by Mimi Leder

If you’re new here, welcome to my blog! I write book, movie, and television reviews, as well as document my travels on this site. I wanted to write this introductory sentence because as of late, I’ve been getting through an intense backlog of content.

In May 2024, I graduated with my master’s degree, and while waiting to be sent to Korea for a program, I had a ton of time. This meant I watched a ton of movies and read quite a few books.

I also wrote this little introduction because I watched On the Basis of Sex during this time, and it was one of the last movies I watched before I went off to South Korea. That means I’m finally getting through my backlog! Such a time to celebrate right now, although I see I have another two months’ worth of content to get through.

Anyways, I had no idea this movie existed in the world before I watched it. I was on Netflix, bored as usual during this time, when I was scrolling through and found this. I found the synopsis to be interesting, as I had watched the RBG documentary years ago, and so I decided to watch it one go.

I’m probably rambling already, so let’s wrap this intro section up and jump straight into the review then, shall we?

The story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her rise to the Supreme Court of the United States.

This movie begins in 1956, when Ruth is just getting started at Harvard Law School. She’s married to fellow student Martin, but at this time, he’s just been given a devastating diagnosis: he has testicular cancer. So Ruth steps up as he gets treatment, taking notes for the both of them while also taking care of their newborn daughter Jane.

It’s two years until Martin’s cancer is under control, and he gets a job at a firm in New York. Ruth wants to move her Harvard credits to Columbia, but she is told no. She transfers to Columbia instead, and graduates at the top of her class. Despite this, she is unable to find a job because she is a woman, and she is forced to teach at Rutgers instead on discrimination.

Years later, in 1970, Martin brings home an interesting case to Ruth: Moritz v. Commissioner. It’s about tax law, and as Ruth looks more into it, it clearly is about sex discrimination. She wants to challenge the status quo, saying this man was discriminated against because of the basis of sex, and that because it’s a man in the case, the judges are more liking to side with him.

She tries to recruit help to take on the case, and then meets with Moritz. Moritz agrees to let them represent him after being told his could help so many people. The case is filed and it goes to court. Ruth, who has never been in a court, doesn’t do too well, and then Martin takes the lead while she argues about equal protection.

The government then offers a settlement of a dollar. Ruth then finds a loophole that this is unconstitutional, but Martin and Ruth keep pushing during the court case. While the defense argues that they’re trying to change society and make a radical change, Ruth says that there are already societal changes and that the Constitution doesn’t include the words “woman” and “freedom.”

Despite the decision, Ruth and Martin celebrate how Ruth is able to hold her own as a lawyer. For so long, people doubted her and refused to give an opportunity to a talented lawyer, but here, in the courtroom, she was able to hold her ground.

The movie finishes there, but closing title cards explain that they won the case unanimously. Ruth then founded the Women’s Rights Project with the ACLU, and then she would eventually become a judge at the Supreme Court. We are given one last scene of the real Ginsburg walking up to the Supreme Court building in Washington.

Overall Thoughts

I’d say this was a pretty decent movie. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an important figure in American law and the fight for women’s rights, especially now that we have to honor her legacy since she has passed on. I remember the day she died, and how so many people in New York were openly mourning.

Did I think that this was an entertaining movie? Not really. Sometimes historical and significant movies like this can be a bit more drier, and we watch them just for seeing how these people’s stories come alive. Some do manage to make it captivating though, and I found the pacing on this film to be a tad off.

I will admit, watching this in 2024, I did not pay attention to who was the cast and I did have a bit of a double take when I saw Armie Hammer portraying her husband. He was canceled quite a bit ago now, so it’s interesting to see his older work where he had lead roles.

Anyways, if you’re interested in this film, go ahead and watch it. There’s a lot to learn from movies like these, and I would recommend anyone to watch these films.

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