Featuring two magnificent performances by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, She Said is the compelling true story of two journalists who uncovered sexual predation in Hollywood – specifically by Harvey Weinstein – which kickstarted the #MeToo movement.
Very unflashy and tremendously slow-burning, while also utterly enthralling, She Said is bold, important filmmaking, a home entertainment must-see, though as a film definitely more suited to the small screen rather than a cinematic experience. Directed by Maria Schrader (Netflix’s Unorthadox and the brilliant German-language film I’m You Man with Dan Stevens), She Said takes us back to 2017 when New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor (Kazan) receives information that actress Rose McGowan was sexually assaulted by infamous Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. She teams with fellow journalist Megan Twohey (Mulligan) and between them start to unravel a series of accounts from other actresses and co-workers of Weinstein, exposing the producer of a catalog of sexual offenses dating back years.
This is Kantor and Twohey’s story – the definitive account of one of the most shocking, and indeed biggest scoops of the century – a story that would lead to the downfall of one of the industry’s most powerful figures.
As I said, the film is unashamedly uncinematic, instead allowing the story to take centre stage. With echoes of the likes of Spotlight crossed with films like The Post, the film is never boring, even if you know how this all played out. Kazan and specifically Mulligan are superb, while there is excellent support from the likes of Patricia Clarkson, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Morton, as well as a terrific turn by Ashley Judd, who plays herself.
Engrossing from the off, She Said has a detailed, well-paced screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, itself based on the 2019 book ‘She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement‘ by Kantor and Twohey themselves. I was utterly captivated by it, and as a small screen watch where it will certainly open debate in any sitting room afterward, it’s an absolute must.
The only extra is a six-minute featurette titled ‘Breaking The Story’ with interviews with Kantor and Twohey who elaborate on the true story. To be honest, we would like to have seen much more but the real asset of this release is absolutely the film itself.
She Said is available digitally now and on DVD and VOD from 6th March with Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. Available from Amazon here.
She Said
Summary
An important, detailed account of the exposure of Weinstein and the story that led to the start of the #MetToo movement.
