She Said: The Take-Down of Harvey Weinstein

On October 5, 2017, two NY Times investigative reporters, Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, broke a blockbuster story establishing that mega-powerful movie executive Harvey Weinstein (of Miramax Studios) sexually assaulted and sexually harassed numerous women.  There had been rumors about Weinstein for years prior to the article, but no woman had yet come forward to make an allegation against him.  Weinstein's unconscionable actions were covered up by the Miramax Board with millions of dollars of hush-money payments, accompanied by NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements).  This story was eventually turned into a book by Kantor and Twohey, and the book subsequently became this film.  Weinstein's downfall soon led to the resignation or firing of other prominent entertainment executives, as well as numerous women telling of their horrific experiences in the "#MeToo" movement, all resulting in changes in the entertainment and other industries, making the workplace much safer for women. It's a straightforward story that is told succinctly and well.  The acting by the two leads is excellent.  Although some found the movie slow (like my good high school friend, Neil), I enjoyed learning how difficult and frustrating investigative reporting can be.  Kantor (Zoey Kazan) and Twohey (Carey Mulligan) faced very significant obstacles.  The research was arduous, many women they learned about wouldn't answer their phone calls or speak in-depth with them, and, even if they did, they wouldn't go "on the record." As a Jew, the Madoff scandal, the Weinstein scandal, and, most recently, the FTX scandal (Sam Bankman-Fried, a.k.a. S.B.F.) are quite upsetting to me.  Anti-Semitism is on the rise, and these scandals, as my son Michael says, are "bad for the brand." Bottom Line: Investigative reporting is "very hard!" (That's what she said!)