RBG biopic gets mixed reaction, zeitgeist gives it a boost

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‘They Shall Not Grow Old’ set for US release in December

After seeing Mimi Leder’s “On the Basis of Sex”, centered on Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, at a screening last week, two things became apparent: the RBG drama is a crowd pleaser, and critical minds will object to its basic presentation.

Judging by reactions to last night’s AFI Fest opening night world premiere, the fissure is starting to show. “Ruth, I’m sorry, you deserve better,” one viewer tweeted. “The quintessential movie for the #MeToo era,” another chimed in. Meanwhile, both sides agree that actress Felicity Jones was the wrong casting decision to play a young Ginsburg, and that she struggles with a New York accent that ebbs and flows throughout.

My take is that the performance perfectly embodies the spirit of the character, regardless of the details, and that the film itself, although aesthetically dialed down, is by no means a cookie-cutter biopic. After all, we don’t go from cradle to cracked ribs here. Screenwriter Daniel Stiepleman, a nephew of Ginsburg’s, chose a singular frame of reference for telling this story: Denver resident Charles Moritz’s 1970 petition to the Internal Revenue Service seeking deductions for expenses paid as caretaker of his aging mother. At the time, the law ruled such protections were only afforded to women, conforming to a faux “natural order.” It was a seminal case for Ginsburg, who took it on with her husband Martin alongside the American Civil Liberties Union, and it makes a sound microcosm for the many ideas one would expect to be discussed in a movie centered on her.

Within that, sure, it’s formulaic. It hits familiar beats. Though there are fun inversions, like Armie Hammer in the role of Martin, sending the “supporting spouse” trope in another direction, or in the contradictions inherent in the Moritz case. And there are fair criticisms to offer. “Though Jones and Hammer share a charming on-screen chemistry, the casting of the two stars diminishes at least one dimension of the Ginsburgs’ lifelong struggle for civil rights, presenting them as generic characters straight out of the Sears catalog or a Douglas Sirk movie, rather than members of a religious minority who would have had to contend with anti-Semitism at work and school in the 1950s and ‘60s,” wrote Variety chief film critic Peter Debruge in his review.

Navigating

But on the whole, the film works, and it certainly suffers no less than something like “Green Book” – which has been critically acclaimed – for navigating so safely through socio-political terrain. (Both films were financed by Participant Media.) It also obviously arrives at an interesting historical moment, when the rule of law feels threatened on a daily basis and the vital importance of the United States Supreme Court is more apparent than ever. And of course, Ginsburg herself was hospitalized early yesterday morning with three fractured ribs, sending a collective gasp throughout liberal America as the fear of a third SCOTUS appointment by the current presidential administration remains a shared nightmare.

All of that could help push the film through the awards season despite critical knocks. Jones is a contender in a lead actress race that feels particularly fluid outside the top two or three spots (more on that in next week’s column), and Hammer is a supporting actor possibility as well. Pop star Kesha’s original song from the film, “Here Comes the Change”, will also be in the mix.

Also:

LOS ANGELES: Fathom Events has partnered with Warner Bros Pictures to bring Peter Jackson’s World War I documentary “They Shall Not Grow Old” to US theaters on Dec 17 and Dec 27, Variety has learned exclusively.

Tickets go on sale on Nov 16.

Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros Pictures said, “With this being the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, I can’t imagine a more appropriate time to honor the courage of the soldiers who fought in WWI – what was then ‘the war to end all wars’ – many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. Peter has made history come alive through the medium of film, and we are so pleased to be a part of bringing his vision to today’s audiences.” (RTRS)

“They Shall Not Grow Old” will air on the BBC in the UK on Nov 11 – Armistice Day. It’s the day on which the allies and Germans agreed to cease hostilities. The film was commissioned by 14-18 NOW, the UK arts program for the First World War centenary, and the Imperial War Museum, in association with the BBC.

Jackson recorded a special introduction to the film, offering his perspective on why the movie is important for audiences who have never experienced World War I footage in color.

The Fathom screenings will be immediately followed by pre-recorded offering insights into making the film. Jackson had access to more than 600 hours of BBC archival interviews in assembling the documentary.

“We knew that partnering with Warner Bros to bring this extraordinary documentary to US audiences was essential,” said Fathom Events CEO Ray Nutt. “Putting this documentary on the big screen via the Fathom network will further illuminate Jackson’s work and allow moviegoers to see the impressive visual detail of the restored footage as though they were a part of that moment in time.” (RTRS).

By Kristopher Tapley

This news has been read 7329 times!