Scoop Movie Review: Rufus Sewell’s role as the disgraced Prince Andrew makes it a worthy watch

Seldom do journalistic films in English match up to the peerless Spotlight. That is, in recent memory, at least. The film set a standard on how to make a hard-hitting narrative based on fact without being overly dramatic, and yet, differentiating itself from a documentary-style format. That balance between truth and engagement is hard to find. Adapted from Sam McAlister’s book, Scoop details the circumstances leading up to the infamous interview of Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, by the BBC, on his close ties with sex offender, sex trafficker and paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein. And how the BBC pushed for one of the biggest televised shows presenting evidence of sexual abuse against Queen Elizabeth’s favourite son. It all began with an idea from Sam McAlister, one that took her on an unexpected path of seeking out the photographer who captured stills of the prince and Epstein at a park in New York in 2010 (nine years before the current events). In the larger context it is set (sex abuse by the powerful and wealthy, and holding them to account), parallels can be drawn with She Said (2022). That film dealt with the New York Times investigation that exposed Harvey Weinstein and his long history of sexual assault and misconduct against multiple women. Scoop references the former along with all the usual suspects (including Bill Clinton) and their murky connection to Epstein and girlfriend cum accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell. Prince Andrew’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein stem from his friendship with the former British socialite. While Scoop is well narrated, with exceptional performances from Rufus Sewell, Gillian Anderson and Keeley Hawes, it is perhaps, in sections, too dramatic for its own good. It pales in comparison to the incredibly powerful documentary series, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich and Ghislaine Maxwell: Filthy Rich, both of which make special mention (across episodes) of the Prince’s close association with the underage sex ring.

Director – Philip Martin

Cast – Gillian Anderson, Billie Piper, Rufus Sewell, Keeley Hawes, Romola Garai, Richard Goulding

Streaming On – Netflix

Rufus Sewell, as Prince Andrew, is the film’s undoubted standout. Embodying the major royal’s tiny mannerisms, his loose-cannon persona and general lack of propriety, the actor pulls out all the stops to render a role that will be remembered, even if the film happens to fade over time. Two scenes come to mind when you think of how well Sewell has immersed himself in the chaos that is the Duke of York. At a meeting in Buckingham, sitting across BBC’s Newsnight anchor Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) and Sam McAlister (Billie Piper), Prince Andrew, while considering an interview to tell his side of the story, makes an offhand remark (with a pronounced chuckle) that goes thus: “I don’t understand why everyone’s obsessed with my friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. I knew Jimmy Savile so much better.” Everyone in the room including his daughter (Princess Beatrice) and his long-time secretary, Amanda Thirsk (Keeley Hawes), is too embarrassed to make eye contact at the faux pas. In preparation for the interview, Amanda tells him not to say “that woman” (referring to a highly publicised photograph of him with seventeen-year-old Virginia Roberts and Ghislaine Maxwell). “Ms. Roberts. Please don’t ever say ‘that woman’. Ever,” Amanda instructs him.

The interview prep scenes – of the BBC and the royal think tank doing mock drills for the likely responses/questions and how to tackle them – are great to watch as both sides seamlessly merge with one another. Billie Piper (as Sam McAlister) is a bit of a disappointment if I were being completely honest. In the newsroom, she comes off as a rebel who likes to shake things up and challenge authority, but when she gets access to Buckingham Palace, she suffers from a fangirl moment. Not exactly the best look when the idea to expose the Duke of York for his alleged sexual abuse is on the line. The sequence in which Emily asks Sam not to hold her opinion back is one of Scoop’s best. The latter says, “Men like that hate it when they’re not heard. He’ll want to be heard.” And it is this exact approach that enables the BBC to get Andrew talking, tying himself in knots on public television. For the most part, though, you could argue that the casting for Sam’s role went wrong.

Anderson plays Emily Maitlis quite brilliantly. Her quiet yet firm manner ought to be the benchmark for TV anchors everywhere. Keeley Hawes is impressive as the Prince’s private secretary. Throughout, she has this look on her face that says “I don’t wish to believe any of the allegations against him, but I know them to be true.” Tough spot to be in for someone tasked with defending him against external attack and slander.

While it can get a tad melodramatic, Scoop tends to also exude a mildly comedic quality here and there…something that’s in direct contradiction to the heavy subject matter at hand. The Queen’s favourite son having close links to one of the most notorious sex offenders of our time is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly at all.