Call Jane

Call Jane

A married woman with an unwanted pregnancy lives in a time in America where she can't get a legal abortion and works with a group of suburban women to find help.

  • Released: 2022-10-27
  • Runtime: 121 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, History
  • Stars: Elizabeth Banks, Sigourney Weaver, Chris Messina, Wunmi Mosaku, Kate Mara, Cory Michael Smith, Grace Edwards, John Magaro, Aida Turturro, Emily Creighton, Gina Jun, Rebecca Henderson, Bianca D'Ambrosio
  • Director: Phyllis Nagy
 Comments
  • avindugunasinghe - 17 June 2023
    Revolutionary
    Call Jane clears a clean path through controversial mazes to point out the value of choice, choice to live. Subject is arguable but this tale's journey of empowerment is an exciting portrayal. A well written story that closely examines a past that was spent in a hurry by the human race. Great cast putting up a fantastic performance that's thorough and precise. Loved the background audio that's perfectly relatable. Great visuals that captures the momentum of the story and it's setup. Good collection of characters too. Call Jane is a rare gem of a movie that's exciting and thought provoking. Enjoy.
  • nogodnomasters - 14 December 2022
    The Whole World is Watching
    The production opens in August 1968 to the background of the DNC protests. William Griffen (Chris Messina) is an attorney and his wife Joy (Elizabeth Banks) assists him from home. While dancing in the kitchen with her daughter Charlotte (Grace Edwards) to the Velvet Underground she passes out. Joy has a heart condition which is made worse by her first trimester pregnancy. It is possible the pregnancy could kill her, then again maybe not. A medical review board in convened to determine if they can terminate the pregnancy. The life of the fetus outweighed that of the mother. Desperate, Joy seeks help and sees a poster to "Call Jane." She ends up getting her pregnancy terminated as she lies to her family. She had a miscarriage. Virginia (Sigourney Weaver) runs the illegal clinic and calls Joy to drive just one person. She manages to suck Jane into ladies club as she gets more and more involved.

    The film is designed to be timely in light of the recent court decisions. The script was not hard hitting. You did not see the mishaps. It was not hard hitting. There was some talk about races and genocide and free abortions for poor people, but it was all quickly done.

    Guide: F-word. No nudity. Implied sex scene.
  • arfdawg-1 - 16 November 2022
    I Mishmash of Ideas that Fall Flat
    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.
  • Starfilmsgold - 16 October 2022
    Triumph for women who have a right to choose.
    Saw this at BFI London Film Festival. Elizabeth Banks was lovely as Joy about a not very joyous story! The film true story about the 'Janes', an underground club of women in Chicago 1960s, who secretly provided 12,000 women and girls with desperate abortions from life threatening situations. Fight for legalizing abortion in the States. Lightweight movie. Raids and legal battles were left out of the film. Sigourney Weaver looked tired and not her feisty self. Questions of morality and legality were left out. And after too many abortions, the story felt cold hearted and abortions were performed almost routinely. Nevertheless, it was a triumph for women who have a right to choose.