A reverential look at a champion of equality and one of the greats of the Supreme Court
2018 has been a great year for documentaries. Releases like Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Three Identical Strangers, Pope Francis, and Whitney performed well in terms of box office takes, but even more so with their resonance with audiences. What seemed to open the gates earlier this year was a documentary about U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. A figure whose force from the bench championing women’s rights and equality has given her iconic status, the reverence around her has only grown all the more in the current political climate. With such an inspirational and impactful role in this country’s history, and indeed present, who is more deserving of a biopic than the notorious RBG?
Synopsis
At the age of 85, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But, without a definitive memoir, the unique personal journey of this diminutive, quiet warrior’s rise to the nation’s highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans — until now. RBG is a revelatory documentary exploring Ginsburg’s exceptional life and career from Betsy West and Julie Cohen, and produced by Storyville Films and CNN Films.
On whatever side of American politics you lean, you’re aware of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the diminutive octogenarian who towers over the liberal side of the Supreme Court. You’re probably less aware of the fights she encountered on the way to taking a seat on the highest court in the land. Directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West weave together interviews with Ginsburg and associates in the current day, with a look back at challenges, achievements, and defining moments of her life. The films draws from an assortment of characters in building up this look at her life, from supporters such as Bill Clinton (who nominated her to the court) and Joe Biden, to Republican Orrin Hatch, and even people who have stood against her in the courtroom. She has earned reverence from both sides of the aisle, and in all aspects of her career. NPR correspondent Nina Totenberg features in interview segments also to help draw out some of her reflections and connect the various details of her career and life. On a personal level, we gain insight into her scholastic pursuits, meeting her husband Marty Ginsburg, with whom she would spend 56 years together, as well as meet the rest of her family.
What’s crucially conveyed is how the difficulties and prejudice she encountered defined what she set out to achieve. Out of Harvard law, she had difficulty finding a position due to the permeation of the “boys club” mentality. She didn’t attack that system; she sought to change it. Despite preconceptions about what a good or well-mannered lady should do, she didn’t politely accept the situation; rather she challenged antiquated notions and laws, taking cases where she helped level the playing field in terms of gender equality. She succeeded in opening up opportunities for women that had long been bastions for men.
The cult that surrounds her, making her an icon to young women, is highlighted and largely drives the film, being an adulatory exercise for the most part. This isn’t an overly fleshed out, warts and all delve into the Justice, but more a reverential portrait. It does tend to gloss over much of her past, a CliffsNotes take that certainly leaves you wanting more substance. But the film is at its best when they let RBG be RBG, weaving in her arguments and legal commentaries and letting her take the mic. It’s in this where you get a sense of the intelligence, eloquence, and persistence that have driven her all these years, qualities that have changed minds as well as laws. Perhaps the most moving and effective component of the film is found in two scenes that help bookend not just the movie, but the impact of Ginsburg. We learn that when she attended Harvard Law School she was but one of nine women, in a class of 500. We catch a glimpse near the end of the Justice with her own granddaughter, who is now attending Harvard Law in a class that is evenly made up of as many women as men. Opportunity is something not afforded to all, but thanks to the work and legacy of RBG, more of it is within reach of women across the country.
The Package
The release offers a transfer of a film that compiles footage from a number of sources, both old and new. The newly shot footage is all of good quality, with solid detail and contrast, and authentic color/hues present. Special features are somewhat limited but are:
- Deleted/Extended Scenes: Around 7 minutes of extra content, mostly repetitious in nature, hence their exclusion.
- Additional Interviews: Conversations with Bryant Johnson (RBG’s fitness instructor), Clara Spera (her granddaughter), Judge Harry Edwards, and Sharron Frontiero, amongst others.
- Trailers
The Bottom Line
There’s a superficial quality to RBG that means it might disappoint those looking for deeper insights into the Justice and her career. Nevertheless it’s an inspirational film, largely due to Ginsburg herself rather then any efforts on the part of the filmmakers. She’s a woman who was determined to tackle the system from within, applying smarts and perseverance for the betterment of her country and fellow citizens. Her fortitude deserves to be celebrated and appreciated, and RBG does just that.
RBG is available on Blu-ray from August 28th, 2018.
