Spencer Review: Kristen Stewart Dazzles as Princess Diana

I have seen many movies this year, but Spencer, directed by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín, is easily my favorite due to its sheer boldness and incredible spectacle. Simply put, it examines a slice of Princess Diana’s life towards the end of 1991, particularly how she handled her own issues with the royal family, her marriage with Prince Charles, and the distinction between her personal and public image. 

In 2016, Larraín released the Oscar-nominated film Jackie, which, essentially, follows the same formula that Spencer does. Jackie takes place over several very important days of former First Lady Jackie Kennedy’s life, while focusing principally on her state of mind and emotional crises. I was critical of some aspects of that film, primarily Natalie Portman’s performance in the titular role. Jackie Kennedy had a very specific and odd combination of British and American accents and, despite the fact that I can recognize how tricky it is to pull this accent off, I donít believe that Portman was able to convince me with it, since her voice appeared far too breathy and forced.

However, Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Diana was practically impeccable. She takes an already interesting figure and naturally embodies each of her misinterpretations, silent successes, public breakdowns, internal conflicts, and erratic impulses with a sense of depth and believability. While there were a few scenes, especially towards the beginning, where Stewart seemed to have an overly whispery tone, she mostly pulled through and embodied this character in a believable way. 

Many critics and general movie goers have expressed concern regarding the decision to cast Stewart as Diana, as she is not known for starring in serious dramas or particularly “deep” roles. But, Stewart proves them wrong with her commandingly unforgettable and Oscar-worthy performance as Diana. Director Larraín wanted to cast her due to her angelic and enigmatic style of acting, which reminded him a lot of Diana. 

I respect and admire filmmakers who make bold decisions that ultimately result in a more effective character study. There are several scenes throughout the film that showcase Diana’s depressive attitude and almost life-threatening thoughts in a particularly harsh way. Every stutter, movement, line of dialogue, or sound can feel heartbreaking as you are placed into the headspace of a damaged and layered human being. Stewart is partially responsible for this, but Larraín’s remarkable and unique filmmaking also plays a significant role. 

The score has a strange yet compelling effect too, as it deepens the viewer’s understanding of Diana. As we follow Diana, the score’s deeply contradictory tone evokes her personality. When Diana experiences freedom or positivity, like when she escapes the royal family’s Sandringham estate,  the music is jazzy and catchy. When Diana encounters an internal struggle, such as when she arrives late to a dinner that she does not want to attend or when she races to the bathroom and feels nauseous, the music is dizzying and intense. The film is shot in a way that feels very complementary towards Diana’s surroundings and presents an interesting juxtaposition of how others view her as opposed to how she views herself. 

Since, stylistically, it appears vibrant and uniquely colorful, the film depicts the seemingly blissful and organized outer layer of Diana. In reality, however, she is sorrowful and rarely experiences a moment of cathartic happiness. On the topic of technical or production aspects, every set and costume are extremely accurate to the location and time period. They highly complement Diana’s iconic looks and surroundings while bringing you into the world immaculately since they seem so strikingly realistic. 

Despite the tragic nature of the plot, Spencer ends on a positive note. While it's certainly not glossing over the difficulties that Diana experienced, it provides an intriguing and uplifting look at freedom and the value of distance from societal pressures. 

Spencer is a story about identity and one’s ability, in the direst of circumstances, to both hide and reveal who they truly are. It’s moving, well-paced, fantastically acted, and, most importantly, a memorable character study.

RATING: 4.5/5 stars