“SEIZING THE STORY”
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
SCOOP is a fairly well told, cautionary tale of a journalist’s search for the truth, the powerful elite’s evasion, and the fact that our sins seldom remain a secret for long. Billie Piper turns in a convincing performance as Sam. She makes the story compelling. Gillian Anderson delivers a tour de force performance as a BBC news anchor. However, the other characters could be better developed. Some of the other actors aren’t given much to do, for example. SCOOP has a strong moral worldview, but MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution for the movie’s mature subject matter and some foul language.
CONTENT:
The movie’s dominant worldview is biblical moral in its cautionary tale of how one’s sins will always find him out, characters who start out selfishly seeking the next big news story eventually fall on the side of biblical morality with virtuous motives prevailing;
One “f” word, two other obscenities, and one strong profanity;
Reference to a criminal’s suicide by hanging;
No sex scenes, but there are many references to sex, sexual activity and sex trafficking, the subject of prostitution is prominent, there are references to décor shaped like genitalia, there are references to abuse and a private island being used for salacious criminal activity, and a man essentially admits to sexual misconduct with a young woman;
An elderly man steps naked out of the bath and stands in a dark hall (nudity is barely avoided by a lack of light);
Some social drinking and reference to a man buying many drinks for an underage girl;
No smoking or drugs; and,
For a while it’s unclear whether a journalist is in it for the story or the truth, but becomes clear by the end that it was the latter.
MORE DETAIL:
In SCOOP, a British movie on Netflix, a female journalist named Sam McAlister works for the BBC, hunting for stories that actually matter. Finding that the controversial Duke of York, Prince Andrew, is starting a new initiative for young entrepreneurs in the 2019, she stumbles across a photo of him walking and talking with convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. Contacting the New York journalist who originally got the photo back in 2010, she finds that Epstein’s dark dealings continue in the present and that authorities are ignoring Epstein’s illegal activity.
Sam tries to get an interview with Prince Andrew but is initially rejected. Hoping to be the first to the truth and trying to save the royal family the grief of guilt by association, she persists because she knows that such a story will only get bigger. When the news of Epstein’s second arrest for sex trafficking breaks in July of 2019 and his subsequent supposed suicide the next month, Sam gets her interview. Or rather, she gets an interview for “the BBC.”
However, what will come of this interview which is fraught with peril for the British Crown, both interviewers and interviewee. Is there any connection with Epstein’s web of depraved exploits? Will Sam get her story and the credit she deserves, discern the difference between the narrative twists and the truth, and can Prince Andrew acquit himself of his salacious association?
SCOOP is a fairly well told tale of a journalist’s search for the truth, the powerful elite’s evasion, and the fact that what people do in secret will not remain hidden forever. The problem is that the movie lacks development of any person except the two primary characters. SCOOP is well directed and acted by an A list British cast. However, many of these A listers aren’t given much to do. Billie Piper turns in a convincing role as discerning and determined journalist, Sam. Gillian Anderson is very convincing as BBC news anchor, Emily Maitlis. Together, they drive the story forward. Piper makes the story interesting, and Anderson delivers a tour de force performance symbolizing all that an interviewer should be.
Sadly, the dynamics of these characters are really the only standout part of the movie. Rufus Sewell plays his usual smug villain part aptly, other journalists do their jobs, and royal persons comport themselves royally. However, the only two really developed characters remain those of Piper and Anderson.
SCOOP has a moral worldview. It tells a cautionary tale showing that our sins will usually find us out. Characters who start out selfishly seeking the next big news story eventually fall on the side of biblical morality with prevailing virtuous motives. However, SCOOP has some very adult thematic elements involving sex and sex trafficking, which form a prominent part of the plot. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.