Directed by
Pablo Larrain
Every now and then, there is a portrayal of a real-life character that is so immersive and transcendent that it becomes impossible to separate the fact from the fiction; the person from the actor. Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote and Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln are two prime examples of this so far in the 21st century. Kristen Stewart in Spencer belongs in that category of brilliance.
As stated at the start, Spencer is a "Fable based on a true tragedy" brought to us by director Pablo Larrain, most known thus far for bringing us a similar female biopic 5 years ago in Jackie. Just like his last profile, Spencer is also featuring one of the most prominent women of the last century in a moment of crisis. Unlike Jackie, this new film features specific events that are nowhere near as public. Kristen Stewart portrays Princess Diana as she spends three days with the royal family over Christmas at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England. During these three days, she is fighting against tradition, expectations, a toxic marriage, and a prying public eye. The is starting to affect her both mentally and physically, as she seems to constantly be on the verge of a breakdown while also fighting body image issues and an eating disorder. Timothy Spall plays Major Alistar Gregory, a former soldier hired by the queen for "security" from the paparazzi, but seems more interested in making sure Diana stays in line. The only characters that appear to be concerned for her are the head chef Darren (Sean Harris) and personal dresser Maggie (Sally Hawkins). She only feels like herself when she is able to spend time with her two young boys, William and Harry.
The vibe of this film is not quite what you may expect. It is very quiet, meditative, and introspective. Not a lot happens in this film as you simply get an opportunity to experience life through the eyes of this very public and complicated woman. With that said, Spencer finds a way to be engaging in almost a hypnotic way. This is thanks to two things: Larrain's masterful direction and Stewart's monumental performance. By prominently featuring the scenery and many long, uncut takes, Spencer at times feels like a relative of Gus Van Sant's death trilogy of the early 2000's (Gerry, Elephant, Last Days), especially when you consider Larrain's recent announcement that he plans to complete this trilogy of his with Jackie and Spencer being the first two installments. The comparison works best with Last Days as you have the profile of a secluded, tragic character. However, where Van Sant's profile of Kurt Cobain failed, Larrain's profile of Princess Diana hits on almost every level.
Then there is Kristen Stewart. Never has she disappeared more into role. I think her performance is heightened to another level when you see some of the parallels between the Diana story being told and her own personal story of fighting norms and what people expect of her. Those that pay attention know Kristen Stewart is a good actress, but those that don't still see her as the moody Twilight teen. Much like her Twilight costar Robert Pattinson, Stewart has had to rebuild her credibility and reputation through small, independent films like Clouds of Sils Maria and Personal Shopper. Now she is ready to show the world how talented she really is, and what a talent she shows! She is not one you think of as an obvious choice for the Princess of Wales, but now I can't think of anyone else.
More than just a showcase for Stewart, Spencer is a brilliantly crafted film featuring a tale of one of the most tragic figures and stories of our time.
Rating: 4 stars
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