Director: Maria Schrader

Stars: Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, Samantha Morton, Jennifer Ehle, Andre Braugher, Patricia Clarkson

Adapted from the book of the same name by New York Times journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, German director Schrader’s film charts the duo’s efforts to bring to light sexual abuse claims made against film producer Harvey Weinstein. The results ignited the Me Too movement and inspired wider conversation about gender dynamics in the work place. Twohey (Mulligan) and Kantor (Kazan) are investigating rumours of Donald Trump’s sexual misconduct on the eve of his presidency when Weinstein’s name comes up. They decide to pursue that avenue with the support of senior colleagues Rebecca Corbett (Clarkson) and wily negotiator Dean Baquet (Braugher). Taking inspiration, probably inevitably, from 'All the President's Men' with its muted colour scheme, forensically laid-out plotting and ominous score, the picture occasionally feels dutiful and overfamiliar. Nevertheless, it’s keenly-paced with Schrader managing to maintain the tension while documenting the duo’s sometimes torturously trial-and-error efforts to get the silenced and intimidated victims to speak out on record against the powerful and ruthless producer. The picture’s best sequences involve the heartrending testimony from two of Weinstein’s victims, superbly played by Emily Morton and Jennifer Ehle.