SHE SAID starts out seeming to be about Trump, but that is merely the background for one of the main characters. The real story is about Harvey Weinstein and the toxic Hollywood environment. The reporters covering the story find it difficult to get people to speak out; there are either NDAs (non-disclosures agreements) or a fear of retribution in their careers. (At least two of the women who did come forward also appeared in the film as themselves.)

The film (directed by Maria Schrader and written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz, Jodi Kantor, and Megan Twohey--the last two the reporters who broke the story) is strangely similar to ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN with two reporters chasing a story. There are also elements of SPOTLIGHT, with reticent witnesses and a gradual revealing of the scope of the problem, though these seem less obvious. Carey Mulligan as Megan Twohey, one of the reporters in this film about sexual assault and harassment, reminds one of her role in PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN, though that had her as a victim as well as an investigator.

Released 06 January 2022 on streaming. Rating: +2 (-4 to +4) or 7/10

Film Credits: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14807308/reference

What others are saying: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/she_said

					Mark R. Leeper
					Copyright 2023 Mark R. Leeper