55 Steps (2018)

55 Steps is the kind of true-story drama that sneaks up on you: part courtroom crusade, part intimate portrait of two women who refuse to be reduced to labels. Helena Bonham Carter and Hilary Swank give fiercely human performances that make the film feel less like a “message movie” and more like a hard-won friendship unfolding under pressure, with humor, anger, and tenderness in equal measure. The tone is earnest and emotionally direct, finding its power in quiet moments as much as in righteous speeches, and it leaves you thinking about dignity and choice long after the credits. If you’re allergic to straightforward inspirational dramas, it may feel a bit conventional, but if you want a moving, important story anchored by actors at the top of their game, this is absolutely worth your time.

55 Steps is clearly aiming to honor a real legal fight and the unlikely bond between Eleanor Riese and her court-appointed lawyer, and that intention is sincere. The problem is it often tells this story in a way that feels flat and strangely low-stakes, with scenes that drift rather than build urgency, so the “inspiring” parts can land softer than they should. If you’re expecting a tense courtroom drama or a hard-hitting, emotionally devastating true-story punch, this may feel dull and even a bit soporific. Still, if you prefer gentle, character-led dramas and you’re interested in mental health rights history, the performances and the subject matter may be enough to keep you engaged.