Review by C.J. Bunce
Good stories about journalism are far and few between. Great ones are far rarer. The new biopic Scoop is good, not great, but it will be worth your time simply if you enjoy any of its top line of British actors, whether you love ex-FBI agent Gillian Anderson, the former-Doctor Who time traveler Billie Piper, the former Ashes to Ashes time traveler Keeley Hawes, the former BBC producer Romola Garai, or the former knight, cop–or time traveler–that is Rufus Sewell. A film that spotlights the talent of its actors–especially its strong female cast–more than a standout adaptation of life “ripped from the headlines,” and a great Brit reporting follow-up to Frost/Nixon, Scoop is now streaming on Netflix.
Scoop ticks all the boxes for a reporter movie in the vein of The Paper, The Post, and State of Play, without being one of those epic entries in the genre like All the President’s Men, Citizen Kane, or Zodiac. Don’t expect a lot of suspense or thrills as found trading secrets in a parking garage 2 a.m. This is a story that sprouts from the kind of persistent paparazzi that killed Princess Diana and rises to strip a British royal of his titles, albeit one of what seems to be too many quirky royals not in the direct line to the crown. Rufus Sewell (Zen, A Knight’s Tale, The Man in the High Castle) makes himself almost unrecognizable as “randy Andy” Prince Andrew, another son of Queen Elizabeth and former spouse of frequent press topic of the 1980s and 1990s, Sarah Ferguson (although she’s not a player here). The story recounts the BBC interview with the prince about his friendship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein after Epstein’s suicide in prison.
The movie is based on the 2022 memoir Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews by Sam McAlister, an editor on the BBC show Newsnight. Billie Piper is the star and story driver as McAlister (oddly taking an “and” credit), who had a hand in securing the interview with the prince. The interview was conducted by the prim, proper, and poised Emily Maitlis, played by Gillian Anderson, who positively nails her performance.
Keeley Hawes is the more loyal and supportive Amanda Thirsk, personal assistant to the prince, and Romola Garai steps back into that BBC role she perfected in The Hour, this time four decades on as Newsnight editor Esme Wren. The result is a powerhouse of British performers that makes the show fun to watch even with the background of the serious subject matter.
Sewell delivers a performance both as brilliant and uncomfortable as Frank Langella’s turn as President Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon–both surprisingly similar, high-profile figures with kooky mannerisms and quirky ways you’d usually only find in fiction. Keep watch for Connor Swindells (Emma., Barbie) who makes a good character of Jae Donnelly, the photographer who “got the goods” on the prince with Epstein.
Will the story prompt young people to take on a career in journalism? It doesn’t feel all that inspiring, but it may have a greater impact for Englanders or loyal followers of the monarchy. But genre fans, especially fans of the great actors, won’t want to miss it. Catch Scoop now streaming on Netflix.
