User Reviews

The right to choose was settled until it wasn't! Who would have thought that another "Call Jane" movement would be necessary in 2023?

The film while not perfect get the message across that women were not in control of their own bodies, could not terminate a pregnancy even when medically necessary and the woman's life was in danger. One of the opening scenes has Elizabeth Banks as Joy, pregnant with congestive heart trouble and a hospital board of men voting no on terminating her pregnancy because she might live through it. I almost forgot how dire the situation was back when abortion was illegal in my lifetime. The pill had just become available and has been life changing for women. The film does a good job portraying that time. What a travesty that women's rights have been taken away in more than half of America. I would not have ever predicted that we could regress but we have. It is a tragic state of affairs.

Termination is everyone woman's right. It is a private decision. Laws against women, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and culpability against anyone willing to help girls and women access to medical help are despicable.

I recommend this film for everyone.

If you are looking for an entertaining movie mostly, you will be disappointed probably, but if you have an open mind and appreciate the input that movies can and do provide for expanding one's understanding of life's great challenges, then you should not be disappointed. That along with this review's headline is my conclusion, upfront.

Firstly, the IMDb synopsis and especially the storyline further below it will provide you sufficient information to decide if you want to see this movie. I was swayed mostly by the three lead actors whose names usually will make me consider watching the movies in which they perform, namely Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina and the lead actor also, Elizabeth Banks. It is not any of those three's best performances, in my opinion, but the characters they play and their situation or the circumstances depicted may be the factors that made me immerse myself in the period, 50 years ago, and especially in the battle they fought, the one for women's right to an abortion. I've been, in principle, always a supporter of the cause and for the rights. The movie gave however something more than justification, it gave me the feeling that made my reasons for supporting the cause more human and definitely more real. I can only imagine how this movie will make women viewers feel, as I am but a man. I'm serious because the story was a serious one and still the fight for those rights are serious today, in America without a doubt.

In June of this year, 2022, America got a shot to its perceived rights, well they were not so 'acquired' anymore, when the Supreme Court overturned the defining 1973 landmark decision we all know as Roe vs Wade. It was a setback that justifiably angered most women and anyone really supportive of the needed rights. I will repeat the word 'need' and 'needed' because it was what this movie allowed me to appreciate with greater sensitivity. The story of the women in the movie is no different than the actual circumstances that existed then, exist today and always will. The story paints that picture well enough, not like a photograph but perhaps like a Van Gogh painting might to the discerning eye.

It may or not change some minds, but it's the best source for a getting a perspective called for, one beyond simply believing in a principle but understanding a need. The movie was released in Oct-2022 after the Dobbs case proceedings, the one the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in June 2022; it was fair timing for the release which many, I read, wanted released sooner, not that it would have made a difference. The movie however reinforced the ensuing political debates before US midterm elections. Movies such as this one are part of what makes cinema a valued art, even when it's not Oscar material. After seeing the movie online, I was compelled to write a review; I would be thrilled if it convinced anyone, one would be good, to watch it in turn.

Some may call this film timely as the issue of abortion is always a hot topic the theme is touchy however no matter how you see or feel about the issue this film "Call Jane" was an interesting drama film to see about a group of determined ladies.

Set back in the 1960's when most abortions were not legal it involved a housewife Joy(the wonderful Elizabeth Banks) who becomes pregnant however her own health is at risk and still her doctor is of no help. So she finds about an underground network a powerful and courage like discreet group of ladies who run a "Call Jane" organization! The group lead by the blunt and brash Virginia(the great Sigourney Weaver) oversees the life and safety of several ladies who want to abort, call it go against the grain as still these ladies are doing what they have to do in a powerful and brave like manner. This picture is a powerful drama with a strong message of courage, and hope as the film is a social showcase of standing up for believes despite not taking moral or political sides. Overall wonderful well done film to watch.

Elizabeth Banks ("Joy") and her husband "Will" (Chris Messina) are rather joyfully expecting a late arrival into their 1960s family when it transpires that she has an heart condition that her doctor suggests could prove extremely perilous so long as she remains pregnant. Desperate, she turns to "Jane" after reading a billboard that suggested there may be help at hand. $600 and a visit to "Dr. Dean" (Cory Michael Smith) and all may be dealt with? Not if "Virginia" (Sigourney Weaver) has anything to do with it for she is the facilitator of a small group of women determined to help others who find themselves in a similar predicament. Of course it's all illegal - and the film now takes on a frequently darkly humoured trip that sees this initially rather reticent (and innocent) woman realise that more needs to be done, and to take some, frankly, rather innovative and courageous steps so to do. As far as the integrity of the medical science goes, I suspect this is massively over-simplistic, but in light of current events in the United States, it does shine a light on the difficulties families (single or otherwise) have in obtaining adequate and affordable medical care when they are faced with the unpleasant realities of an unwanted pregnancy. There is the odd bit of politicking going on - the prioritisation of victims getting support proving quite a potent source of debate and that, too, does offer food for thought. Banks reminded me of Elizabeth Montgomery from "Bewitched" for much of this; Weaver, though not exactly prominent here, offers a bit of depth and there is a strong effort from both the increasingly bamboozled Messina and from Wunmi Mosaku's "Gwen". It does begin to recycle itself a little towards and ending that didn't make a great deal of sense to me and the conclusion, despite this being over 2 hours long, seemed a bit rushed - but it is still an entertaining piece of cinema with an underpinning message that is probably more relevant now that for many a year.

This small scale drama is a very thought-provoking experience, directed by an incredible director and showcasing legendary actors, it's one for the ages and showcases a very important story.

The script is very clever with very well-written dialogue and the cinematography, editing and cutting delivers in every way as usual with this director.

It is definitely a film that should be experienced, whether you are just in it for a very artistic and well-made cinematic experience or just to appreciate and be astounded by this incredible and in a lot of ways, very tragic story.

It is one for the ages that I could definitely see winning an Oscar.

Of anger towards underbelly of the supreme courts of the states and federation of united states of america, search me if im wrong but this is the new wave of proabortion activism coming to us through the silverscreen media, the cause is important and the story will for sure lit a flame of anger, hope, love and justice in the end...

i shall not make an ethical inclination onto the abortion issues, other than say that many lives and destinies has been saved since the supreme court descisions in the cases between roe vs. Wade and doe vs bolton in 1973, and that the conservatismic leap back to medevalism of 2022 where a comite of men (and a few women) shall decide how a life shall preside, that is an utter violence against womanhood in general.

A film that every probono lawyer should see, a film that every woman with her own wits should see, because this is what will come to be a reality in the years to come.

Its a neat and heartfelt fictious but ever so realfelt story about how things where back then in the 50's and 60's, its an unbloody and quite pure and simplistic as a natural life shall be, boldly presented by a cast of well known actors that dares to choose side in this fog of war on protecting the individual womans rights. So from a grumpy old nursing veteran man its a recommend, its not a perfect plot but they will come in other features.

Call Jane is a must watch. Not necessarily because it is the best film around, but because it is so vitally important given the state of the world today.

It is hard not to be very emotionally stirred by this tale of courageous women taking control of their own bodies and their futures in the face of oppression.

The central performance from Elizabeth Banks is very engaging, playing a character that it is easy to sympathise with and connect to.

The story is engaging and well told, if not overly flashy.

I do think certain elements of the film could have been explored and developed more, and it could have been a bit more punchy in parts.

But still, given the state of the world and the ridiculous oppression of women's bodies, it is hard to ignore the importance of a film like this.

Couldn't really tell what it's going to be about at the start; takes time to reveal itself and in the process I started to lose interest in it. You do get it's the 60's with the dialogue and scenery, the ideologies too; but it the movie doesn't really focus on convincing you of the era and instead on telling you the story instead.

It's pretty slow paced and I wasn't really sucked into it for the first half, opening act is promising then quickly starts to get dull at times and just felt like it was lagging to get to the point to address what the movie was going to actually be about. It took time to actually start. About an hour or so in it starts to find it's groove and turns a little more upbeat. It was very believable with great acting throughout which made it touching, though I don't know if that makes up for the lack of zeal it has. Once the point is made though it feels like they were adding unnecessary points to develop plot which it didn't really need to get to the end of the story. I think the movie could've had a much shorter run time and still gotten the same level of emotion and notion across. For the most part the great acting is what kept me interested and elevated the film.

The film should've been better, I still think it's a pretty decent movie especially if you wait it out, and it might be a movie based in the 60's but it's been released at a time when it's message is still relevant, just unfortunate it's still a topic we have to discuss this many years later. Not so much has changed in six decades that the characters and message the movie is advocating for are still very familiar in this age.

It's actually pretty impressive how well balanced this movie is about the subject. Just when you thought it was going to take just one side to the subject of abortion, a new shoe is dropped to show how multilayered and diverse this manner is. Basically, no woman left behind or taken out of the equation.

That would be impressive just for a contemporary movie, yet alone one set in the 1960s.

Plus, in my opinion it went through the medical details of an abortion fairly. Meaning they just explained the procedure without guiding you anyway. I've seen content that is supposed to be pro chose purposely, make the whole process look more frightening than it needs to. This movie was just trying to shed some much-needed light on the subject.

I can't recall a better work of political art than this movie. I feel like the filmmakers deserve a thanks.

The good achievement of this 1960s-set drama is the transformation of an historical account of illegal abortion into a strong movie of personal empowerment. Elizabeth Banks takes starring and acts perfectly as usually. The material is fascinating and although the director Phyllis Nagy (who was Oscar nominated for her screenplay for Carol) leans into the positivity in Joy's character arc, she never once denies the underlying outrage of her predicament. It helps also that Banks is on winning form, and ably supported by Sigourney Weaver as a flinty Jane veteran with a welter of one-liners. Overall it works.

It's 1968 Chicago. Criminal lawyer Will (Chris Messina) and his pregnant wife Joy (Elizabeth Banks) are reserved politically. Her health deteriorates and she needs a medical abortion. The hospital board rejects her request and she goes seeking back alley help. She finds a flyer to Call Jane, a women's organization headed by Virginia (Sigourney Weaver).

If this came out a couple of years ago, it would be irrelevant or scaremongering. With the recent court ruling, this has gained new relevance. It does get a bit preachy, but the politics do lend itself to preaching. First, I would change the opening section. It makes them sound dumb and disengaged. They seem to be a smart couple, but the movie makes them political idiots. They are religious. The opening could have the family attend church. My other big problem is the pumpkin. I get the attempt at humor, but the movie is better without the attempt. This is not American Pie and the joke is a little close to that. All in all, it's a movie for a certain crowd and not for the other crowd.

I didn't even know about this movie. My husband selected it, thinking it might be a controversial, yet sort of feel good, blend. It is exactly that, touches upon a very sensitive topic that we shouldn't even have to discuss ...yet here we are still in 2023, but I digress. The story is great. The acting is pretty good, and I believe the story. Well worth watching and I wish it had more views...it needs to be seen. Seriously too bad I'd never heard of it and I'll be telling everyone to watch it. Main characters do a good job, the settings for the time period are well done. Spend the time watching then talk to others about it.

Now more than ever, the topic of this film has become relevant again.

This basically shows part of the fight women had to go through to fet the right to decide over their own body.

And now half a century later (give or take a few years), that right is not just endangered, but seriously threatened again with Roe vs. Wade overturned.

Personally, I always felt that while certainly the opinion of the father (if he is in a relationship with the mother) should be considered, ultimately, this is the woman's body, and she has to decide.

So, this is an important topic, and the film has a good cast, but I can't go higher than 5 stars, because it is just not that good.

Talented actors, but no one is giving their best.

The film fails to hold the suspense and the attention of the viewers.

And I'm sorry to say this, but I have become tired of Elisabeth Banks, even in her comedies, it's always about women fighting against evil and mostly stupid men.

Women are always the better humans.

So even here, when I completely agree with the position of her character, when I'm completely with the message of the film, she actually makes me like the film less.

She has become an actor/director that does nothing but push an agenda, and I find it tiresome.

She had a life threatening pregnancy. But the hospital board turns her down when she needed an emergency abortion. She had limited options. Year 1968, 5 years before the Supreme Court ruled under Roe v Wade decision that the constitution conferred the right to have abortion. She visits a shady clinic, considers falling down the stairs and finally finds a flier near the shady clinic she visits: Call Jane. Inspired by true events, this period drama tells a story of a group of staunch and unapologetic grassroots women activists and their ideology of altruism superseding the judgements. When a woman needs help, the underlying reason is not important. Well made and well acted! Fantastic job by screenwriters Roshan Sethi and Hayley Schore for lightening up the serious subject with some humor and still maintaining its quintessence. In today's context, this seems so timely.

This is based on The Jane Collective, a clandestine group in Chicago between 1969 and 1973. It facilitated an estimated 11,000 illegal but safe abortions. It is not just about empowering women as this concept was introduced just in 1985. Women have fought their battles since ages whether it was for suffrage, education, employment or for something as basic a right as abortion. A great watch.

This movie should be shown in ALL schools as part of the required curriculum. It's not a fancy, flashy, big budget production. It's a modest movie that tells a great story. A very important one. And it does a mighty fine job at doing that too. Sure, we all know those times existed not that long ago in our history but most people don't know what it was REALLY like... what those women went through, how difficult it was, how expensive, etc. This movie felt like it told the story the right way. With a lot of compassion. It's not here to make a ton of money, it's just here to enlighten and spread a message. The acting from Banks and Weaver is the usual/expected top notch, no surprises there, with Banks sometimes telling an entire story with just a slight shift on her face. This is not a fast action packed movie and I see that a lot of people complained about that which I don't understand. It felt like it had plenty of intensity in it for me and it kept me watching from beginning to end. There was always something interesting and new happening. Sure, there were a couple of plot holes (abortion advertisements at a bus stop in the 50's??) but they needed to get the story across so I get it.

Overall this was an excellent movie. Please enjoy it responsibly!

No pun intended - depending on your moral view and probably your gender, you will have a bit of pre-conception on the movie and its topic. Quite the hot topic to say the least. The movie will not be easy to watch and the real life consequences it touches upon ... well again, depending on your mindset ... it will determine if you are going to "like" what you see here or not.

The thing is, people who are not in the position to make certain decisions (about other people and their bodies) ... well most of the time feel the need to do so anyway. Be it politicians or neighbors or people of faith. A weird thing some might say and feel.

Performance wise this is as amazing as it gets. And since America had some laws ... added and removed ... it could not be more topical if it tried. There are arguments to be had ... but try not to be too judgemental ... something that is touched upon too by the movie (yes even the ones that help have second thoughts sometimes) ...

Jane will have to be revived. We are living in the dark ages! Women still have no say over their own bodies. This movie is what will be in the near future if this way of thinking continues. Scary. Yes, dang scary. I lived in the 60s snd 70s. And you know who our worst enemy is? It's women. They are scared to change the status quo. They continue to follow like sheep. Women can be more cruel then men. Watch this movie and see what we have to look forward to. It is very relevant to the times that are coming. Our only hope is that our grandchildren can bring this world back to reality. Pray that happens.

Well that was a waste of my precious time. I found Call Jane a boring movie to watch, very repetitive, scenes that could and should have been deleted, and sometimes mediocre acting. I'm not saying Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver are bad actresses, certainly not, but even them couldn't make this movie interesting, let alone captivating. The movie is also much too long, it bored me to death at the end. In one scene were a dozen of women are debating in a little room three of those women are painting walls, well fake painting that is, as in another scene the room still looked unpainted. It's small details but it's exactly what bad directing and screenplay is about. And for the record I'm pro abortion if somebody thought I didn't like the movie because of some ridiculous moral issues.

I had a hard time watching this movie.

Not because of the subject matter, but because it's a very strange mish mash of things. Set in the 60's. The only thing 60 about the movie is the hair bob. The cars are largely from the '50s. The sets also look like the 50's or, oddly, current.

That lack of attention to that detail sort of stuck in my craw.

Then there is Sigorney Weaver. She made a name for herself in the Alien movies, bt she's really a B level actress. Honestly, I'm really surprised she still has a career. It's hard watching her deliver her lines because she's not all that talented.

In the end, there is a reason this movie took so long to find a release after being shown at Sundance.

It's just not that good.

I watched this film at Berlinale, not knowing what to expect. And I wasn't blown away by it.

The film is pretty average but it gets a bit full at times. The story is obviously important but the film isn't super entertaining and it doesn't really live up to the story.

Good plot. Excellent actors. And it absolutely is relevant to our 2022 world.

Whichever side people come down on the issue of bodily autonomy, they will know more and be better informed after seeing this film. I don't get why some viewers thought it was boring. Hardly!

Highly recommend. Both enjoyable and shocking while surprisingly educational.

Good plot. Excellent actors. And it absolutely is relevant to our 2022 world.

Whichever side people come down on the issue of bodily autonomy, they will know more and be better informed after seeing this film. I don't get why some viewers thought it was boring. Hardly!

Highly recommend. Both enjoyable and shocking while surprisingly educational.