dir. Pablo Larrain (trailer)
Spencer describes itself as a fable that follows Princess Diana through her lonesome journey as she tries to keep her life from falling apart without losing control of herself. Taking place over the Christmas holidays, Diana tries to appease the Queen and Prince Charles while bonding with her boys, but the constant control held over her proves to be too much. Kristen Stewart gives an incredible performance as Diana, in addition to a great supporting cast made up of Sean Harris, Sally Hawkins, and Timothy Spall.
The film plays out as a psychological descent into madness rather than a straightforward biopic, which can prove challenging for audiences expecting something like Bohemian Rhapsody. Diana finds herself haunted by Anne Boleyn as she wonders if she is headed down the same path. Characters who may or may not be real, like Maggie (Hawkins), Diana's royal dresser and confidant, float in and out of the movie as Diana tries to stand her ground against Charles, the Queen, and other prying eyes.
The best parts of the film are when Diana bonds with her sons, William and Harry. They stay up late in their rooms, pretending to be soldiers and lamenting their own desires to be "normal". The end of the film finds Diana and her boys riding down a country road, blasting pop music and eating KFC, finally being free from the controlling royal duties of their everyday lives. I wish the film had focused on more scenes like these, as they were the most enjoyable parts of the entire film.
While Spencer is a unique take on the biopic and not for everyone, I recommend this film to admirers of Princess Diana and those who love psychological dramas.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Recommended for fans of: drama, Jackie (2016), historical/period pieces, Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), biographical
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