She Said (2022) Review

Title: She Said
Year: 2022
Director: Maria Schrader
Country: US
Language: English

In October 2017, the expose Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades was published in the New York Times. The story, investigated by Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, led to 80+ women coming forward with allegations about Harvey Weinstein's sexual misconduct and lit the fuse for the culture's incredibly important #MeToo movement. 

Like Spotlight (2015), the film is a retelling of how the reporters slowly unraveled incredibly shocking stories of sexual abuse. This time, it's about Harvey Weinstein. 

She Said recounts much of the information and publicly recorded statements that are already available in the original story and subsequent book. It's a well made picture, but it is a bit bland because it takes few creative risks. It is so straightforward in its storytelling & characters that this might as well have been a traditionally made documentary. 

She Said is very familiar if you've seen more than one picture about investigative journalism. It hits all the same beats. The only real emotional difference you'll feel in these movies (She Said, Spotlight, The Report, The Post, Zodiac etc.) will be based on your personal interest in the subject matter. If you are disgusted by perverted men like Weinstein, then this film will successfully anger you. 

Many movies include "Based on a True Story."  to give themselves creative freedom to loosely play with reality. For instance, very little in Amadeus (1984) actually happened. It's strange to see films like She Said be so matter-of-fact about the truth. Some will adore the film for its honest take, but I thought it would have used more movie magic to raise the stakes for these journalists. They talk a little about how "Weinstein might have people watching us." but I wanted it to go further.