Film Critiques:

JUNE 2023:

Directed by Maria Schrader, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on "She Said" by Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey, Produced by Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, with Cinematography by Natasha Braier, Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich, with Music by Nicholas Britell, Production companies: Annapurna Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment, and Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2022)
She Said (2022)

Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey’s New York Times Investigation…

Reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey‘s groundbreaking investigative report, published in The New York Times in October 2017, exposed the shocking history of abuse and sexual misconduct perpetrated by Harvey Weinstein. Their exhaustive and fearless journalism played a pivotal role in the emergence of the #MeToo movement and fundamentally changed the way society and the entertainment industry confront issues of power, abuse, and accountability. In this critique, we will delve into the key aspects that made their investigation remarkable.

Jodi Kantor (born April 21, 1975) is an American journalist. She is a New York Times correspondent whose work has covered the workplace, technology, and gender. She has been the paper's Arts & Leisure editor and covered two presidential campaigns, chronicling the transformation of Barack and Michelle Obama into the President and First Lady of the United States. Kantor was a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her reporting on sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein. Kantor is the author of the book The Obamas and She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement about the Harvey Weinstein investigation. She is a contributor to CBS This Morning and has also appeared on Charlie Rose, The Daily Show and The Today Show. Kantor was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. Megan Twohey (/ˈtuːi/) is an American journalist with The New York Times. She has written investigative reports for Reuters, the Chicago Tribune, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Twohey's investigative reports have exposed exploitative doctors, revealed untested rape kits, and uncovered a secret underground network of abandoned unwanted adopted children. Her investigative reports have led to criminal convictions and helped prompt new laws aimed at protecting vulnerable people and children. On October 5, 2017, Twohey and fellow New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor published a report about Harvey Weinstein detailing decades of sexual abuse allegations, and more than 80 women publicly accused Weinstein of sexually abusing or assaulting them. This led to Weinstein's firing and helped to ignite the viral #MeToo movement started by the American activist Tarana Burke. That work was honored in 2018, when The New York Times was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Kantor and Twohey won the George Polk award and were named to Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people of the year. Twohey and Kantor subsequently authored a book which chronicled their report about Weinstein, titled She Said. The book was published in 2019, and adapted into a film of the same name in 2022. In addition to winning the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, Twohey was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2014. Photo Credit: Google Images
The New York Times Logo
Close up of woman struggling from mental breakdown related to abuse and sexual misconduct. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Harvey Weinstein at the New York premiere of the movie 'Life Is Beautiful' at the Gotham Theater in October 1998 in New York City, New York. Photo Credit: Catherine McGann/Getty Images
(L-R) Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor attend The Hollywood Reporter 2022 Power 100 Women in Entertainment presented by Lifetime at Fairmont Century Plaza on December 07, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo Credit: Presley Ann/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty Images
#MeToo[a] is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006, on Myspace, by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. The hashtag #MeToo was used starting in 2017 as a way to draw attention to the magnitude of the problem. "Me Too" empowers sexually assaulted people (especially young and vulnerable women of color) through empathy, solidarity, and strength in numbers, by visibly demonstrating how many have experienced sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace. Following the exposure of numerous sexual-abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein in October 2017, the movement began to spread virally as a hashtag on social media. On October 16, 2017, American actress Alyssa Milano posted on Twitter, "If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote 'Me too' as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem," saying that she got the idea from a friend. A number of high-profile posts and responses from American celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence, and Uma Thurman, among others, soon followed. Widespread media coverage and discussion of sexual harassment, particularly in Hollywood, led to high-profile terminations from positions held, as well as criticism and backlash. After millions of people started using the phrase and hashtag in this manner in English, the expression began to spread to dozens of other languages. The scope has become somewhat broader with this expansion, however, and Burke has more recently referred to it as an international movement for justice for marginalized people. After the hashtag #MeToo went viral in late 2017, Facebook reported that almost half of its American users were friends with someone who said they had been sexually assaulted or harassed. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Protesters gather as Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan court house on January 06, 2020 in New York City. Weinstein, a movie producer whose alleged sexual misconduct helped spark the #MeToo movement, pleaded not-guilty on five counts of rape and sexual assault against two unnamed women and faces a possible life sentence in prison. Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
General views of the Hollywood Sign surrounded by greenery after recent rains in Hollywood, California. Photo Credit: AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

1. **Meticulous Research and Reporting:**

Kantor and Twohey exhibited an unwavering commitment to investigative journalism. They meticulously researched their story, uncovering a wealth of information about Weinstein’s alleged abuses. Their extensive interviews with victims, industry insiders, and legal professionals allowed them to piece together a comprehensive and damning narrative. The depth and rigor of their research set the standard for modern investigative journalism.

Jodi Kantor (born April 21, 1975) is an American journalist. She is a New York Times correspondent whose work has covered the workplace, technology, and gender. She has been the paper's Arts & Leisure editor and covered two presidential campaigns, chronicling the transformation of Barack and Michelle Obama into the President and First Lady of the United States. Kantor was a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her reporting on sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein. Kantor is the author of the book The Obamas and She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement about the Harvey Weinstein investigation. She is a contributor to CBS This Morning and has also appeared on Charlie Rose, The Daily Show and The Today Show. Kantor was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. Megan Twohey (/ˈtuːi/) is an American journalist with The New York Times. She has written investigative reports for Reuters, the Chicago Tribune, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Twohey's investigative reports have exposed exploitative doctors, revealed untested rape kits, and uncovered a secret underground network of abandoned unwanted adopted children. Her investigative reports have led to criminal convictions and helped prompt new laws aimed at protecting vulnerable people and children. On October 5, 2017, Twohey and fellow New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor published a report about Harvey Weinstein detailing decades of sexual abuse allegations, and more than 80 women publicly accused Weinstein of sexually abusing or assaulting them. This led to Weinstein's firing and helped to ignite the viral #MeToo movement started by the American activist Tarana Burke. That work was honored in 2018, when The New York Times was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Kantor and Twohey won the George Polk award and were named to Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people of the year. Twohey and Kantor subsequently authored a book which chronicled their report about Weinstein, titled She Said. The book was published in 2019, and adapted into a film of the same name in 2022. In addition to winning the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, Twohey was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2014. Photo Credit: Google Images
The New York Times Newsroom. Photo Credit: Vanity Fair
In October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that more than a dozen women accused Weinstein of sexually harassing, assaulting, or raping them. Many other women in the film industry subsequently reported similar experiences with Weinstein, who denied "any nonconsensual sex". As a result of these allegations, Weinstein was dismissed from his production company, suspended from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also resigned from the Directors Guild of America and was denounced by leading figures in politics whom he had supported. The Los Angeles Police Department opened a criminal investigation for alleged rape, and New York and London police began investigating other sexual assault allegations. On October 10, 2017, Weinstein's wife, Georgina Chapman, announced that she was leaving him; their divorce was finalized in July 2021. The sexual abuse allegations precipitated a wave of "national reckoning" against sexual harassment and assault in the United States known as the Weinstein effect. Compounded by other sexual harassment cases earlier in the year, the Weinstein reports and subsequent #MeToo hashtag campaign, which encouraged individuals to share their suppressed stories of sexual misconduct, created a cavalcade of allegations across multiple industries that brought about the swift ouster of many men in positions of power both in the United States and, as it spread, around the world. Photo Credit: Google Images
Jodi Kantor (born April 21, 1975) is an American journalist. She is a New York Times correspondent whose work has covered the workplace, technology, and gender. She has been the paper's Arts & Leisure editor and covered two presidential campaigns, chronicling the transformation of Barack and Michelle Obama into the President and First Lady of the United States. Kantor was a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her reporting on sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein. Kantor is the author of the book The Obamas and She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement about the Harvey Weinstein investigation. She is a contributor to CBS This Morning and has also appeared on Charlie Rose, The Daily Show and The Today Show. Kantor was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. Megan Twohey (/ˈtuːi/) is an American journalist with The New York Times. She has written investigative reports for Reuters, the Chicago Tribune, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Twohey's investigative reports have exposed exploitative doctors, revealed untested rape kits, and uncovered a secret underground network of abandoned unwanted adopted children. Her investigative reports have led to criminal convictions and helped prompt new laws aimed at protecting vulnerable people and children. On October 5, 2017, Twohey and fellow New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor published a report about Harvey Weinstein detailing decades of sexual abuse allegations, and more than 80 women publicly accused Weinstein of sexually abusing or assaulting them. This led to Weinstein's firing and helped to ignite the viral #MeToo movement started by the American activist Tarana Burke. That work was honored in 2018, when The New York Times was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Kantor and Twohey won the George Polk award and were named to Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people of the year. Twohey and Kantor subsequently authored a book which chronicled their report about Weinstein, titled She Said. The book was published in 2019, and adapted into a film of the same name in 2022. In addition to winning the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, Twohey was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2014. Photo Credit: Google Images

2. **Empowering Survivors:**

One of the most remarkable aspects of Kantor and Twohey’s reporting was their sensitivity to the survivors of Weinstein’s abuse. They provided a platform for these women to share their stories, demonstrating the importance of giving a voice to those who had been silenced for too long. This not only amplified the impact of their investigation but also helped survivors heal and seek justice.

The various female victims of Harvey Weinstein, it is not all of them, just a select few of the women he abused sexually and harassed for decades with impunity. Photo Credit: Google Images

3. **Navigating Legal and Ethical Challenges:**

The investigation involved navigating legal and ethical minefields. Kantor and Twohey skillfully balanced the need to protect their sources while exposing a powerful and litigious figure. They demonstrated the importance of ethical reporting in the face of adversity and legal threats.

New York Times reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor leave the courtroom before Harvey Weinstein exits a courthouse after turning himself in on rape charges in New York, New York. Photo Credit: Sam Hodgson for The New York Times
Harvey Weinstein exits a courthouse after turning himself in on rape charges in New York, New York. Photo Credit: Google Images

4. **Timing and Impact:**

The timing of their report was crucial. By publishing their findings during a moment when the public was beginning to confront the systemic issue of sexual harassment, Kantor and Twohey helped spark a cultural reckoning. Their work had a seismic impact, not only leading to Weinstein’s downfall but also to a broader shift in attitudes and behavior regarding sexual harassment and abuse.

The New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey cover the Dec. 14 issue of Variety. Photo Credit: The New York Times Company

5. **Collaboration and Persistence:**

Kantor and Twohey’s investigation was a testament to the power of collaboration. They worked as a team, utilizing their complementary skills and strengths. Their persistent pursuit of the story, even in the face of intimidation and resistance, showcased the unwavering commitment of investigative journalists.

(L to R) Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, and convicted predator and multiple rapist ex producer Harvey Weinstein. Photo Credit: Google Images

6. **Transparency and Accountability:**

The New York Times maintained transparency in its reporting, detailing its commitment to accuracy and accountability. This level of transparency was essential in maintaining public trust and countering potential backlash from those who sought to discredit the investigation.

The moment that Jodi (far right), Megan (second from right) and their editors publish their exclusive report against Weinstein on October 5, 2017. Photo Credit: The New York Times

You can read the full 2017 New York Times Article Below:

In October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that more than a dozen women accused Weinstein of sexually harassing, assaulting, or raping them. Many other women in the film industry subsequently reported similar experiences with Weinstein, who denied "any nonconsensual sex". As a result of these allegations, Weinstein was dismissed from his production company, suspended from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also resigned from the Directors Guild of America and was denounced by leading figures in politics whom he had supported. The Los Angeles Police Department opened a criminal investigation for alleged rape, and New York and London police began investigating other sexual assault allegations. On October 10, 2017, Weinstein's wife, Georgina Chapman, announced that she was leaving him; their divorce was finalized in July 2021. The sexual abuse allegations precipitated a wave of "national reckoning" against sexual harassment and assault in the United States known as the Weinstein effect. Compounded by other sexual harassment cases earlier in the year, the Weinstein reports and subsequent #MeToo hashtag campaign, which encouraged individuals to share their suppressed stories of sexual misconduct, created a cavalcade of allegations across multiple industries that brought about the swift ouster of many men in positions of power both in the United States and, as it spread, around the world. Photo Credit: Google Images

Now, let’s turn our attention to the 2022 film She Said, directed by Maria Schrader and written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, which is based on Kantor and Twohey’s 2019 book She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement.

Directed by Maria Schrader, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on "She Said" by Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey, Produced by Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, with Cinematography by Natasha Braier, Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich, with Music by Nicholas Britell, Production companies: Annapurna Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment, and Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2022)
29 November 2022, Berlin: Director Maria Schrader comes to the premiere of her film "She Said". Photo Credit: Paul Zinken/picture alliance via Getty Images
Rebecca Lenkiewicz at the AFI Fest screening of "She Said" held at TCL Chinese Theatre on November 4, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. Photo Credit: Mark Von Holden/Variety via Getty Images
"She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement" is a 2019 nonfiction book written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two New York Times investigative reporters who exposed Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women, a catalyst for the burgeoning MeToo movement. The book was published on September 10, 2019 by Penguin Press. Photo Credit: Amazon
"She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement" is a 2019 nonfiction book written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two New York Times investigative reporters who exposed Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women, a catalyst for the burgeoning MeToo movement. The book was published on September 10, 2019 by Penguin Press. Photo Credit: Amazon

1. **Fidelity to the Source Material:**

She Said is an adaptation of Kantor and Twohey’s book, which itself was a detailed account of their investigation. The film remains faithful to the source material, accurately portraying the events and challenges the journalists faced. This faithfulness is crucial to preserving the authenticity of the story.

Directed by Maria Schrader, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on "She Said" by Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey, Produced by Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, with Cinematography by Natasha Braier, Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich, with Music by Nicholas Britell, Production companies: Annapurna Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment, and Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2022)
Jodi Kantor (born April 21, 1975) is an American journalist. She is a New York Times correspondent whose work has covered the workplace, technology, and gender. She has been the paper's Arts & Leisure editor and covered two presidential campaigns, chronicling the transformation of Barack and Michelle Obama into the President and First Lady of the United States. Kantor was a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in 2018 for her reporting on sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein. Kantor is the author of the book The Obamas and She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement about the Harvey Weinstein investigation. She is a contributor to CBS This Morning and has also appeared on Charlie Rose, The Daily Show and The Today Show. Kantor was included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2018. Megan Twohey (/ˈtuːi/) is an American journalist with The New York Times. She has written investigative reports for Reuters, the Chicago Tribune, and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Twohey's investigative reports have exposed exploitative doctors, revealed untested rape kits, and uncovered a secret underground network of abandoned unwanted adopted children. Her investigative reports have led to criminal convictions and helped prompt new laws aimed at protecting vulnerable people and children. On October 5, 2017, Twohey and fellow New York Times journalist Jodi Kantor published a report about Harvey Weinstein detailing decades of sexual abuse allegations, and more than 80 women publicly accused Weinstein of sexually abusing or assaulting them. This led to Weinstein's firing and helped to ignite the viral #MeToo movement started by the American activist Tarana Burke. That work was honored in 2018, when The New York Times was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Kantor and Twohey won the George Polk award and were named to Time magazine's list of 100 most influential people of the year. Twohey and Kantor subsequently authored a book which chronicled their report about Weinstein, titled She Said. The book was published in 2019, and adapted into a film of the same name in 2022. In addition to winning the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, Twohey was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2014. Photo Credit: Google Images
"She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement" is a 2019 nonfiction book written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, two New York Times investigative reporters who exposed Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women, a catalyst for the burgeoning MeToo movement. The book was published on September 10, 2019 by Penguin Press. Photo Credit: Amazon
In October 2017, The New York Times and The New Yorker reported that more than a dozen women accused Weinstein of sexually harassing, assaulting, or raping them. Many other women in the film industry subsequently reported similar experiences with Weinstein, who denied "any nonconsensual sex". As a result of these allegations, Weinstein was dismissed from his production company, suspended from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He also resigned from the Directors Guild of America and was denounced by leading figures in politics whom he had supported. The Los Angeles Police Department opened a criminal investigation for alleged rape, and New York and London police began investigating other sexual assault allegations. On October 10, 2017, Weinstein's wife, Georgina Chapman, announced that she was leaving him; their divorce was finalized in July 2021. The sexual abuse allegations precipitated a wave of "national reckoning" against sexual harassment and assault in the United States known as the Weinstein effect. Compounded by other sexual harassment cases earlier in the year, the Weinstein reports and subsequent #MeToo hashtag campaign, which encouraged individuals to share their suppressed stories of sexual misconduct, created a cavalcade of allegations across multiple industries that brought about the swift ouster of many men in positions of power both in the United States and, as it spread, around the world. Photo Credit: Google Images
(L to R) Samantha Morton, and Zoe Kazan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Carey Mulligan, Frank Wood, Patricia Clarkson, and Zoe Kazan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Andre Braugher, Patricia Clarkson, Frank Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Zoe Kazan, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)

2. **Strong Performances:**

Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan deliver standout performances as Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor, respectively. They capture the determination and grit of real-life journalists, conveying the emotional toll of their investigation while maintaining a sense of purpose.

(L to R) Megan Twohey, Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, and Jodi Kantor in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Carey Mulligan, and Zoe Kazan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Carey Mulligan, and Zoe Kazan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Zoe Kazan, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Zoe Kazan, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)

3. **Supporting Cast:**

The supporting cast, including Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, and Samantha Morton, delivers solid performances that enhance the storytelling. Ashley Judd‘s appearance as herself adds an additional layer of authenticity to the film.

Patricia Clarkson in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Andre Braugher in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Jennifer Ehle in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Samantha Morton in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Ashely Judd in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)

4. **Direction and Cinematography:**

Maria Schrader’s direction, coupled with the cinematography, by Natasha Braier, effectively brings the narrative to life. The film captures the intensity of the newsroom and the struggles faced by Kantor and Twohey in their pursuit of the truth.

Maria Schrader directing Carey Mulligan in "She Said" (2022) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures
Natasha Braier attends the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 08, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. Photo Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Natasha Braier directing the cinematography in "She Said" (2022) Photo Credit: Universal Pictures
Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Frank Wood, Andre Braugher, and Patricia Clarkson in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)

5. **Emphasis on Journalism:**

She Said appropriately places a significant emphasis on the journalistic process. It highlights the research, interviews, and ethical dilemmas the reporters encountered, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the making of their groundbreaking story.

Directed by Maria Schrader, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on "She Said" by Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey, Produced by Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, with Cinematography by Natasha Braier, Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich, with Music by Nicholas Britell, Production companies: Annapurna Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment, and Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2022)
(L to R) Patricia Clarkson, Carey Mulligan, and Zoe Kazan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Zoe Kazan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Samantha Morton in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Andre Braugher, Frank Wood, Patricia Clarkson, Zoe Kazan, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)

6. **Cultural Impact:**

While the film captures the essence of Kantor and Twohey’s investigation, it also reflects the broader cultural impact of their work. She Said serves as a reminder of the seismic shift in society’s attitude toward abuse and harassment and how journalism can play a vital role in effecting change.

(L to R) Zoe Kazan, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
Directed by Maria Schrader, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on "She Said" by Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey, Produced by Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, with Cinematography by Natasha Braier, Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich, with Music by Nicholas Britell, Production companies: Annapurna Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment, and Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2022)
Close up of woman struggling from mental breakdown related to abuse and sexual misconduct. Photo Credit: Getty Images
#MeToo[a] is a social movement and awareness campaign against sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and rape culture, in which people publicize their experiences of sexual abuse or sexual harassment. The phrase "Me Too" was initially used in this context on social media in 2006, on Myspace, by sexual assault survivor and activist Tarana Burke. The hashtag #MeToo was used starting in 2017 as a way to draw attention to the magnitude of the problem. "Me Too" empowers sexually assaulted people (especially young and vulnerable women of color) through empathy, solidarity, and strength in numbers, by visibly demonstrating how many have experienced sexual assault and harassment, especially in the workplace. Following the exposure of numerous sexual-abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein in October 2017, the movement began to spread virally as a hashtag on social media. On October 16, 2017, American actress Alyssa Milano posted on Twitter, "If all the women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote 'Me too' as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem," saying that she got the idea from a friend. A number of high-profile posts and responses from American celebrities Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd, Jennifer Lawrence, and Uma Thurman, among others, soon followed. Widespread media coverage and discussion of sexual harassment, particularly in Hollywood, led to high-profile terminations from positions held, as well as criticism and backlash. After millions of people started using the phrase and hashtag in this manner in English, the expression began to spread to dozens of other languages. The scope has become somewhat broader with this expansion, however, and Burke has more recently referred to it as an international movement for justice for marginalized people. After the hashtag #MeToo went viral in late 2017, Facebook reported that almost half of its American users were friends with someone who said they had been sexually assaulted or harassed. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Protesters gather as Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan court house on January 06, 2020 in New York City. Weinstein, a movie producer whose alleged sexual misconduct helped spark the #MeToo movement, pleaded not-guilty on five counts of rape and sexual assault against two unnamed women and faces a possible life sentence in prison. Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

7. **Nuanced Portrayal of Weinstein:**

The film provides a nuanced portrayal of Harvey Weinstein, steering clear of one-dimensional villainy. This approach adds complexity to the story, illustrating the power dynamics at play and the challenges of taking on such a formidable figure.

Harvey Weinstein enters a Manhattan court house as a jury continues with deliberations in his trial on February 24, 2020 in New York City. On Friday the judge asked the jury to keep deliberating after they announced that they are deadlocked on the charges of predatory sexual assault. Weinstein, a movie producer whose alleged sexual misconduct helped spark the #MeToo movement, pleaded not-guilty on five counts of rape and sexual assault against two unnamed women and faces a possible life sentence in prison. Photo Credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

8. **Structural Choices:**

The film’s narrative structure provided by editor Hansjörg Weißbrich effectively weaves between the personal lives of the journalists and the unfolding investigation. This balance helps humanize the protagonists and maintain audience engagement.

Hansjörg Weißbrich (born 6 February 1967) is a German film editor. He contributed to more than sixty films since 1995 including Colonia, Trade and Night Train to Lisbon. Phot Credit: Google Images
(L to R) Ron Lieber, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Dayla Knapp, and Zoe Kazan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Zoe Kazan, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)
(L to R) Peter Friedman, Patricia Clarkson, Zoe Kazan, and Carey Mulligan in a scene from the film, "She Said". Photo Credit: Universal Pictures (2022)

In summary, She Said successfully adapts Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey’s pivotal investigation for the big screen. It remains true to the source material, offers strong performances, and underscores the importance of investigative journalism in exposing abuse and promoting cultural change. Just as Kantor and Twohey’s report had a profound impact, the film She Said keeps their important work in the public consciousness and serves as a testament to the power of journalism in holding those in power accountable.

Directed by Maria Schrader, Screenplay by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Based on "She Said" by Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey, Produced by Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner, Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Jennifer Ehle, Samantha Morton, Ashley Judd, with Cinematography by Natasha Braier, Edited by Hansjörg Weißbrich, with Music by Nicholas Britell, Production companies: Annapurna Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment, and Distributed by Universal Pictures. (2022)

She Said is available now on Prime Video…

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