Set in 2017, investigative reporters Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) investigate allegations of sexual abuse and toxic workplace environments against high profile Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein as the two talk to reluctant witnesses and survivors and navigate a deluge of NDAs uncovering a widespread systemic abuse of power.
She Said is an adaptation of the 2019 non-fiction book of the same name by writers Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey which itself covered their investigative reporting surrounding Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women in addition to creating a toxic workplace. The movie is an ambitious project as it covers a very important piece of recent history with these public allegations heralding the MeToo era and there's definitely been positioning for the film as an Oscar contender. She Said is told in a very familiar way, but it does respectfully shine a light on systemic abuse and enabling of that abuse.
If you're familiar with similar films like Tom McCarthy's Spotlight or Steven Spielberg's The Post, then you can expect very much the same approach from She Said as it's a methodical detail oriented piece that largely eschews sensationalisms or emotional manipulation in favor painting a picture of the issue it tackles rather than any particular individual involved while Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan are both good in their roles as Twohey and Kantor and have good chemistry with each other, it's not really their movie as they mainly serve as observers to the stories of others and are collecting them as part of creating the article that will shine a light on Weinstein. The movie does try to give more personal investment for Twohey and Kantor such as a prologue showing the violent sexualized death threats Twohey received after reporting on allegations against Trump in 2016, fending off lewd unsolicited remarks from men while dining out, or scenes with the two interacting with their daughters but it doesn't really offer Kazan or Mulligan any standout moments that elevate either of them above serving as our proxies in the investigation which isn't necessarily a bad thing as it keeps the focus where it should be but does make for a dry sit on occasion.
The movie covers Twohey and Kantor's interactions with many figures in the Weinstein scandal both from the victims and witness against Weinstein as well as those representing Weinstein. The script by playwright Rebecca Lenkiewicz does a solid job of bringing these survivor stories to life and while it doesn't actually show anything instead opting to show empty hotel hallways and rooms to add ambiance it makes it no less impactful especially when you have Ashley Judd playing herself relaying her story of abuse at the hands of Weinstein. Maria Schrader does a good job of keeping the film moving at a brisk pace and it never feels like it drags and all the actors give solid performances for the material.
She Said is well made prestige filmmaking and treats a fresh and relevant topic respectfully and tastefully without diving into exploitation. The movie makes a strong point about the prevalence of abuse by those in power and how it's not simply contained to Weinstein himself with the movie wisely keeping Weinstein mostly in the background or as a voice on the phone. If you enjoy true story films of this ilk such as Spotlight or The Post this is definitely one you should check out.
