Saw "On the Basis of Sex" yesterday to an almost full showing.
I guess I was hoping for more "enlightment" as one of the reviews below discusses but I understand why they might have chosen a plotted path. Just last night my son's buddy's girlfriend (who's a conservative) was ranting about women HAVING to do the same things as men and evidently my son, who'd just seen the film, told her to go look up one of the many things which have fallen since the 70's: Being fired from a job when a women gets married, all forms of credit in her husband's name, ... stuff like that. She came back in an OMG and was the one who was enlightened.
I'm glad this film was made b/c there's a whole generation of millennials who have no clue about anything in this film!
Sorry, rant off.
As for the film. it was a bit slower paced. They were careful to draw clear lines between the way things were and they way things changed. Armie has a good supporting role but it is clear Felicity is the main attraction. Armie was just as
as in his other films. I'm not complaining!
There are some really good examples of the "male mentality" of the 1970's and I remember all too well all the discussions around "women's rights, women's liberation" and equal pay for equal work which is still not on par. Her interaction with the Dean of Harvard (Sam Waterston) was in-line with the pervasive attitudes then, and far too many now.
The LA Times summary is reflects my feelings - "“On the Basis of Sex” does its best to prove otherwise, but it is hindered by its own lack of imagination, its contentment with an easy-listening summary of its subject’s accomplishments. It would be silly to expect this movie to achieve the cinematic equivalent of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s brilliance, but you can’t help wishing it had more to offer than righteous speeches and stirring glances, that it put a few more ideas in your head to go with that lump in your throat."
There are spoilers in the links below, so read lightly. Bottom line, if you are a big Hammer fan, then ignore the above and enjoy the view!
V.
Ebert's site (3.5/4.0) ->
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/on-the-basis-of-sex-2018 Rotten (71%) ->
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/on_the_basis_of_sex LATimes Review ->
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-on-the-basis-of-sex-review-20181221-story.html LATimes ->
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/la-en-mn-felicity-jones-20181217-story.html