Significant subject matter doesn’t automatically make for a good movie, and "She Said" feels like an unsuccessful effort to present the real-life story of two New York Times reporters who exposed Harvey Weinstein's abuse. The industry is already very familiar with this situation, and the years of sexual misconduct that these women uncovered were truly horrifying. It was certainly one of the most impactful articles ever published in the newspaper, but this narrative would have been better suited for print rather than film. The movie centers on writers Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) as they investigate the Miramax executive, repeatedly attempting to get actresses to share their experiences and reveal Weinstein’s abuse of power. Instead of offering fresh perspectives, director Maria Schrader relies on tired newsroom tropes, resulting in a rather ordinary film about investigative journalism. It's procedural, uninspired, and repetitive, with numerous scenes depicting the two leads making phone calls, writing or reading messages, and participating in editorial meetings. This is inherently not very engaging because the story itself lacks cinematic qualities; it’s simply dull. The movie briefly touches on the challenges of being a woman working in Hollywood, as many of Weinstein's victims were hesitant to speak out publicly for fear that it would damage their careers—and often, it did. He either bought or coerced their silence. Perhaps if screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz had concentrated more on the personal struggles and consequences faced by his victims instead of only briefly mentioning them, this could have been a stronger and more impactful film. Even worse, the movie doesn't feel relevant to the present moment. The decision to tell this story now feels dated and like it’s past its prime. While women will always remember the #MeToo movement and its significance as a feminist campaign of the 2000s, many would rather move on from thinking about Weinstein while he remains incarcerated. My biggest issue with the film is that it leaves an unpleasant feeling. It's particularly troubling to consider how many of Weinstein’s employees, friends, and colleagues either helped cover up his crimes or actively ignored them. His inappropriate behavior and treatment of those who worked for him was a poorly kept secret in Hollywood. He was widely considered creepy, and many people felt uncomfortable around him. It feels somewhat insincere (or maybe just ironic) to make a movie about it, even if the focus is on the reporters' work. The better aspects of the story are inspiring because they demonstrate journalism’s ability to spark change; Kantor and Twohey certainly played a vital role in encouraging women who had been victimized to come forward. Mulligan delivers a solid performance, but it’s disappointing that she didn’t have a more substantial script to work with. Both leads feel underserved, especially when their roles seem limited to reciting facts and mentioning prominent actresses who came forward to expose years of abusive behavior. This isn't enough to create compelling drama, and "She Said" will likely be forgotten among other unremarkable procedural journalism films.

Source on TMDB