FilmSnobReviews

Title: Spencer
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Pablo Larraín
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Sally Hawkins, Sean Harris, Jack Farthing
Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

What It Is: In 1991 while spending the Christmas holiday with the royal family at Sandringham House, Princess Diana decides to leave Prince Charles.

What We Think: When a period piece or biopic revolving around an important figure comes to the screen, most times it can be a by-the-book, poorly written but well-performed mess of a story. Many might even be discouraged to check out Spencer solely because of the casting of Kristen Stewart as Diana, the announcement of which garnered more criticism than optimism from audiences.

Spencer fearlessly shoves those critiques and ideologies aside completely. From the immaculate production design to the beautifully chilling score by Johnny Greenwood, to the melancholic yet vibrant colors of Claire Mathon’s cinematography, and lastly: the outstanding performances from the entire cast… it’s one of the finest films of the year. Of course, I’d be remiss not to mention that Kristen Stewart gives the best performance of her career here – there’s no one else I’d see in the role. It’s the fragility in her eyes, the coy and charming nature of her character, and of course the deep sadness that threatens to break out from under her skin at any given moment; Stewart’s transformative portrayal of Diana Spencer is as revelatory as it is mesmerizing. I was allured by her performance, and I might as well mention that this is the first portrayal of Spencer I’ve seen on film – most audience members may be tempted to compare Stewart’s performance to past actresses who have taken on the role of Diana, yet I’m certain that this the best iteration of the Princess of Wales I’ve seen on screen.

Pablo Larraín, the man behind Jackie (another excellent portrait of a historic female figure) brings us, as per the opening line of text in the film, “a fable from a true tragedy”. From that line alone, comes countless possibilities – and Larraín goes forth with the best possible one. Narratively, Spencer is different compared to most biopics. You won’t see flashbacks/forwards to different time periods, nor recreations of historic events purely for spectacle’s sake. No, this is an intimate and almost intrusive look at possibly the most crucial moment in Diana’s relationship with Prince Charles, with tension-filled moments and somber sadness slowly chipping at the deceiving protective shell of the Sandringham House. A moment in the opening minutes of the film best describes the way Diana is written – she gets lost on her way to the house (a location where she grew up), yet when she stops to ask for help she is met by mouths agape and silence (due to her immense popularity). The film makes us truly feel Diana’s isolation and psyche, and experience what comes next because of it.

The visuals in Spencer are nostalgic as well as spellbinding. Claire Mathon (same DP from Portrait of a Lady on Fire, one of my favorite films of 2019) captures this warm, elegant look that makes you feel like you’re watching a distant, merry memory (most effective considering that the film takes place over Christmas), yet the underlying dramatic tones create this deceitful contrast that makes the film unsettlingly pleasing to look at. The set design is incredibly authentic as well as the wardrobe (Stewart really transforms here in particular), not a single thread felt out of place. The sound of Spencer also contributes to these aspects, with Johnny Greenwood presenting a terrific score that both invites the viewer into Diana’s inner turmoil and serves as an excellent conveyer of emotion for the film’s more ethereal scenes. Simply put: Spencer lives and breathes in its own time period.

Our Grade: A+; An excellent drama that will surprise and delightfully mystify viewers with its brilliantly unconventional approach to the re-telling of its story’s events. It undoubtedly has the best female performance of the year, stunning visuals, and masterful direction. Spencer is sensational!