I’m not sure what Clayton Davis was thinking when he wrote his latest Oscar piece, this one his 10.20 piece called “Will She Said Hit Too Close to Home for Oscar Voters?
Davis is basically saying that the Academy has a responsibility to nominate the Harvey Weinstein movie, regardless of quality. Or, how about, “Hollywood publication writes that Hollywood movie about Hollywood scandal forces Hollywood to take responsibility for scandal”. Jesus, Clayton.
Yes, Weinstein is in jail, but this is basically a plea for the industry to be on the right side of history and nominate an undeserving film (yes, I’ve seen it). “She Said” is a fine-as-it-goes investigative journalism piece that feels too familiar, especially coming off “Spotlight,” which was released seven years ago .
“She Said” is a competent and well-directed movie, but it doesn’t really tell you the whole story about predatory Hollywood. In the end, it amounts to nothing more than masturbatory propaganda.
Cue to Davis: Weinstein wasn’t the only sick fuck in the film business. There will be plenty of attendees at this year’s Oscar ceremony who were either complicit with Weinstein’s crimes or are guilty of their own misdeeds.
It’s unfair to expect a single film to capture a story that had so many layers. However, the film fails to showcase the industry’s role in Weinstein’s crimes. The corrosive system that led to Weinstein’s predatorial misdeeds is left unexplained.
Fact of the matter is that I would cringe if this #MeToo movie is christened with Oscars. The same awards show Weinstein was successfully famous for manipulating his way to a boatload of awards via unabashed campaigning advertisement and backdoor payoffs.