There are a huge variety of ways to approach doing a “true life” tale, let alone a biopic specifically. The most common is, of course, showing as many real life scenes as possible all building up to a climactic moment in the subject's life. That’s all well and good, but there’s another, arguably better option. Instead of trying to recreate someone’s life, the filmmakers try to recreate their head space, way of thinking, and overall personality more than recreate their life’s events.
That’s the way director Pablo Larraín (“Jackie,” “No (2012)”) and writer Steven Knight (“Locke,” “Dirty Pretty Things”) have chosen to make “Spencer.” Instead of recreating large swaths of Princess Diana’s life, they’ve chosen to focus on one three day Christmas holiday chunk of time, the events of which aren’t even known to the public.
Kristen Stewarts’s (“Twilight,” “Personal Shopper”) performance is exactly as good as you’ve heard. She practically loses herself in Diana, bringing to life a woman who is clearly struggling and suffocating under the royal lifestyle and yet still finds the strength to make things as good as possible for her sons and those she loves in the Royal household. It’s a performance of quiet empathy and resilience; you get the sense that you’re watching someone at a turning point in their life, as if witnessing the moment Diana realized what was going on, who she would become, and what she needed to do to change it.
While her husband is in the film, his performance from Jack Farthing (“Poldark,” “The Riot Club”) is one of minimalism, both in terms of screen time and nuance. Timothy Spall (“Secrets & Lies,” “Mr. Turner”) on the other hand absolutely steals the show whenever he’s on screen. He manages to be both extremely kind and also ruthlessly rigid in the traditions Diana is attempting to buck, meaning the two butt heads in the calmest of ways. Sean Harris (“24 Hour Party People,” “Southcliffe”) also makes a large impression with a more minor role. As the Royal Head Chef and friend of Diana, he brings out some of the most vulnerable moments in the film, with his distinct accent and kind smile setting him apart.
But none of them have anything on Sally Hawkins (“Paddington 2,” “The Shape of Water”). Her scenes with Stewart are divine, displaying a warm friendship that is ruthlessly juxtaposed against the coldness of the rest of the royal family’s interactions with Diana. Their interactions are the heart and lifeblood of the entire film, and their friendship is used in cunning and chilling ways throughout the entire runtime.
It can’t be understated how genius the film’s use of Diana’s sense of reality is. Numerous moments play out with a thin air of mystery to them, leaving the audience and Diana questioning what’s actually happening around them. The through-lines of a book about Anne Boleyn and Diana’s pearl necklace are perfectly woven into each scene, and even the ones where it feels like nothing much has happened are re-framed by the time credits roll.
This does mean that, despite the high level of quality on display, one caveat must be mentioned. For those expecting or wanting a film that details who Diana was, what she did throughout her life, or the events leading up to her death, this is not the film for you. Yet, for those who know what they’re getting themselves into, prepare to be entranced.
Cinematographer Claire Mathon (“Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” “Strange by the Lake”) helps the film feel as otherworldly and unreliable as Diana’s sense of mind is. It seems as though events closely tied to Diana are shot with an airy flow to them, whereas the Royal family is shot in a rigid, structured way. The method pairs wonderfully with Jonny Greenwood’s (“There Will Be Blood,” “The Master”) score. The cool trumpets give an almost noir feeling to the events, further portraying Diana as someone struggling with trusting those around her.
“Spencer” is a thrilling example of how forgetting facts in favor of communicating the truth to who someone is. Kristen Stewart is practically daring awards voters not to nominate her, and the entire supporting cast deserves accolades as well. It's a truly wondrous piece of cinema, cool and crisp, yet brimming with life and love for one woman gone too soon. 5/5
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