Not many people have pity for Harvey Weinstein, who has been incarcerated since 2021 on charges of rape, forced oral copulation and third-degree sexual misconduct. Well, except for Candace Owens, who believes Weinstein was a scapegoat for the #MeToo movement, but that’s a whole other story I don’t want to get into here.
With that said, and during an L.A. Q&A session, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Errol Morris revealed a surprising request he received from Weinstein. It turns out he received a call from New York’s Rikers Island jail, and it was none other than the disgraced former Miramax head honcho.
Weinstein, currently serving a 23-year prison sentence, reportedly contacted Morris to inquire about securing his release, referencing Morris's pivotal role in the exoneration of Randall Dale Adams through his 1988 documentary, “The Thin Blue Line.”
Morris stated that Weinstein phoned from prison and asked to see if he could find evidence to get him out of the slammer, “like the guy from Thin Blue Line.” No further details were revealed, but now I’m intrigued to learn the full story of this call. What was Morris’ reply to such an unusual request?
This revelation is particularly striking given the complex history between Morris and Weinstein. In the late ‘80s, as Morris sought to promote “The Thin Blue Line,” he faced criticism from Weinstein, who deemed his promotional efforts "boring" and threatened to replace him with an actor if he didn't improve.
Furthermore, Morris has shared anecdotes highlighting Weinstein's controversial behavior during their professional interactions. He recounted observing Weinstein frequently accompanied by escorts, describing instances where he would see him "going upstairs with hookers."
The irony of Weinstein's recent request is not lost on observers. Morris's documentary not only brought global attention to the miscarriage of justice faced by Randall Adams but also played a crucial role in his eventual exoneration. That film was all about the power of investigative storytelling in effecting real-world change, and Weinstein clearly wants in on Morris’ prowess to exonerate.
Edward Berger seems to have settled on what comes next. His Lance Armstrong biopic, starring Austin Butler, is now holding casting calls, with production eyed for January.