Spencer is a deep dive into Princess Diana’s psyche, delivering one of the year’s most haunting and heartbreaking movie.
The marriage between Princess Diana (Kristen Stewart) and Prince Charles (Jack Farthing) has long since grown cold. Though rumors of affairs and a divorce abound, peace is ordained for the Christmas festivities at the queen’s estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game, but this year, things will be profoundly different.
Kristen Stewart gives one of the best performances of her career in Spencer. The words “a fable from a true tragedy” flashes across the screen at the beginning of the movie indicating that this film depicts real people in fictitious events and is not an accurate retelling of those tragic 3 days during the Christmas period.
Stewart takes on the mantle of the beloved Princess, or The People’s Princess as she was more lovingly known. The Twilight actress gives a breathtaking and captivating performance that guarantees her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Starring alongside her is Sally Hawkins and Timothy Spall. For the few scenes that she is in, Oscar-nominated Hawkins gives a great performance as Diana’s royal dresser, who ends up getting taken away right when she needs her most. Even though this is a film about the Princess, Spall’s and Hawkin’s characters are not actually based on people in Diana’s life, they are based on people who were around the Princess.
Cinematographer Claire Mathon pulls off some mesmerizing visuals that help portray the claustrophobia Diana felt from both the Monarchy and the public. Mathon’s smooth camera work made me feel as if I was part of the press, following Diana through the hallways of the mansion. The cinematography allowed me to watch Diana while also seeing things from her perspective. Composer Jonny Greenwood’s score complements the soft, smooth visuals creating the haunting vibe of the film.
Overall, director Pablo Larrain mixes haunting visuals with a breathtaking performance from Kristen Stewart that gives audiences a unique look at the late princess as she struggles with life alongside the royal family. Spencer is by far one of this year’s best films, with its tense atmosphere and soft visuals that will draw viewers in, keeping them engaged throughout the entire film.
Spencer is now playing in theaters
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