with few modifications, "On the Basis of Sex" could have been made 30 years ago, and its rousing portrait of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg would be a cheesy tearjerker with purpose. Today, it's out of touch
the conventional connect-the-dots approach and less-than-ideal casting of the leading role keep the film from being something more than a proficient but ordinary account of an extraordinary career
Ruth Bader Ginsburg's story will be especially inspirational, making it relatively easy to forgive a few manipulative and melodramatic touches in the telling
it is a handsomely staged, well-acted and topically valuable biopic of Ruth Bader Ginsburg; By focusing on the case and not creating artificial family strife, it avoids many biopic tropes and has a believe-your-eyes plausibility
a familiarly wrought, intermittently effective drama; fascinating; There's a propelling motion that makes the film a swift, slick watch led by a figure rare in a genre still dominated by men