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
