She Said

          Based on the true investigative journalism by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the film recounts the story of how the two reporters exposed Hollywood power broker Harvey Weinstein's history of sexual abuse. Zoe Kazan plays Jodi Kantor and Carey Mulligan plays Megan Twohey.

          I couldn't help be reminded of "All The President's Men" starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein, the Washington Post reporters that broke the Watergate scandal. It details the determination a reporter will go for the story, following the leads, getting usable facts from witnesses and victims alike. Obviously these two women are chasing a very different story but the way they go about it is very similar.

         While it lacks the razzle-dazzle of a big time Hollywood drama, it does represent a tribute to journalistic integrity as it goes about the matter-of-fact details of the story. There is a welcome sidebar into the private lives of both women which balances nicely against their dogged professionalism in pursuit of the truth. Ms. Kazan and Ms. Mulligan are both well cast and have good chemistry between them.

 

          The film co-stars Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Peter Friedman, Zack Grenier, Jennifer Ehle and Ashley Judd (playing herself in what must have been a very emotional time, recreating what she really went through). There is also an electric cameo by Samantha Morton in a very emotional scene.

          The article and subsequent book by Kantor and Twohey made a major impact igniting the "Me Too movement" and changing the climate of sexual harassment in the workplace forever.