I have been anticipating Spencer for several reasons. Though I was not a huge fan of JACKIE I more than appreciated what a beautiful film Director Pablo Larraín created. It is the same with this one. You will be hard pressed to find a more striking film – sight or sound – this year. But if it is story and deep dialogue you desire you will walk away frustrated.
Synopsis: The marriage of 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 Sandringham Estate. There’s eating and drinking, shooting and hunting. Diana knows the game. But this year, things will be profoundly different. SPENCER is an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days.
They key to the synopsis above is, “an imagining of what might have happened during those few fateful days”. Much is known about Diana and her relationship with the royal family. At the risk of hearing the words, “off with his head!” I am am the first to acknowledge that the royals treated her like crap instead of the Princess she longed to be; and was capable of being. So yes, I am sure those three days of tradition and festivities were anything but pleasant for Diana.
Stewart delivers a powerful performance as the anxiety riddled Princess. If she comes off as anything other than genuine I default to the direction she was given. There are several references in the film about the royals being nothing more than currency. There were times I felt that is what Stewart was here. Something to offer us that we would value with little regard to the total worth. The film is called SPENCER for a reason. It is Diana’s maiden name and reflects back her trying to rediscover who she is.
Props to the hair and makeup team for their transformation of Stewart. She does fetch a striking resemblance to Diana. Sadly the resemblance we superficial. There is enough history to know what a strong willed individual Diana was. Though we see it in a few scenes, most of the time she seems broken and defeated. Maybe that was the direction Pablo was going. Her marriage was in shambles and she was literally locked away for three days with people she knew would not accept her. That would weigh on anyone.
I keep going back to how amazing this film looked and the score that took complete control of us. I want to be very clear so that when you shell out your hard earned money at the box office that you know what you are getting. If you buy a ticket to what you think is a rock concert and end up at the museum of art you will feel frustrated and cheated. You may even love both venues. But to get one when hoping for another is never fun.
Is this for those who love Diana and have watched and read everything about her? Yes. Larraín and screenwriter Steven Knight give us a fable – as they call it – of a moment in history. Diana was the people’s Princess and she does not lose that here. It is also worth mentioning that the film captures what a wonderful and doting mother she was to her two boys. Had that been missing it would have been a failure for sure.
SPENCER is rated R for brief language. Go into it with the right mindset and you will come away with a lot more. I appreciated the film and am glad I watched it. I believe that there will be several – and worthy – award noms this season for both Stewart and the filmmakers. Will I watch it again? Prolly not.
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