89 reviews
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.
- marcelbenoitdeux
- Apr 6, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- paul-allaer
- Apr 10, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Apr 10, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- fjheath-64731
- Apr 4, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- FinleyKolapo
- Apr 5, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- alice-188-711350
- Apr 5, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- ianhart-88178
- Apr 5, 2024
- Permalink
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".
- philstrachan
- Apr 4, 2024
- Permalink
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 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.
- rodsullivan-51394
- Apr 8, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- gordon_ska
- Apr 4, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- FlutzFilms
- Apr 4, 2024
- Permalink
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.
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.
- alfonso-desas
- Apr 4, 2024
- Permalink
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.
My Review- Scoop
My Rating. 6/10
I would gladly watch any docu drama with a cast that includes Rufus Sewell, Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson and Romola Garai and I though they all have impressive performances.
However I was disappointed with Scoop based on the novel Scoops written by Samantha McAlister an English former TV producer and author, best known for securing an interview with Prince Andrew on BBC Newsnight's program that disclosed his involvement with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Epstein cultivated an elite social circle and procured many women and children whom he and his associates sexually abused.
If this part of Prince Andrew's involvement was part of the whole Epstein story as part of a series I would have found it more interesting.
This docudrama in my opinion even perhaps could have been covered in a later series of The Crown rather than a drawn out pat on the back for the BBC team who successfully exposed the covert and corrupt association that Prince Andrew the Duke of York had with Epstein and his criminality.
I imagine this television event did attract a great deal of interest and great ratings for the BBC but I remember thinking what an idiot Prince Andrew was and I felt so sorry for his late mother The Queen to have to experience yet another family scandal in the last two years of her long life.
I would gladly watch any docu drama with a cast that includes Rufus Sewell, Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson and Romola Garai and I though they all have impressive performances.
However I was disappointed with Scoop based on the novel Scoops written by Samantha McAlister an English former TV producer and author, best known for securing an interview with Prince Andrew on BBC Newsnight's program that disclosed his involvement with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Epstein cultivated an elite social circle and procured many women and children whom he and his associates sexually abused.
If this part of Prince Andrew's involvement was part of the whole Epstein story as part of a series I would have found it more interesting.
This docudrama in my opinion even perhaps could have been covered in a later series of The Crown rather than a drawn out pat on the back for the BBC team who successfully exposed the covert and corrupt association that Prince Andrew the Duke of York had with Epstein and his criminality.
I imagine this television event did attract a great deal of interest and great ratings for the BBC but I remember thinking what an idiot Prince Andrew was and I felt so sorry for his late mother The Queen to have to experience yet another family scandal in the last two years of her long life.
- tm-sheehan
- Apr 14, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- pfgpowell-1
- Apr 7, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- Dunnarunna
- Apr 5, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- iainlee-43271
- Apr 4, 2024
- Permalink
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.
- asjames-86123
- Apr 6, 2024
- Permalink
I decided to watch 'Scoop' on a whim after scrolling aimlessly through the rows and rows of options on Netflix.
Having never actually seen the actual Newsnight interview in its entirety, I didn't really have any preconceived ideas of how this film would cover the topic.
Gillian Anderson is excellent, as always, but in my opinion, Billie Piper knocks it out of the park and completely steals every scene she's in.
Rufus Sewell is perfectly cast as the controversial Prince Andrew.
I might actually go and watch the infamous interview in full, just to see how much of a car crash it actually was.
Having never actually seen the actual Newsnight interview in its entirety, I didn't really have any preconceived ideas of how this film would cover the topic.
Gillian Anderson is excellent, as always, but in my opinion, Billie Piper knocks it out of the park and completely steals every scene she's in.
Rufus Sewell is perfectly cast as the controversial Prince Andrew.
I might actually go and watch the infamous interview in full, just to see how much of a car crash it actually was.
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.
- cloudstrife-03407
- Apr 8, 2024
- Permalink
It's 2010 Manhattan. Reporters are stalking Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) who continues to hang out with Jeffrey Epstein and his cadre of young women. His private secretary Amanda Thirsk (Keeley Hawes) is struggling to stop the never-ending scandal. Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) is the host of BBC's prestigious Newsnight program. Esme Wren (Romola Garai) is the executive producer. Sam McAlister (Billie Piper) is tired of producing another segment on Brexit when she makes contact with Thirsk.
This is more compelling than I expected. The actual tick tock of the situation is not the most compelling especially for a non-Royal watcher like me. Of all the characters, Prince Andrew is probably the weakest. He strikes me like a caricature. Maybe the stuffed animals are real, but the kangaroo scene can be cut. While Sam's son is unnecessary, they may as well show Thirsk's family to balance both sides. That would be a good theme for the show. It's the drama of two working mothers. I do really like the one scene with Sam and her black co-worker who berates her for wasting a day on the story. I would like Sam to say more with Emily Maitlis about letting him talk. All in all, this is an engaging watch.
This is more compelling than I expected. The actual tick tock of the situation is not the most compelling especially for a non-Royal watcher like me. Of all the characters, Prince Andrew is probably the weakest. He strikes me like a caricature. Maybe the stuffed animals are real, but the kangaroo scene can be cut. While Sam's son is unnecessary, they may as well show Thirsk's family to balance both sides. That would be a good theme for the show. It's the drama of two working mothers. I do really like the one scene with Sam and her black co-worker who berates her for wasting a day on the story. I would like Sam to say more with Emily Maitlis about letting him talk. All in all, this is an engaging watch.
- SnoopyStyle
- Apr 13, 2024
- Permalink
I didn't know alot about the events leading up to or the broadcasting of the Prince Andrew interview.
Now I will say that Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson and Rupert Sewell give good performances. Especially Anderson and Sewell.
But I couldn't help walking away from this movie feeling like they squandered a golden opportunity to dig deeper. To expand the story beyond the logistics of scheduling and delivering the interview.
The story that was told in this movie was... fine. Very surface level. But where was the guts?? Where was the drama?? Where was the uncertainty, conflict and big human emotion reacting to such a volatile and critical moment for everyone involved?
It was just... meh. Not bad, not good. Just a simple re-telling of the events.
Now I will say that Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson and Rupert Sewell give good performances. Especially Anderson and Sewell.
But I couldn't help walking away from this movie feeling like they squandered a golden opportunity to dig deeper. To expand the story beyond the logistics of scheduling and delivering the interview.
The story that was told in this movie was... fine. Very surface level. But where was the guts?? Where was the drama?? Where was the uncertainty, conflict and big human emotion reacting to such a volatile and critical moment for everyone involved?
It was just... meh. Not bad, not good. Just a simple re-telling of the events.
- courtneyjjjjjjjj
- Apr 26, 2024
- Permalink