“‘SCOOP’ Review: The Explosive Story of Prince Andrew’s Interview Gone Wrong”

Imagine, a chance at redemption; to pull yourself out of a hole you dug for yourself! A shot at speaking your mind, as the world listens, and all you do is squander it away and make yourself a bigger laughingstock than you already are! That was the saga of Prince Andrew, the 3rd born of Queen Elizabeth, and his infamous interview to the show ‘Newsnight’ on the BBC post the Jeffrey Epstein debacle- captured beautifully in the recently released flick on Netflix in India, “SCOOP”.

Inspired by real events, SCOOP is the inside account of the tenacious journalism that landed an earthshattering interview — Prince Andrew’s infamous BBC Newsnight appearance. From the tension of producer Sam McAlister’s high stakes negotiations with Buckingham Palace, all the way to Emily Maitlis’ jaw-dropping, forensic showdown with the Prince, SCOOP takes us inside the story, with the women who would stop at nothing to get it.

In a rather powerful scene, as Emily struggles to decide between a hard and aggressive stand to a comparatively accommodative one, Sam quietly advises her to let the Prince talk and let the world hear what he has to say.

It is this conversation that sets the tone for the interview and the extreme reaction that followed across Social Media. Prince Andrew comes across as pompous and unapologetic even as what he says alienates him to his most staunch sympathisers.

Gillian Anderson is brilliant as Emily Maitless and Rufus Sewell as Prince Andrew are flawless in what must be a very awkward and difficult part to play.

The narrative is extremely engaging and the running time of 1 hour 42 mins passes so quickly. The fact that the BBC’s exclusive and explosive interview with Prince Andrew over his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein earned record ratings for the broadcaster’s flagship ‘Newsnight’ program is reason enough to watch the film.

A must watch!