‘She Said’ NYFF Review: Maria Schrader Film Chronicles Two Women On The Hunt For The Truth
Maria Schrader’s She Said, written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz and based on the book by New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, stars Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan as the journalists who uncovered a web of secrets, lies, and abuse revolving around famed Hollywood producer (and now convicted felon) Harvey Weinstein.
The story: Twohey (Mulligan), a reporter from The New York Times, talks to Rachel Crooks, who wants to come forward on the abuse she allegedly experienced at the hands of Donald Trump. Of course, the reporter and Crooks are harassed with death threats after going public with the story. When Trump wins the Presidential election, women became even more terrified to come forward with personal stories about abuse.
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Also at the NYT, Kantor (Kazan) gets a lead on a story involving Harvey Weinstein and his past behavior toward women. She heard Rose McGowan had an encounter with him, but when Kantor contacts the actress, she doesn’t want to go on the record — and for good reason, as the Times had previously been dismissive of her concerns. With Kantor digging deeper, she asks Twohey for help in breaking the story against Miramax (Weinstein’s production company) and his history of workplace misconduct.
Both women are mothers as well as reporters, and now have to navigate this story while raising their families. Kantor is having a hard time getting anyone to go on the record, but Twohey gives the young journalist some perspective on how to get people to open up. “I can’t change what happened to you, but together we can use your experience to help protect others,” she suggests.
The odds start to improve when Kantor speaks with Ashley Judd. From there, the duo go down a rabbit hole of coverups and corruption that spans decades.
Kantor and Twohey were the souls brave enough to track down evidence, corroborate it, get around NDAs, and travel the world to complete this story. While working together, they balanced each other out via their work ethics and tactics. Twohey utilized an aggressive edge to get answers, while Kantor is nurturing and reserved. This is a testament to the all-star talent featured in She Said who embody each character to the fullest. Carey Mulligan is strong and confident in this role. She is committed, and most of all, she believes in the material. The actress has repeatedly defended women in the media, so there is no surprise Mulligan would be a part of a project like this. At the heart of the film is Zoe Kazan, who seemed to be a weak spot in the story at first, but as the film soldiers on, she pulls through to deliver a believable emotional charged performance.
There is also a strong ensemble cast with Andre Braugher, Ashley Judd, Patricia Clarkson, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Morton, who is riveting in her ten minutes of screen time, and has the most significant impact on the film.
She Said isn’t just a film about building a case against Weinstein. It’s also about newsroom culture and the logistical steps needed to craft a game-changing investigative report. The script frames the profession as mentally taxing and unglamorous, far from how Hollywood typically portrays journalists in New York City. However, the film makes it seem like all the elements come together rather quickly. That could be due to Hansjörg Weißbrich’s crude and abrupt editing, which pushes the story through until the end—sometimes it’s a little too fast.
Actresses, producers, assistants, and various women were blackballed and/or scared into silence with payoffs and NDAs. There was an air of complicity and intimidation around Weinstein and his atrocious behavior. She Said goes through the excruciating details of sexual assault and harassment committed by this hideous orge of a man. The film plays the entire voice recording between Weinstein and model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, and has plenty of other triggering moments. The law, their peers, and the media failed these people. Many tried to speak up, but were ignored each time. These women were left traumatized and feeling isolated, without anyone to turn to.
It does beg the question: Was it too soon to release a film about this subject? The events of the #MeToo movement (a term coined by activist Tarana Burke), particularly those involving Harvey Weinstein, made me think about whether a film like this leaves his victims feeling inspired or exploited.
With Hollywood, it can be difficult to tell what’s sincere and what’s a cash grab. I left the theater thinking about the women cast into the shitstorm that man left behind and if they will be able to ever truly heal from what he’s done to them. Eighty-two women have now come forward with claims against him. I hope now they don’t feel as alone as they once did.
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