Review: She Said

In 2017 two reporters, Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan), at the New York Times, helped to bring down one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein. Together they exposed his sexual predator behavior and gave a voice to his victims. It was a story that took the #MeToo movement to new heights and helped shatter decades of silence around the subject of sexual assault and harassment.

This is an important and impactful story to tell, and it was told well. I’ve worked in the news business for over 11 years. So I’m a little critical about how a movie showcases these stories. Most of the time, the drama surrounding the news entity is heightened, and it loses its real-life impact. This one, however, does not. Not only do we see these two journalists hit roadblock after roadblock, but we see that these stories don’t happen in a day. It’s a lot of hard work and sleepless nights that take a mental and physical toll on a person. Even the impact that working on a story can have on their daily life. This is shown in a bar scene where a man is pushing to talk to the journalists. As a woman, we all know this situation and how uncomfortable it can be. At this point, the audience, along with Mulligan and Kazan, have heard the grotesque accounts that victims have given. This created a more heightened situation, leading Mulligan to react in a way mostly all women want to/could relate to. In my theater, this resulted in a roar of applause.

She Said treats the victims with the respect and grace they deserve. It does not tread lightly around the subject but goes full steam ahead and captures the urgency and weight of what was happening in Hollywood during this time.

Mulligan and Kazan are engrossed in their roles. Both are strong leads that perfectly capture the strength and perseverance of the real-life women who wanted to expose the wrongdoings in Hollywood. Mulligan’s ability to say so much through a look without uttering a word will never not astound me. And Kazan’s innocence and ability to lighten the mood is enchanting on screen.

Every actress who told the stories of the real victims are absolutely phenomenal. Especially Samantha Morton as Zelda Perkins. She is just captivating on screen. Every emotion flows through her eyes alone, and her line delivery will entrance you. She is an absolute scene-stealer.

This film does have a long run-time, chiming in at two hours and nine minutes. But the time is used well. The slow build is actually the film’s strength. It keeps you on edge, thinking, “Oh, this is when they finally can publish.” But the reporters are only hit with more hurdles and roadblocks. You feel the time and effort it takes to tell the story. They also let scenes breathe, especially the somber ones where the victims tell their stories.

There are a few issues with the amount of “long driving” scenes. These are the scenes where the journalists are just in their cars, emotionless, driving to their next destination. This time could have been used to show their exhaustion. I just didn’t see the cutaways as anything more than a waste of a few minutes.

The film could have also benefited from a better score. Music plays an intricate part in showcasing emotion. I never felt the suspense in a scene or its daunting nature because there was nothing to drive the point home.

She Said pays tribute to outstanding journalism while also shining a spotlight on the victims in a respectful manner. The performances are outstanding, and the slow nature of the film lets you take in what’s happening. It perfectly captures the urgency and weight of the situation. There are truly shocking moments that are heard, not seen, that will leave a long-lasting impact on the viewer. It leaves you with an inspiring ending that proves that when women stick together, and their voices are heard, real change can happen.

Please Be Aware

The truly shocking nature of what happened to these women is an important story to see. For some, this may be the first time they really understand what happened. Please be aware that while it is not shown, there are graphic conversations about sexual assault and harassment. Check all trigger warnings before watching this film.