Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence

Harvey Weinstein was instrumental in shaping movies, expanding the range of subject matter, presentation, and new talent. Weinstein won 81 Academy Awards and received 341 Oscar nominations. He became a figure of power in the movie industry and claimed friendship with Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. On the surface, he appeared charismatic and generous, but behind the scenes, he was abusive, screaming at employees and maintaining a state of constant turmoil. His predatory sexual practices came to light in 2017, when more than 100 women revealed how he used his influence to sexually assault women seeking movie roles at his company. He was indicted, put on trial, and sentenced in 2020 to 23 years in prison. Journalist Auletta (Greed and Glory on Wall Street) seeks to reveal how Weinstein became this person. While Auletta cites numerous experts and includes excerpts from victims, employees, and family members, listeners may still wonder how Weinstein became so corrupt. While shocking, the story is repetitive and overly detailed. Unfortunately, the audio is not enlivened by narrator Jonathan Coleman’s businesslike and uneven delivery.