Hot Docs 2018 Review: The Reckoning: Hollywood’s Worst Kept Secret

Apr 28, 2018- Permalink

The Reckoning: Hollywood’s Worst Kept Secret

I had one film on my 2018 Hot Docs schedule today, The Reckoning: Hollywood’s Worst Kept Secret, which traces the allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein and the rise of the #MeToo movement. Director Barry Avrich has covered big entertainment figures before, looking at Lew Wasserman in The Last Mogul and Garth Drabinsky in Show Stopper. In fact, this isn’t Avrich’s first kick at the Weinstein can. 2010’s Unauthorized: The Harvey Weinstein Story looked at the producing powerhouse but didn’t amplify the well-known whispers about his behaviour as he was at the height of his power and no one wanted to talk.

This look at Weinstein acts more like a primer to the situation rather than the ultimate expose of his alleged activities. It feels like the documentary you’d be pointed to if you asked Google to quickly explain the Weinstein scandal. Avrich does manage to get interviews with journalist Lauren Sivan, who recounted a story of Weinstein masturbating in front of her in a restaurant and with actress Melissa Sagemiller, who details his aggressive sexual behaviour during the shooting of 2001’s Get Over It. He manages to get insights from former Weinstein assistant Zelda Perkins, who details the atmosphere in his company and his constant use of non-disclosure agreements to silence women. Coming out while the story is still unfolding, he doesn’t get to talk to some of the biggest voices in the story, like Rose McGowan, Ashley Judd, Gwyneth Paltrow and Mira Sorvino.

Considering there are dozens of accusers against Weinstein, a doc on him could be a limited series. Avrich uses time in this doc to also look at the #MeToo worthy actions of Bill O’Reilly, James Toback, Donald Trump and others. With enough material for both the Weinstein and larger #MeToo movement issues, it can be argued that these should be two separate documentaries.

For more information on the 2018 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival and for tickets and showtimes visit hotdocs.ca.