Review: She Said

As a film fan, the Harvey Weinstein scandal was a story that I was keeping a close eye one.

I have never been a fan of the man before these events, let alone after. Despite his name always associated with successful films or as a produce or sorts, he's been more of a promoter than a genuine filmmaker.

It was only a matter of time before this became a film in itself.

With the setting being in a newspaper office and centred on journalists, this is a narrative foundation has a good track of record within the film industry.

I'm not sure how, but this is type of story and setting seems to work for a lot of people including me. I think it's just that tense environment, seeing the methods of a journalist and the determination of getting the juice of the story. It rewards the viewer with shock value and has a natural tension build that generally makes it a highly satisfying watch. A classic example would be 'All The President's Men' and a more recent example is Oscar Best Picture winner 'Spotlight'.

I like how it starts as you can tell the main story is actually not going to be about the scandal. That's just background noise. It's focus is on other perspectives. After that, it's then vintage investigative journalism action and the information unearthed and pacing of it is fairly gripping.

There are moments where you can feel the stakes and danger our characters are putting themselves in. While the ending does go we all know, the culmination of the journey we have just gone through still gets you hooked in to see it happen.

The cast are pretty good on the whole. The always great Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan serve their purpose well. They might not feel as dynamic as Dustin Hoffman and Robert Redford. But they move the film along nicely and they are genuine together.

It was great seeing Samantha Morton be a part of this who has an amazing moment in her short on-screen time. As does Jennifer Ehle. Those two really give the film its emotion despite it being in small doses. It was also cool seeing actual Ashley Judd playing herself.

On the face of it, a lot of the film is just people talking in offices, phones or people's front doors. But sometimes you don't always need striking imagery or experimental camerawork to enhance the situation.

This film just needs the story. There are even cool uses of actual recorded footage that was used in the scandal case which gave the film solid authenticity.

I liked how the film never over dramatizes the content, because it doesn't need to do that. The strength of the story speaks for itself and the team behind the camera just the story tell as it is, because it's strong enough to give you a piece of work that can grip audiences.

While some may see that as a lack of creativity on the director to not give their style to the story. There are times when you are given something that telling it in a straightforward is the best option.

I thought they did a great job with this. Yes it is a story that most of us know due to the heavy news coverage. But it is the journey getting there and the way it focuses on the people that helped expose this story that gives the audience something new to understand.

This is a pretty good piece of work that works not just for today's audience. But it is told in a timeless way that will make people understand this story for people who will discover this in the future.

Rating: 8/10