Well yes. To see Gillian Anderson play Emily is worth the whole thing. I must confess that Gillian Anderson wasn't an actress I cared about or thought in anyway as a contender among her contemporaries. Her character in the X Files was what settled in my brain, so, nothing earth shattering until, well until her Margaret Thatcher in The Crown. That took me completely by surprise and blew me away. Now "Scoop" and she's the main reason to take your breath away. It's not an impersonation but something else. Something that belongs to great acting. Rufus Sewell was very good in the impossible task of playing Prince Andrew but Gillian Anderson bridges that impossibility and makes that, already famous interview, totally and utterly riveting. So, well done and thank you.
81 Reviews
Superbly acted.
Sleepin_Dragon11 April 2024
The story of how Emily Maitlis came to interview Prince Andrew.
It doesn't exactly sound like a catchy plot, and indeed I thought it was an extremely bizarre recent event to dramatise, but it works.
The BBC hasn't exactly been covered in glory in recent times, but this scoop was seen as something of a revelation, the first time I and many others decided to tune into Newsnight, a show that's died away over the years.
It was an excruciating interview to watch at the time, it's one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen, that scene was perfectly recreated, Sewell and Anderson were both terrific, quality acting. I thought Billie Piper did a cracking job here too.
I'm not sure whether this film will have a broad appeal or not, the storyline is a rather curious one, but if you enjoy quality acting, try it out.
7/10.
It doesn't exactly sound like a catchy plot, and indeed I thought it was an extremely bizarre recent event to dramatise, but it works.
The BBC hasn't exactly been covered in glory in recent times, but this scoop was seen as something of a revelation, the first time I and many others decided to tune into Newsnight, a show that's died away over the years.
It was an excruciating interview to watch at the time, it's one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen, that scene was perfectly recreated, Sewell and Anderson were both terrific, quality acting. I thought Billie Piper did a cracking job here too.
I'm not sure whether this film will have a broad appeal or not, the storyline is a rather curious one, but if you enjoy quality acting, try it out.
7/10.
OK Scoop
FinleyKolapo6 April 2024
I like the way it's shown how out of touch the palace crew was, especially before the interview aired when they were saying Andrew did "wonderful."
I think it's just a fine watch, nothing mind-blowing. But it's interesting to get a peek of the supposed behind the scenes of that infamous Prince Andrew interview.
It's not some edge-of-your-seat drama though, which I think is great because not everything needs dramatization. Since it's based on a book of a real event, with some creative changes, don't expect any crazy MI6 agents busting in to shut the interview down or anything like that. It keeps things relatively grounded despite the subject matter.
I think it's just a fine watch, nothing mind-blowing. But it's interesting to get a peek of the supposed behind the scenes of that infamous Prince Andrew interview.
It's not some edge-of-your-seat drama though, which I think is great because not everything needs dramatization. Since it's based on a book of a real event, with some creative changes, don't expect any crazy MI6 agents busting in to shut the interview down or anything like that. It keeps things relatively grounded despite the subject matter.
Ignore the negative reviews.
fjheath-647315 April 2024
Everybody has a right to their own opinion however in my view this is one of the most gripping films I've seen. Gillian Anderson is brilliant as Emily Maitless and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew made the best of what must have been a very awkward part to play. The rest of the cast did a good job as well. The running time of 1 hour 42 mins passed so quickly. Once again Netflix triumphs so well done to them. It's not very often that there are decent tv and films around but thankfully this is definitely one of them in my humble opinion. I really found this production enjoyable. Well done to everyone involved.
How clueless/out of touch Price Andrew really was
paul-allaer11 April 2024
As "Scoop" (2024 release from the UK; 102 min) opens, it is "New York 2010" and a British celebrity photographer shoots pictures of Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein during a walk in Central Park. We then go to "Nine Years Later" and shortly after Epstein is arrested and kills himself, there is tremendous pressure on Prince Andrew to explain his friendship with Epstein. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from British director Philip Martin ("Hawking"). Based on the 2022 book "Scoops" by BBC Newsnight producer Sam McAlister, the film in essence falls into two parts: how was McAlister able to convince Prince Andrew (and his small entourage) to agree to the interview, and once they agreed to the interview, how did both sides prepare for the interview. The cherry on top of the cake is of course the interview itself, carefully reconstructed and recreated. If there is one common theme in all of it, it is how insanely clueless and completely out of touch Prince Andrew is with reality and with how this would be received by the public at large. Andrew is fully convinced the interview went well. To be clear: the interview could hardly have gone any worse for Andrew. The move benefits enormously from a strong collective performance by the cast, including Billie Piper as Sam McAlister, Rufus Sewell as Andrew, and last but certainly not least, a brilliant Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis (the BBC Newsnight interviewer). Bottom line: even though we of course know the outcome before we watch this, "Scoop" makes for a great journalism drama, and ik kept my attention from start to finish.
"Scoop" premiered on Netflix last weekend, and I just saw it the other night. It is currently rated 76% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels about right to me. If you have any interest in the British royal family or in the BBC, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Couple of comments: this is the latest from British director Philip Martin ("Hawking"). Based on the 2022 book "Scoops" by BBC Newsnight producer Sam McAlister, the film in essence falls into two parts: how was McAlister able to convince Prince Andrew (and his small entourage) to agree to the interview, and once they agreed to the interview, how did both sides prepare for the interview. The cherry on top of the cake is of course the interview itself, carefully reconstructed and recreated. If there is one common theme in all of it, it is how insanely clueless and completely out of touch Prince Andrew is with reality and with how this would be received by the public at large. Andrew is fully convinced the interview went well. To be clear: the interview could hardly have gone any worse for Andrew. The move benefits enormously from a strong collective performance by the cast, including Billie Piper as Sam McAlister, Rufus Sewell as Andrew, and last but certainly not least, a brilliant Gillian Anderson as Emily Maitlis (the BBC Newsnight interviewer). Bottom line: even though we of course know the outcome before we watch this, "Scoop" makes for a great journalism drama, and ik kept my attention from start to finish.
"Scoop" premiered on Netflix last weekend, and I just saw it the other night. It is currently rated 76% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, which feels about right to me. If you have any interest in the British royal family or in the BBC, I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.
Enjoyable, but could have been better
ianhart-881786 April 2024
It's by no means a bad film. Overall, watching it is an enjoyable experience, But given the interesting subject matter, there is too much on matters that are irrelevant to the main issue
The interview with Prince Andrew captivated England at the time, and apparently much of the world too. If the film had concentrated more on how that came about , and the debates on both sides as to whether it should go ahead, I would have rated it higher. But the film lost its focus and concentrated far too much on the researcher who set up the interview. We see scenes with her mother. Scenes with her son. A debate about her son's girlfriend etc etc. If this was a fictional tale, maybe fair enough to flesh out other characters. But for a real life story, that wasn't what I was watching it for, and I felt it deflected attention from the main issues.
The interview with Prince Andrew captivated England at the time, and apparently much of the world too. If the film had concentrated more on how that came about , and the debates on both sides as to whether it should go ahead, I would have rated it higher. But the film lost its focus and concentrated far too much on the researcher who set up the interview. We see scenes with her mother. Scenes with her son. A debate about her son's girlfriend etc etc. If this was a fictional tale, maybe fair enough to flesh out other characters. But for a real life story, that wasn't what I was watching it for, and I felt it deflected attention from the main issues.
Not exactly a scoop...
alice-188-7113506 April 2024
Had high expectations and was expecting something along the lines of She Said, Bombshell or Spotlight. It just didn't hit the mark.
A fabulous and highly experienced cast did their best, but not sure the script or direction did much to recommend the film. Gillian Anderson was great, as always, as was Rufus Sewell, but there was just something missing for me; something I can't quite point my finger on. It lacked audience empathy for the producer to find, seek and get the story up. In fairness, they tried with the usual cinematic narrative tools but just didn't work.
I work in PR and media and know how hard and neigh impossible securing that interview would have been and the internal dynamics and politics within the Palace pr machine. But you just don't feel the challenge or struggle.
Definitely enjoyable but not outstanding.
A fabulous and highly experienced cast did their best, but not sure the script or direction did much to recommend the film. Gillian Anderson was great, as always, as was Rufus Sewell, but there was just something missing for me; something I can't quite point my finger on. It lacked audience empathy for the producer to find, seek and get the story up. In fairness, they tried with the usual cinematic narrative tools but just didn't work.
I work in PR and media and know how hard and neigh impossible securing that interview would have been and the internal dynamics and politics within the Palace pr machine. But you just don't feel the challenge or struggle.
Definitely enjoyable but not outstanding.
A GREAT STORY OF THE TRAINWRECK INTERVIEW, WHERE PRINCE ANDREW REVEALED JUST HOW MUCH OF A REPULSIVE IDIOT HE IS!
philstrachan5 April 2024
Yet again, Gillian Anderson absolutely nails her character, Emily, the way she did with Thatcher. The expressions during the interview with the Prince were so uncanny, you almost do a double-take to see if they'd spliced in actual footage! Billy was good as Sam, although her performance and the script didn't quite capture Sam's humour and her strengths that you can watch on longer interviews she's done. Rufus did an adequate job as Prince Andrew, certainly with replicating the trainwreck interview sequence but I feel they could have touched on a bit more of his repulsiveness - however, the story is, afterall, from Sam's point of view. When he gets out of the bath to check his phone, after the interview had just aired, it would have been a nice touch to see who had left the message ~ "Mummy".
The Prince and the Go Girl...
Xstal14 April 2024
It's a world in which you feel quite undervalued, finding stories for a late night slot can elude, a small child to raise as well, life is like a carousel, until a chance too good to miss, is then pursued. As naivety is handed on a plate, with a head, a reputation, is this fate - some persuasion to the prey, as the hook goes down airway, with the trap of Emily, layered down as bait. Next the clown enters stage left puts foot in mouth, as the flames start to engulf - they can't be doused, leaves us all without illusion, there can be just one conclusion, that we're witnessing, a very, regal, louse.
The question: "Doesxit Matter?"
rodsullivan-513949 April 2024
The producer who got "The Scoop" repeatedly is asked, and asks herself the question "Does it matter?" I kept asking myself the same question. Does it matter that BBC got an interview with Prince Andrew. Does it matter that he stepped down from his royal duties? I'm not sure it does.
Andrew was one of dozens, perhaps even hundreds of men who were entertained by Jeffery Epstein and Ms. Maxwell yet after all this time, we don't know how Epstein made his billions (perhaps from The Limited or Victoria's Secret, we don't really know). We don't know why the "ruling class," of whom Prince Andrew was a minor member, befriended him, or what he got from them, or they got from him. It's all clouded in mystery, and few in the news media care to know.
All we know is that they "got" Prince Andrew and earned a boatload of awards in journalism in the process. The deeper story, the story that really mattered, is still out there, and no one seems to be looking for it.
Andrew was one of dozens, perhaps even hundreds of men who were entertained by Jeffery Epstein and Ms. Maxwell yet after all this time, we don't know how Epstein made his billions (perhaps from The Limited or Victoria's Secret, we don't really know). We don't know why the "ruling class," of whom Prince Andrew was a minor member, befriended him, or what he got from them, or they got from him. It's all clouded in mystery, and few in the news media care to know.
All we know is that they "got" Prince Andrew and earned a boatload of awards in journalism in the process. The deeper story, the story that really mattered, is still out there, and no one seems to be looking for it.
Acting Brilliance Unleashed: A Review of 'Scoop' (2024)
gordon_ska5 April 2024
I recently watched "Scoop" (2024), a gripping film that delves into the thrilling journey of securing a high-profile interview. The main trio delivered performances that were nothing short of brilliant, with Gillian Anderson standing out exceptionally. Her portrayal was captivating, bringing depth and nuance to her role that was truly a highlight of the film. The chemistry among the cast elevated the story, making every scene they shared memorable. This movie not only entertains but also provides insight into the challenges and dedication behind journalistic endeavors. A must-watch for those who appreciate stellar acting and compelling storytelling.
Falls flat compared to the original.
FlutzFilms5 April 2024
After repeatedly watching the BBC interview, drawn in by the sheer astonishment of the event and the way the Prince, almost comically, undermined his own credibility, the news of this entire episode being adapted into a film piqued my interest immensely. The anticipation for the movie's premiere was palpable, particularly after catching glimpses of Sewell's portrayal of Andrew, which promised a compelling reenactment. However, upon finally viewing the film, I must express my disappointment. While the lead actors impressively mirrored their real-life counterparts in appearance, the production overall did not live up to expectations. The narrative seemed to lack substance, meandering without a clear purpose, rendering the storyline somewhat inconsequential and detached from the gravity of the actual events. In contrast, the original interview retains its ability to stay compellingly intense, offering an endlessly fascinating watch that the movie, unfortunately, couldn't replicate.
Well-intentioned but underwhelming
pg-cONE5 April 2024
This movie is perhaps meant to give us a behind-the-scenes look at the BBC, especially the Newsnight programme, and show why journalism matters. But it didn't quite hit the mark, lacking the passion and grit we saw in the cracking movie 'She Said'.
The important story gets overshadowed as they try to make it more entertaining than hard-hitting.
While the intentions were decent, the movie doesn't go deep enough into what real journalism involves and the challenges the industry faces in chasing truth. It ends up feeling a bit underwhelming and surface-level when it could've packed more of a punch.
Not bad, but doesn't quite nail that gripping, thought-provoking experience you'd want from a film tackling such a weighty topic.
The important story gets overshadowed as they try to make it more entertaining than hard-hitting.
While the intentions were decent, the movie doesn't go deep enough into what real journalism involves and the challenges the industry faces in chasing truth. It ends up feeling a bit underwhelming and surface-level when it could've packed more of a punch.
Not bad, but doesn't quite nail that gripping, thought-provoking experience you'd want from a film tackling such a weighty topic.
Interesting and well dramatised
alfonso-desas5 April 2024
I have just watched Scoop, and there are a few aspects worth mentioning. First, as well known as the underlying story is, the true interest lies in the set up of the unterview. Opportunity is everything in a scoop,not to mention contacts. But how the reporter/producer seizes the opportunity is what's remarkable. Rufus Sewell is a convincing Andrew, bloated, not too clever, a bit childish in his assumption that he's beyond reproach as "mummy's favourite child". But what was astonishing for me was the line he utters before granting the interview: asked what the Queen said about it, he replies "she trusts my judgment". This is, for me, a torpedo to his flotation line, and says a lot about the late monarch. Either she didn't trust "his" judgment and therefore knew he would throw himself under a two-decker bus, given her a good reason to take him out of the spotlight, or she actually "did" trust his judgment, in which case she was blinded by her motherly feelings. Whatever the case, I found the scene very telling. Worth watching for the minor details.
Remember it is 'based on real events' but excellent for that
pfgpowell-18 April 2024
Scoop, the Netflix account - well, the Netflix version - of the BBC Newsnight interview with British royal stuff shirt and pal of the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein and how it came about, is a great watch. But it does come - from me, at least - with a few caveats.
As I have called it a great watch I should explain why I caution. It is first and foremost a piece of commercial drama. It is not a documentary, and lets be honest, there is something at odds about every drama-doc.
The piece is preceded by what is now a standard warning: this film is based on real events - however certain elements have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes. And I don't doubt, if nothing else, Netflix legal department will have insisted on that being made clear.
The obvious question is: which elements have been fictionalised and how much has been fictionalised? I am not at all suggesting it's all a tissue of lies, but I am pointing out the we, the Great Unwashed, the bums which must be put on seats, are always more inclined to believe the legend than the facts.
A few years ago, the Tinseltown film U-571, another effort 'based on real events' described how stouthearted US submariners captured the World War II Nazi German enigma film.
It, too, contained certain elements fictionalised for dramatic purposes, though in this case the whole plot was fictionalised: thed Yanks had damn all to do with cracking the enigma code or anything like that. Ergo: caveat observator - always!
That preamble, though, is just a friendly warning: as far as Scoop is concerned, this might well be how it all happened and I have not reason to doubt it is not pretty close to the truth. But at the end of the day it is commercial drama produced, in the long run, to ring the tills and it is still fiction.
Having said that everyone involved gets top marks: Rufus Sewell, Billie Piper, Keeley Hawes, Gillian Anderson and the rest of the cast and production team. As far as I am concerned it doesn't put a foot wrong.
It is based on the book about scooping the interview with Andrew by the Newsnight producer who swung it, and the film pretty much is from her point of view. There's nothing wrong with that, but that is another factor which should be remembered.
But overall, top marks all round.
As I have called it a great watch I should explain why I caution. It is first and foremost a piece of commercial drama. It is not a documentary, and lets be honest, there is something at odds about every drama-doc.
The piece is preceded by what is now a standard warning: this film is based on real events - however certain elements have been fictionalised for dramatic purposes. And I don't doubt, if nothing else, Netflix legal department will have insisted on that being made clear.
The obvious question is: which elements have been fictionalised and how much has been fictionalised? I am not at all suggesting it's all a tissue of lies, but I am pointing out the we, the Great Unwashed, the bums which must be put on seats, are always more inclined to believe the legend than the facts.
A few years ago, the Tinseltown film U-571, another effort 'based on real events' described how stouthearted US submariners captured the World War II Nazi German enigma film.
It, too, contained certain elements fictionalised for dramatic purposes, though in this case the whole plot was fictionalised: thed Yanks had damn all to do with cracking the enigma code or anything like that. Ergo: caveat observator - always!
That preamble, though, is just a friendly warning: as far as Scoop is concerned, this might well be how it all happened and I have not reason to doubt it is not pretty close to the truth. But at the end of the day it is commercial drama produced, in the long run, to ring the tills and it is still fiction.
Having said that everyone involved gets top marks: Rufus Sewell, Billie Piper, Keeley Hawes, Gillian Anderson and the rest of the cast and production team. As far as I am concerned it doesn't put a foot wrong.
It is based on the book about scooping the interview with Andrew by the Newsnight producer who swung it, and the film pretty much is from her point of view. There's nothing wrong with that, but that is another factor which should be remembered.
But overall, top marks all round.
Mediocre
iainlee-432715 April 2024
Very disappointed. Mediocre writing and acting. Sewell has some weight as Prince Andrew, but almost everyone else is ACTING.
Yes there is creative license, it's even mentioned at the start, but this is just over the top. Is Amy of this real or accurate on any level whatsoever? Very disappointing.
The writing seems a little hammy and clunky and huge gaps in plot and knowledge. I wonder how the people represented in this that aren't the main characters feel? They're presented as bumbling idiots who don't know how to do their jobs.
I was excited to see this but came away with a sour taste in my mouth. It feels pointless.
Yes there is creative license, it's even mentioned at the start, but this is just over the top. Is Amy of this real or accurate on any level whatsoever? Very disappointing.
The writing seems a little hammy and clunky and huge gaps in plot and knowledge. I wonder how the people represented in this that aren't the main characters feel? They're presented as bumbling idiots who don't know how to do their jobs.
I was excited to see this but came away with a sour taste in my mouth. It feels pointless.
Good drama, well acted
tonycb6 April 2024
Most people watching this will know the main events of the Prince's relationships, the interview and it's consequences. The film itself focuses on what we don't know: the build up and what was going on in the BBC at the time. Piper, Anderson, Hawes and Sewell are good actors, playing their roles to perfection. The writers create what drama they can from events the viewer knows. I understood more about why the interview happened, and why it was so successful (from an interviewer perspective). There is not much on the victims, but that's not the point. It was the sense of invulnerability that was cracked, not the crimes revealed.
I love this kind of storytelling
ludmillaherni26 April 2024
First of all: both Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell are both absolutely brilliant in this! Rufus -I'm long time fan, since the Charles II series- has all the mannerisms and the stupidity of this conceited man.(sorry, I'm a republican, I don't like our own royal family either😁)
Being dutch, I had to look up Emily, to know what kind of status she has in the UK, but I saw the interview at the time and was impressed by the calm and the skill of this interviewer. Movies like this, like ' all the president's men' and 'the post' are very much to my taste and this one is another 'like' for me.
Billie Piper is also great as the somewhat papparazzi-like person, who nevertheless knows what 'sells'. BBC tv is a bit like NOS tv in the Netherlands: well behaved and somewhat dull, but trustworthy. That's exactly what is portrayed here.
As far as I'm concerned: great acting!
Billie Piper is also great as the somewhat papparazzi-like person, who nevertheless knows what 'sells'. BBC tv is a bit like NOS tv in the Netherlands: well behaved and somewhat dull, but trustworthy. That's exactly what is portrayed here.
As far as I'm concerned: great acting!
BBC crash-landing the Duke of York
shashank_150117 April 2024
Scoops is basically the backstory behind the infamous interview of Prince Andrew (Queen's favorite child) with BBC in 2019 that shook the Royal family.
Starring Rufus Sewell, Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper & Ramola Garai, the drama focuses on journalist Sam McAlister's quest to land the big interview with Prince Andrew, showing the complicated relationships between the media, Buckingham Palace, and the royal family. It explores the drama behind the scenes and the serious implications of Prince Andrew's connections to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
This disastrous interview with BBC's Newsnight led to Duke of York stepping down from his royal duties.
Casting seems spot on with Gillian Anderson & Billie Piper nailing their roles of BBC's journalist Emily Maitlis & Sam McAlister respectively. Sewell portraying The Duke is also spot-on with the interview resembling the actual one.
One won't find this a thriller though if you have followed this story five years back, but still it showcases the challenges in journalism and how high are the stakes when Royal family is involved.
Starring Rufus Sewell, Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper & Ramola Garai, the drama focuses on journalist Sam McAlister's quest to land the big interview with Prince Andrew, showing the complicated relationships between the media, Buckingham Palace, and the royal family. It explores the drama behind the scenes and the serious implications of Prince Andrew's connections to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
This disastrous interview with BBC's Newsnight led to Duke of York stepping down from his royal duties.
Casting seems spot on with Gillian Anderson & Billie Piper nailing their roles of BBC's journalist Emily Maitlis & Sam McAlister respectively. Sewell portraying The Duke is also spot-on with the interview resembling the actual one.
One won't find this a thriller though if you have followed this story five years back, but still it showcases the challenges in journalism and how high are the stakes when Royal family is involved.
Better off just watching the actual interview
asjames-861237 April 2024
The subject matter of the interview was interesting, but you are better off just watching the real life interview of this is what you are interested in. Andrew's serious character flaws are already well known and we don't see anything new here. The film tried to flesh out the events surrounding the interview without much success, possibly because these events weren't particularly interesting or insightful. It served more as a self-congratulatory vehicle for the journalists involved, I have to admit the back slapping from the girls club was a bit sickly. Some good performances but not enough to elevate this mediocre production.
Scooped
Dunnarunna6 April 2024
All I can say is wow, wow, wow!
Ignore the negative comments, watch this fictional dramatization, then decide for yourself.
The story of how this train wreck interview with the Duke of York (the D. O. Y.) had me pausing the doco every 20 minutes to discuss what we'd just learned with hubby!
Every actor in this presentation was outstanding. Gillian Anderson, as always, was absolutely perfect. The inclusion of her annoying Whippet dog in the doco just added to her perfect performance. And hasn't Jasper from The Holiday come a long way! Took me about an hour to realise it was my favourite love rat.
The D. O. Y. = a P. O. S.
Ignore the negative comments, watch this fictional dramatization, then decide for yourself.
The story of how this train wreck interview with the Duke of York (the D. O. Y.) had me pausing the doco every 20 minutes to discuss what we'd just learned with hubby!
Every actor in this presentation was outstanding. Gillian Anderson, as always, was absolutely perfect. The inclusion of her annoying Whippet dog in the doco just added to her perfect performance. And hasn't Jasper from The Holiday come a long way! Took me about an hour to realise it was my favourite love rat.
The D. O. Y. = a P. O. S.
Watchable
Sarah42312 April 2024
The acting far exceeded the content in this documentary-lite about Prince Andrew's interview with Emily Maitlis (here, played by Gillian Anderson in what was the real scoop of the night)
The process is outlined--how was Newsnight in the right place at the right time to score an hour? Completely obvious answer: journalists and segment bookers weave a network of contacts on the daily, hoping some will pan out.
It was vaguely interesting to see the booker be the hero after being treated with less respect by the more "serious" staff, but her story was also sketched in and lacking enough complexity.
There was no new information to be gleaned here, just a general review of what happened and that it was put to good use by the press, when the Palace had hoped it would help them instead.
I guess what I would have hoped is that the writing would have more weight, given the quality of the cast and crew.
So while this is still a decent second screen movie, I'm glad I didn't pay for a ticket and caught it streaming instead.
The process is outlined--how was Newsnight in the right place at the right time to score an hour? Completely obvious answer: journalists and segment bookers weave a network of contacts on the daily, hoping some will pan out.
It was vaguely interesting to see the booker be the hero after being treated with less respect by the more "serious" staff, but her story was also sketched in and lacking enough complexity.
There was no new information to be gleaned here, just a general review of what happened and that it was put to good use by the press, when the Palace had hoped it would help them instead.
I guess what I would have hoped is that the writing would have more weight, given the quality of the cast and crew.
So while this is still a decent second screen movie, I'm glad I didn't pay for a ticket and caught it streaming instead.
Nothing new to see here
Cali886 April 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Just goes to show you shouldn't be fooled by slick trailers! I went into this thinking it'd be an insightful take on the Prince Andrew interview scandal, with juicy never-before-seen-or-heard tidbits, knowledge, palace intrigue, etc. But no, there's literally nothing new to see here. In fact, as I watched the (expertly reenacted, I must admit) recreation of the Emily Maitlis/Prince Andrew sit down interview, I found myself wanting to just watch the damn original. We learn nothing interesting about how Billie Piper's character secured the interview (she hustled Andrew's press secretary, played by a very forgettable Keely Hawes, the way any journalist would be expected to hustle and secure any other interview, unless I'm missing something?), we get virtually nothing new/fresh in terms of the Epstein scandal, no behind-the-palace-gates intrigue or insights about how the royals might have felt about it all, etc. Gillian Anderson resurrects bits and pieces of her Margaret Thatcher routine and vocal fry for this, and Rufus Sewell does his darndest to emote Andrew (props to the makeup dept for the awesome prosthetics). All in all, a disappointment.
Netflix Made a Film That Wasn't Terrible! Yay!
cloudstrife-034079 April 2024
This film is as by no means great but given Netflix's track record in films this is, in my opinion, a big win because it wasn't a dumpster fire.
The good: Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell, especially the latter, are spot-on for acting and there's a reason why these are both legends. The show does a good job of laying the baseline as to why this is a historic interview, who Epstein is, and why Prince Andrew needs to make an accounting.
The bad: I personally couldn't get into Billie Piper playing Sam McAlister, I thought it was over-acted and awkward. I actually think the story would have been so much better had it been from Gillian Anderson and Prince Andrew's perspective and not Sam's. Sam's backstory and home life seemed out of place and disjointed and disconnected from the film. The office politics as well as signpost misogyny conversations also just seemed unnecessary, the latter treated the audience like idiots.
Overall though I'll take the win and hope Netflix continues to put out films that are not terrible. A low bar, I admit, but I think it is achievable.
The good: Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell, especially the latter, are spot-on for acting and there's a reason why these are both legends. The show does a good job of laying the baseline as to why this is a historic interview, who Epstein is, and why Prince Andrew needs to make an accounting.
The bad: I personally couldn't get into Billie Piper playing Sam McAlister, I thought it was over-acted and awkward. I actually think the story would have been so much better had it been from Gillian Anderson and Prince Andrew's perspective and not Sam's. Sam's backstory and home life seemed out of place and disjointed and disconnected from the film. The office politics as well as signpost misogyny conversations also just seemed unnecessary, the latter treated the audience like idiots.
Overall though I'll take the win and hope Netflix continues to put out films that are not terrible. A low bar, I admit, but I think it is achievable.
Good movie
busenur-735066 April 2024
The movie was enjoyable to watch and I liked it, but the subject is based on a real and, in my opinion, important story. The casting was very well done, and the standout performances of the actors made watching the film engaging. However, I feel that the subject could have been handled more effectively and with more detail. I wonder how much someone who is unfamiliar with the events or hasn't followed the topic closely would understand or become informed solely by watching the film. Or how deeply they could feel the impact of the story. Setting aside these considerations, it's clear that a lot of effort was put into the film. The actors were well-suited to their characters and delivered wonderful performances, which I truly appreciated.
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