She Said movie review - The revelation of Weinstein's predatory behavior
The case, which shocked not only Hollywood, but the entire society, is the topic of a journalistic drama that follows the work of The New York Times newspaper's investigative journalists in discovering the predatory behavior of influential producer Harvey Weinstein.
These journalists, together with Ronan Farrow in the New Yorker, helped to record what had been rumored for years behind the scenes of the film industry. As a result, they aided in the investigation and sentencing of Weinstein to 23 years in jail for sexual offenses.
Their investigation into this issue triggered or contributed to the formation of the #MeToo campaign, which helped revolutionize the way sexual harassment and professional interactions work.
Their piece was published on October 5, 2017, and the video shows us how they got to the facts it included, as well as the first victim willing to step out of obscurity and tell about her painful experience with Weinstein's behavior.
Both journalists were aware that this testimony of sexual harassment and violence had the potential to burst the dam and for the others to pile on top of it, which is exactly what happened.
Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) wrote the book She Said about their investigative work in 2019, for which they purchased the rights from Plan B, Brad Pitt's film company, before its publication.
He was told of Weinstein's predatory behavior as the boyfriend of first Gwyneth Paltrow and then Angelina Jolie, but he continued to work with him. As a result, some consider his participation in this film to be hypocritical.
Weinstein's legal team attempted to postpone the trial against him, claiming that the film portrays him negatively, which could sway the jury, but the attempt was unsuccessful.
Simultaneously, Weinstein's character appears in the film only at the conclusion and is only seen from behind, without being able to see her face. However, he looms over the entire plot as a sinister force, utilizing his power, position, and legal apparatus to silence or frighten his victims.
The creative team that tells the stories of these victims and the journalists who forced them to speak up is primarily made up of women. Rebecca Lenkiewicz, who worked on the Oscar-winning films Polish Ida and Slovak Servants, wrote the script.
Natasha Braier shot the film, while Maria Schrader directed it. She is known for her work on the sci-fi romance Love Your Robot and the Netflix mini-series Unorthodox.
Schrader demonstrates in his debut Hollywood feature that he can find a strong topic and an appropriate form for it. In this case, a procedural, civil journalistic drama that attempts to bring closer the tiny journalistic job of piecing together and verifying the parts of the full case.
Reporters must engage with dozens of people, win their trust, and overcome their fear or unwillingness to speak. The director handles this search in a documentary way, which is both an asset and a disadvantage in this film.
It has the virtue of authenticity, but because it avoids artificial exaggeration, such as in the personal backgrounds of female journalists, it might appear a little austere.
However, the creative team does not want to dilute the fundamental topic by looking for conflicts in places where they do not exist. Both reporters come from good families, and their partners appreciate and understand the importance of their work. The same is true for editorial management.
Post by Bryan C.
