Tag Archives: #MeTooMovement

Film reviews

Sorry/Not Sorry Review

Leave a comment

A documentary that sheds a dangerously truthful light on a comedic icon, Sorry/Not Sorry follows a trail of fame, patterns, and defamation. The #Metoo movement goes to the depths of honesty in a haunting matter in this film. Its focus is comedian Louis C.K. and the allegations against him regarding sexual misconduct. The title speaks for itself. I have seen Louis perform live three times in 2015, 2016, and 2021 (after his allegations and post-covid). Each of those times always left me with a different feeling of laughter. Sorry/Not Sorry linked me back to many of the times where I had once adored the works of C.K. and brought on some reflection.

Sorry/Not Sorry is a detailed documentary including many interviews with comedians and critics on the allegations against Louis C.K. The trend of what is hard to accept with Sorry/Not Sorry is that the weird events of Louis did in fact happen. The film jumps back to his comedy moments of him telling many of his jokes. The depiction captures him being very open and detailed about contentious stuff in his material. It then dives into events and scenarios leading up to the controversy around Louis.

It is all hard to watch. Normally with Louis, I would be used to laughing until my lungs hurt, yet Sorry/Not Sorry is not in that zone. These are true events not jokes.  The interview with Jen Kirkman is what haunted me the most, as she explains her early days as a comic and how she worked with Louis. The documentary presents a challenge in its storyline of the events of Louis C.K.  Its presentation seems to be one of disgust at how quickly tings can be forgotten when fame and money are involved.

The aspect of his material is a two-way street in Sorry/Not Sorry. Why would Louis go into detail about sexual topics within his acts after everything he went through? How does the funny feel good with the presence of the shocking realism of the surrounding topics? All are too graphic to go into detail, but the world knows his actions. The hatred vibes swirl here. Sorry/Not Sorry is a heartless documentary that throws buckets of despise to the max. 

The interviews though, do shine a light on the talent Louis had. That is his observations of messed up moments and life scenarios. The truth of which guts the audience. It is the fact that he admitted to the allegations against him. The film does dive into fame and brilliance, and then dives into questions. How did Louis get away with his actions? How was he able to rise backto fame? Sorry/Not Sorry is a dark documentary of admittance, failure and a questionable comeback.

This is not a film that is easy to take in. It is difficult to absorbas its delivery is filled with a lot of heavy material from victims and those who basically dismiss the accusations. I found the documentary to have patterns of anger and frustration going in a spiral. Sorry/Not Sorry is a title of admittance, but there is context that dives deeper than audiences realize. It keeps its calm approach to feel light-hearted. The film itself still aches from the harsh reality of truth with too much binding of emotions in a form that continues to be unnerving. Two out of four stars for Sorry/Not Sorry.

Film reviews

She Said Review

Leave a comment

People now know that Harvey Weinstein is an incredibly terrible and lecherous person. She Said is the story of how this rat was cornered, launching the #MeToo movement.

She Said focuses on two New York Times reporters, Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor (played by Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan). In 2017 they are investigating a case of sexual harassment by Weinstein that was being dismissed. They dig deep through the trail of celebrities that Weinstein worked with, many of whom said that Weinstein would punish them if they spoke up, or get them awards for complying with his sexual advances. Sadly, because they knew Weinstein was protected, many of them threw away their careers,. This motivates Twohey and Kantor to put together the pieces. Why was Weinstein allowed to keep his criminal behavior hidden? Why did his employers cover for him when they knew he was doing what was wrong? Why did no one take the chance to speak up for their own safety? The questions, accusations, and the paper trail are monstrous. But Twohey and Kantor are heroic for helping the victims find a voice.

I remember the harrowing news of the many allegations of sexual harassment cases starting in 2017. I remember friends, colleagues, and acquaintances resigning from their jobs because they or their superiors were facing charges for sexual harassment. I remember male celebrities getting scorched in the press, one by one, for their terrible behavior. She Said helps us understand why so many made the tough choice to resign or keep quiet, instead of fighting back.

The details of Twohey and Kantor’s interviews are disturbing. I could feel the stress rising in me as the graphic details were exposed. She Said digs deep into why there were so many barriers helping Weinstein avoid the inevitable. As more victims are interviewed, the heavier the true story gets. I found myself praying that the victims would speak up, and being provoked to anxiety hoping that the press would take a stand against Weinstein. With Weinstein’s schemes and dangerous activities, She Saidpaints an extreme picture of how much people suffer when they are taken advantage of.

Although we thought we knew how bad Harvey Weinstein was, She Said will change the way the world views him. Its deep investigation boils the plot. The film’s message is to not be afraid to take a stand, and that no one should receive the kind of treatment that Weinstein’s victims endure. She Said is disturbing because it’s based on a true story, it’s recent, and much of the terrible behavior that Twohey and Kantor unveil still happens today. She Said will have its audience, as I was, praying for redemption for the women who suffer from the unforgivable behavior of these men. Three and a half stars for She Said.