Review of RBG (2018) by Philip P — 10 Dec 2018

"I ask no favor for my sex. All I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks." - Sarah Grimkï¿ 1/2 (C)...and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's personal mantra.

Going in knowing little to nothing about Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her historical rise to Supreme Court Justice, "RBG" is the biggest shot of adrenaline one might ever gain from a movie centered around an 84 year-old. From the opening scene in which Ginsburg, or the "Notorious RBG" as she's come to be known, is working out with her personal trainer it's clear the perpetually busy Supreme Court Justice is not one to be reckoned with.

Further, this documentary doesn't simply capitalize on the recent wave of pop culture adoration though it obviously acknowledges it, but directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West dive into that of what made Ginsburg who she still is today and the multitude of cases that earned her a place not only as a Supreme Court Justice, but as the pioneer for women's rights and equal rights for all. It is a legal legacy that is worthy of the praise this documentary so happily heaps upon her.

And yet, it is the small moments and truths that endear the audience to Ginsburg the most. From seeing RBG react to Kate McKinnon doing an impression of her on SNL for the first time to that of learning that at the ripe old age of 22 or so, when she was attending Harvard Law School, she also had a two year-old daughter, was caring for her husband who was going through radiation therapy due to cancer, handling her course load, as well as gathering all of her husband's coursework (who was also in law school) from friends so he wouldn't fall behind, and still somehow managing to make Harvard's law review that it becomes clear no matter if you agree with her opinions or stands on certain issues that it's hard not to acknowledge how truly special of an individual she is.

Also, what a fantastic and eloquent writer the woman is.