Scoop (2024) review

In 2010, American financier Jeffrey Epstein (Colin Wells) and Prince Andrew (Rufus Sewell) were photographed spending time together in New York City, so nine years later BBC producer Sam McAlister (Billie Piper), after Epstein's been arrested for sex trafficking (he eventually "committed suicide" in prison), arranges for the Prince to be interviewed by her boss Emily Maitlis (Gillian Anderson) on the network's Newsnight program regarding his involvement with very young women (including Virginia Roberts).  The actual story this is based on is quite depressing, but this ham-fisted biopic doesn't do it any favors: the approach is not only freezing cold but also overwhelmed with righteous indignation, Sam's idea of "doing research" is punching names into Google and reading articles from the Daily Mail and it reduces Andrew to an emotionally-stunted man-child who apparently cannot function without the guidance of his mother (The Queen) and keeps stuffed animals arranged neatly on his bed.  Its conclusion is trying to suggest there's some sort of "triumph" - Sam leaves the office beaming with pride - but I can't help but feel that the Duke of York "got away with it" (with his family paying off the settlements).  Most shocking detail that I didn't know about: Epstein owned a painting of Bill Clinton wearing the blue dress of "that woman."  How kinky....