Film: She Said 

Cast:  Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan

Director: Maria Schrader

Rating: 3 Moons

A lot of times what 'She Said' goes unheard and unreported! However, a dramatic account of the New York Times piece that led to Harvey Weinstein's unraveling and helped ignite the #MeToo movement changed it all. Maria Schrader's She Said traces the genesis of one of the modern media’s defining stories: the New York Times report detailing the allegations against Harvey Weinstein, the first domino to fall in a global (and still ongoing) reckoning with abuse of power. 

The 2-hour 15-minute long film showcases The New York Times journalists Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) publishing a report that exposes sexual abuse allegations against powerful Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. The shocking story also serves as a launching pad for the #MeToo movement, shattering decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment. 

Written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, the film follows a strong storyline but fails to leave a much-needed impact. The movie opens with a brief prologue set in the early ’90s, when a young, starry-eyed production assistant gleefully begins her career on the set of a Weinstein period piece, before director Maria Schrader smash-cuts to a later scene of this industry hopeful running through the streets, tears streaming down her face, as she leaves her dreams behind. While some scenes have a stunningly effective portrait that creates a narrative mystery, others just leave us confused in bits & pieces.

Needless to say, Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan carry the film on their strong shoulders from start to end. Be it Carey's confidence and A1 acting skills or Zoe's much-needed emotions and perfection, the on-screen reporters do their job well. To play real-life characters with so much conviction isn't a small deal and the two actresses are at their best in She Said. In supporting roles, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Morton do full justice to the film. 

Director Maria Schrader's cool-headed focus on the intricacies of the journalistic process is admirable, and the space she affords the women in telling their stories is a plus. That being said, She Said, at times has the feel of a filmed news piece. Natasha Braier impresses with her impactful cinematography but Hansjörg Weißbrich's editing fails to leave a mark. She Said could have been a lot more impactful had it focused more on how the powerful movement of #MeToo started and less on the journalism background of the research. 

PeepingMoon gives She Said 3 Moons!