In this episode we review "Scoop": a docu-drama on the Newsnight interview in 2019 between Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew.
The reviewers are:
- Scott Forbes of The Forbes Film and TV Review on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/theforbesfilmreview);
- Bob Mann of One Mann's Movies (http://www.onemannsmovies.com) and BBC Radio Solent;
- Rev. Andy Godfrey of Konnect Radio (https://www.konnectradio.com) and Sorted Magazine (https://sortedmag.com).
The video version of this podcast is available here: https://youtu.be/SG8tWvtcmHw
AI Generated Show Notes
Summary
The Flickering Dream podcast discusses the Netflix movie 'Scoop' which is based on the infamous interview with Prince Andrew. The hosts and guest praise Billy Piper's performance and the behind-the-scenes look at the journalist's efforts to set up the interview. They find the film surprisingly funny and highlight the political maneuvering between the palace and the journalists. Overall, they enjoy the movie and recommend it for streaming.
Keywords
Flickering Dream podcast, Scoop, Netflix, movie, Prince Andrew, interview, Billy Piper, behind-the-scenes, journalist, political maneuvering, streaming
Takeaways
- Billie Piper delivers a standout performance in 'Scoop'
- The film provides an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the efforts to set up the infamous interview
- The movie balances humor with the serious subject matter
- Political maneuvering between the palace and the journalists adds intrigue
- The hosts recommend watching 'Scoop' on a streaming platform
Sound Bites
- "Cringe-worthy"
- "Fascinating the way she went about it"
- "Magnetic presence on the screen"
#filmreview #filmreviews #onemannsmovies #movie #moviereview #moviereviews #cinema #flickeringdreams #Scoop #scoopmovie #netflix #billiepiper #rufussewell #keeleyhawes #gilliananderson
Music: Hip Jazz by Bensound.
Any clips used are taken from YouTube trailers or posted clips. Copyright remains with the original owners. As this podcast involves review, criticism and observation on the copyrighted materials, the clips are used under a ‘Fair Use’ policy. If copyright owners object to such use, please email bobthemovieman1@gmail.com and they will be removed.
Scott Forbes (00:00)
Evening guys and welcome to this latest episode of the Flickering Dream podcast with myself Scott Forbes, Bob Mann and the Reverend Andy Godfrey. Today we are going to be venturing into the world of Netflix with the latest feature which is called Scoop. Now this is a movie all about the infamous interview that Prince Andrew sat through. You know the one. Here's a clip.
So guys, first of all, did you guys see the interview itself? Have you? Yeah.
Bob Mann (01:06)
I remember it well, yes, November 2019. Yes. Cringe, cringe -worthy.
Rev. Andy Godfrey (01:09)
I remember it well. Yeah.
Scott Forbes (01:11)
Yeah, it was certainly headline TV. But so great if you love Schaudenfreude, as they call it in Germany. This film for me was one that I think was placed well on Netflix. I don't think it was a cinematic movie, but it will find its home pretty well on streaming. It's got Rufus Sewell, who is caked in heavy makeup to make him look like Prince Andrew. If it was
Rev. Andy Godfrey (01:17)
That's the word.
Bob Mann (01:21)
You
Scott Forbes (01:41)
Perhaps a bigger movie, I'd be thinking about it for Oscar nominations, but I would be surprised. Yeah, the interview itself is the big talking point from this movie. It's what we are signed up to when we watch it from all the advertising. But really, what this film is so great at is about the character that is played by Billie Piper, who is a... Basically, she works at the BBC trying to get interviews.
Bob Mann (01:45)
Yeah.
Scott Forbes (02:11)
And it's her hard work and effort that goes in behind the scenes to try and set this interview up in the first place. And I don't know about you guys, but I thought that was fascinating the way she went about it. And just the performance in general from Billie Piper, who I'm not a Doctor Who person, so that side of her career passed me by. But for me, it's still when she was like 14 or something and brought out her single and that's kind of...
best thing I know her for. I'm sure she's done plenty of wonderful things since. But this I thought she -
Bob Mann (02:43)
Huh. Huh.
Well, she's really not done a tremendous amount in feature films, as I commented in my review. I mean, she has a such a magnetic presence on the screen, doesn't she? And she's done a lot of TV stuff. And this is clearly built as a kind of TV movie, but she's really not broken out into feature films. And you really wonder what is going to do that for her.
Scott Forbes (02:53)
I don't think so.
true because something like this, even though we have the likes of Gillian Anderson in here, Keeley Hawes, the afore mentioned Rufus Sewell, I think Billie outshined them all and really stole this film because what we get is her work as the journalist getting the story, the actual the rest of them, it's all about leading up to the interview and because we all know how it goes. So what the interesting part is, is how we get there.
and it's the backstage sort of politicking between the palace and the journalists. And even before all this happens, we get like almost, let's call it like a sniper type of opening, but in a different way, if you know what I mean. When you see the film, you understand it's filmed like a sniper looking for a target, but that's not exactly what's going on.
For me, this is actually as well surprisingly funny. I hope you guys agree on this because I did not expect to be laughing through this movie and the way they paint Prince Andrew, I won't say too much, but I'm just going to say the word teddy bears. Wow. I don't know if that's real or what or if they've just made that up. Oh my. No, Roo Kanga. So.
Rev. Andy Godfrey (04:20)
the
Bob Mann (04:24)
And kangaroo.
Rev. Andy Godfrey (04:28)
I was just going to say, and kangaroo.
Bob Mann (04:31)
Yeah, I ate yes
Scott Forbes (04:38)
Yeah, for me, this was a really good movie. I think knowing what happened, it was cringe -worthy, but they made it comical. Good performances across the board. I think streaming is the right place for it, and I really hope a lot of people do get to see it. Andy, what did you think?
Rev. Andy Godfrey (04:56)
Yeah, I really enjoyed it. I had an email from my from a message from my daughter who's a massive Billie Piper fan from Doctor Who and I was too. I thought she was fantastic in Doctor Who saying too many shots of Billie Piper walking and she got a bit bored. But for me, I thought this was terrific. I mean, let's not forget Billie Piper was wrote and directed a really good film called Rare Beasts, which I enjoyed. And she was also in Catherine Call Me Birdie, which was another film that I...
Bob Mann (05:13)
Hahaha!
Rev. Andy Godfrey (05:26)
I really enjoyed from a couple of years ago. I thought this brought to mind films like Frost Nixon, which is terrific and others. And as you say, Scott, I think streaming is the right place for it. I wouldn't have minded seeing this at the cinema. I wouldn't have complained if I paid to go and see this at the cinema, because I would have come outside to see it. It is the background stuff. It's the stuff that leads up to the infamous interview that is the most fascinating. We all know what happened during the interview. We all know what happened afterwards.
Bob Mann (05:33)
Mm -hmm.
Rev. Andy Godfrey (05:55)
I want to see how these things came to be and I thought that that opening was really intriguing as well really well done So yeah, I mean just backing up what you said. I thought it was really good Really Piper does steal the show and I thought she was absolutely Terrific in this really really good. I thought Gillian Anderson Gillian Anderson was trying a little bit too hard for me to capture the spirit of her character Didn't quite she felt a little fat to me like she was a little bit
really trying to push it. You know, I thought Rufus Sewell was really good. So it was all about the build up to the interview and that was fascinating. And yeah, I was riveted throughout. It wasn't too long. Didn't that stay as welcome? And yeah, I particularly loved Billie Piper. Very, very good indeed. Enjoyed it.
Scott Forbes (06:43)
Perfect. Bob, do you agree?
Bob Mann (06:46)
Yeah, I do. I've really got nothing to add to that, so I'll shut up, I think. I agree that the build -up was what made this film, the actual reconstruction of the interview. For me, it was kind of, OK, move on. Move on. I remember this so well. You don't need to show me this. This is stuff I remember.
Scott Forbes (06:53)
Hahaha.
Bob Mann (07:12)
So I mean, for a general audience who maybe were not as well tuned into the situation, that would be of value. It wasn't of so much value to me. And I guess that's the only thing I'd say against this is it's so recent. It's such a recent piece of history that it almost feels like a so what type of thing. But yeah, no, I thought it was... With that caveat, I thought it was very well made. Yeah.
Scott Forbes (07:39)
Fair enough. Well, staying with yourself there, Bob, what score would you give Scoop?
Bob Mann (07:43)
I gave this one a 7 out of 10.
Scott Forbes (07:47)
7 out of 10. And Andy, where are you leaning? You're an 8. Well, I am an 8 out of 10 also. And so if my...
Rev. Andy Godfrey (07:49)
I'll give it a night, Scott.
Bob Mann (07:57)
Okay, that's a 7.66 I think.
Rev. Andy Godfrey (07:59)
it.
Scott Forbes (08:03)
7.66, thank you very much for your quick maths there, Bob. That will give Scoop a Flickering Dreams score of 7.66, which makes it a hit.
Bob Mann (08:06)
That's all right.
Scott Forbes (08:15)
Thank you for joining us on this latest episode of the Flickering Dreams podcast. If you could please go to the bottom of the screen, like, subscribe, all that things that get us more fans. And if you've got any comments, please do send us a postcard or carrier pigeon. Or if you want to go more technological, you can go emails. Anyway, speak to you next time. Bye guys.