Movie Review - Scoop

Director: Philip Martin
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson, Rufus Sewell, Connor Swindells, Romola Garai, Keeley Hawkes
 
Description: How the BBC obtained the bombshell interview with Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Review: The Royals, some people love them, some couldn’t care less. Especially when such dark practices come to light as those of England’s Prince Andrew and his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The BBC program Newsnight managed to get Andrew for an exclusive interview in 2019: it was the first and only time he spoke publicly about the affairs. “Scoop” shows the run-up and outcome of this infamous interview by focusing on those involved at the BBC, the royal press and on the Prince himself.

This dramatized version of events is based on the book “Scoops”, written by former BBC journalist Samantha McAllister, who credits herself with a major role in the making of the interview and is also the film’s main character. We see Sam’s journalistic drive, consultations with contacts of the royal family and also catch glimpses of her private life and the impact her work has on it.

It would be east to see Sam, sidelined at one point by the BBC, as the heroine of this story, but “Scoop” takes a nuanced approach to the moral issues. The film pays attention to the motives, actions and especially the shortcomings of all involved. We see the different sides of Sam, from editor-in-chief Amanda Thirsk, interviewer Emily Maitlis and royal press officer Annette Witheridge. The only one who really comes off unequivocally short is Andrew.

Andrew is know as the smooth talker within the Royal family. Annette, who arranges the interview from royalty, is convinced by the prince’s charm that it is a good thing for Andrew to show the nation that he is virtuous and prepares the interview meticulously with him. But the prince, of course, is not virtuous. He is a liar and really just a big child who thinks he can get away with a fabrication of the past.
The viewer’s indignation is directed at Andrew, but also at the press and the team at BBC, who may not have made to most of it after all. The films stirs these feelings, but also continually shows that this whole process is human work. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you’d hoped. In that sense, “Scoop” is not a pedantic film.

Director Philip Martin offers in “Scoop” a meticulous reconstruction of the events, but also does not shy away from fictional interpretation and scenes that serve purely for dramatic effect. The mix of fact and fiction works well, especially for those not exactly in the know about the whole affair, “Scoop” is an exciting as well as understated film.

Billie Piper in the lead role is very expressive. The hot-blooded Sam is vicious toward her colleagues, but like a child excited when she is invited to Buckingham Palace. She deals with disappointments, but also celebrates her triumph. Piper lays it on a bit thick at times, but we feel involved with Sam. Gillain Anderson, as interviewer Emily Maitlis, and Rufus Sewell, as Prince Andrew, play public figures, but their renditions offer enough drama to keep it from being boring imitations.

“Scoop” is a really solid film, which mixed fact and fiction very well and shines a light on a very important news item.

Rating: 3,5/ 5