Summary
Netflix will remind streamers why one actress deserves to be a bigger star now that it has included the well-received biographical dramaOn the Basis of Sexin its catalog. The 2018 biopic documents the revolutionary life of lawyer and later associate justice of the US Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsberg.On the Basis of Sexmay be nowhere near as trailblazing as the historical icon herself but is consideredan appreciable and crowd-pleasing flick by the likes ofRotten Tomatoes, on which the movie earned an approval rating of 72%, and other review aggregators that reveal the same sentiment.
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Despite someOn the Basis of Sexreviewsfinding fault for it playing out like a conventional biopic, in most cases, critics praised the film for bringing Ginsberg’s story to life in a manner undeniably inspirational by nature. In defense ofOn the Basis of Sex, it’d be impossible for any dramatization of Ginsberg’s life to touch on everything that made her a legal, cultural, and feminist idol. However,On the Basis of Sexsuccessfully capitalized on its strengths, including its exceptional castand one actress whose performance was impressive enough that it should’ve helped amplify her fame.
On The Basis Of Sex: 10 Things We Learned About Ruth Bader Ginsburg
On the Basis of Sex is the powerful biopic about the powerhouse who was Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Here are some things we learned about Ruth from the film.
On the Basis of Sex
Cast
On the Basis of Sex follows the early career of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she faced gender discrimination while embarking on a legal battle that changed the landscape of women’s rights. Starring Felicity Jones and directed by Mimi Leder, the film captures Ginsburg’s journey to overturn a century of gender inequality with her husband, Martin Ginsburg, portrayed by Armie Hammer, standing by her side.
LeadingOn the Basis of Sex’scast, which contained easily recognizable actors such asDolores Claiborne’sKathy Bates,Law & Orderfranchise alum Sam Waterston, andAmerican Psycho’sJustin Theroux, was English actress Felicity Jones as Ginsberg.On the Basis of Sex’sstarring role had to be daunting, burdened by the pressures of Ginsberg’s remarkable legacy, the expectation to do it justice, and the typical scrutiny of any new movie release. Yet,Jones commanded the role and didn’t just act well but with an intensity that was essential to portray how Ginsberg dominated the rigid, male-dominated world of law.
Though her portrayal of the legal visionary wasn’t for everybody,Jones' performance obtained her a Women’s Image Network Award nomination for Outstanding Actress and even some mild Oscar buzz. WhileOn the Basis of Sexmay not be consideredthe best movie of Jones' career, it has become a reminder of how talented the actress is. Jones' impressive Ginsberg performanceshould’ve solidified her stature as a big-name actress, especially coming off the back of her multi-nominated role in 2014’sThe Theory of Everythingand, more notably, her part in 2016’sRogue One: A Star Wars Story, but it didn’t.
Watch Felicity Jones' notable performance inOn the Basis of Sexnow on Netflix.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is a standalone film set in the Star Wars universe, where a group of resistance fighters, led by Jyn Erso, embarks on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. This pivotal event sets the stage for the iconic saga to follow.
Besides the fact that Jones' Oscar, BAFTA, and Golden Globe-nominated role inThe Theory of Everythingas Stephan Hawkins’s wife Jane should have been the launchpad for much more fame, her lead performance inthe cast ofRogue One: A Star Wars Storyalso had great potential in boosting Jones into superstardom and faltered just as much. AsRogue One’shuman heroine, Jyn Erso,Jones succeeded in drawing in and impressingStar Warsfans and critics alike. TheStar Warsprequel had already been a considerable draw, but its female-led premise and talented lead actress helpedRogue Onehit big.
From a $200 thousand budget (viaBox Office Mojo),Rogue Oneblossomed into a $1 billion hit. On top of being a worldwide box office sensation,Rogue Onechanged theStar Warsfranchisefor the better by fixing canon plot holes, introducing CGI recreations of classic characters, and more. That said,no matter how big aStar Warsmovie gets, it’s often for the franchise’s sake and not so much the movie’s lead. For that reason, Jones, like Hayden Christensen, Daisy Ridley, and others, are huge names in theStar Warsfranchise but not nearly as big outside of it.
What Felicity Jones Has Done In Recent Years
Jones Has Performed In Several UK Projects Since 2018
Outside of what many would consider big-name performers or superstars,Jones is still very much regarded as a prominent actress, and she’s been in the business since 1996. She found her start in the role of Alice for the British television family filmThe Treasure Seekersand has performed in dozens of American or British TV shows and movies from there on. Besides acting inThe Theory of EverythingandRogue One, Jones' more notable roles include Sienna Brooks in the action crime movieInfernoand Anna in the romantic dramaLike Crazy.
Most recently, Jones has performed in good, albeit not incredibly big projects. Similarly to her earlier career, Jones fluctuates between American and UK-based undertakings - though,in the past several years, Jones seems to favor film roles from the United Kingdom. It may be a personal choice to keep within the bounds of the UK to foster her career, but whether in America, like she was forOn the Basis of Sex, or the UK, where she appears to be establishing herself now, and no matter in what scale of the project, Jones' acting prowess is still increasingly deserving of kudos.
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