Cinephile № 996 “She Said”

Recommendation: 5/5 SHOWTIME

Plot: “New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor break one of the most important stories in a generation — a story that helped ignite a movement and shattered decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault in Hollywood.” -IMDB

Review: I am biased. I have a bachelor’s degree in broadcast communications and grew up idolizing the lions of the field. I also freely admit that I can over romanticize films where investigative journalism is the subject. With that out of the way, let’s review!

Some of my favorite movies are All the President’s Men, Spotlight, and The Post. In my estimation, these films are nearly perfect. I would add “She Said” to that mix. The story it tells about the work to expose Harvey Weinstein is harrowing, truthful about the dead ends, respectful of the dedication, and honors the bravery of the women who came forward.

Films such as this all share the same monumental challenge. We as the audience know how this story will end. As filmmakers, how do you pull back the curtain compellingly that stays truthful to the process, honors those doing the work, injects enough drama to keep people hooked, and tells an honest story? She Said rises to meet these challenges with a story that instantly enthralls and never lets go.