The true story of how Ruth Bader Ginsberg (Felicity Jones) toppled the laws that discriminated on the basis of sex leading to more equal legal footing between men and women.

On the basis of sex is a quintessential against the odds biopic. Traversing through a number of years in the life of a famous figure it shows the hard work spent to attain their position, the obstacles in their path and their tenacity to overcome them before leading to the crucial defining moment that paves the way to their success. With of course one more obstacle right at the end to overcome. It’s exceptionally good at providing that cookie cutter story.

The opening third shows us Ginsberg hard work in studying at Harvard when the establishment don’t even want women there. All whilst she raises a family and helps her husband study his degree when he is ill. The middle third shows her teaching her students after settling to be a professor when law firms don’t want to hire a woman. Whilst the final third shows her delivering her coup de grace in a precedent setting case.

Jones is surrounded by a number of great acting talents. Armie Hammer plays her supportive husband. Sam Waterston and Stephen Root play establishment professors at Harvard. Whilst Justin Theroux and Kathy Bates play fellow lawyers. If anyone stands out alongside Jones though it’s her onscreen daughter played by Cailee Spaeny who gives an interesting turn as the politicised teenage daughter.

It’s entertaining and moves along at a pace that keeps you interested. And the only detractor is that it’s very good at delivering a predictable biopic arc.