SHE SAID – Review by Jennifer Green

Is She Said the portrayal of female journalists we’ve been waiting for? A lot has been written about the depiction of female journalists in She Said, director Maria Schrader and scriptwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s adaptation of New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey’s book about their Pulitzer Prize-winning investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Reviewers have praised the film for offering what other investigative journalism movies have not — the female perspective, especially outside the newsroom.

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SHE SAID – Review by Valerie Kalfrin

Real-life journalism is rarely cinematic. Behind each written word lies ignored phone calls, rejections, document searches, skittish and irritable people, meetings that circle around uncomfortable topics, and a lot of hustle. Director Maria Schrader (I’m Your Man) and screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz (Small Axe) use these hurdles to show the reporters’ tenacity and intelligence, creating a surprising amount of dramatic tension and momentum.

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SHE SAID – Review by T.J. Callahan

She Said is the story of New York Times reporters, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor’s relentless determination to expose extreme sexual harassment in the workplace. Following leads from actresses Rose Mc Gowan and Gwynneth Paltrow, the pair focused on Weinstein and the supply chain of abusers in the movie industry.

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Ten Female Performances to Watch from NYFF 2022 – Liz Whittemore reports

I always begin my annual list with a caveat. My thoughts are based solely on the films I actually saw at the festival. I’ve heard the buzz surrounding Danielle Deadwyler’s performance in Till. It was unanimous among my fellow journalists that this was a star-making turn. I cannot wait to see it for myself. Until then, here are ten female performances that I cannot shake from the 17 films I saw.

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THE DIG – Review by Susan Granger

Set in 1939 in the countryside as England was on the brink of W.W.II, this period drama stars Carey Mulligan (“Promising Young Woman”) as wealthy, widowed Lady Edith Pretty who believes there are historical artifacts buried on her estate, known as Sutton Hoo, near the River Deben.

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SPOTLIGHT February 2021: Carey Mulligan, Actress and Character Champion

Carey Mulligan consistently and deliberately plays women who defy expectations. She likes the unpredictable story, pushing back against characters who look, move, or speak the way that female characters often have. Now after challenging herself as an artist and audiences, she’s asked critics to raise the bar as well, going beyond physicality when examining a film and what makes it work. As creatives strive to see the full spectrum of women represented onscreen, being honest yet constructive in our assessments – just as Mulligan is honest in her performances – is vital to moving forward.

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THE DIG – Review by Diane Carson

Australian director Simon Stone achieves two worthy goals. First, he dramatically chronicles the 1939 discovery and unearthing of the imprint of an eighty-six foot long, sixth-century burial ship found beneath one mound at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk, on England’s east coast. Second, he makes archeology fascinating, thanks in large part to an economical script and understated performances.

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PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN: Susan Jacob’s Female Power Soundtrack – Rachel West comments

Emerald Fennell’s bold Promising Young Woman isn’t just a triumph for star Carey Mulligan, it’s a soundtrack showcase for female-driven power-pop. Spanning the gamut of Mulligan’s Cassie’s emotions, the Promising Young Woman soundtrack is equal parts dark, edgy female rage and catchy, lighthearted pop. Throughout the film, music supervisor Susan Jacobs allows Cassie’s state of mind to manifest in the music from the movie’s first few minutes until its ultimate conclusion.

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