REVIEW: SPENCER

4/5

Spencer Confidential. 

117 Mins. Starring: Kristen Stewart, Timothy Spall, Jack Farthing, Sean Harris & Sally Hawkins. Director: Pablo Larraín.

'The Crown' Season 5 hits Netflix in a matter of weeks. As Elizabeth Debicki will take over from an undeniable, breakout Emma Corrin, who stole the show in the fourth season as Lady Diana. And it will be a tough task, even for the great Elizabeth, to undertake. There's a meet the parents' moment in the last season of 'The Crown' where Corrin's Royal Highness enters a room of royals for the first time and is mocked under a microscope of burning eyes. That's how the entirety of 'No' and 'Neruda' director Pablo Larraín's new movie feels as Kristen Stewart takes her turn in playing the insect feeling 'Spencer' in a season of portrayal. 

Doing Diana dirty though like a Michael Jackson song the princess wishes the King of Pop would have performed when she was in attendance, this fable takes you into a tragedy, played out over three-days just in time for the holidays, released here in Japan. Staged like a show, just like the Netflix series, it's all unwrapped over a weekend that acts like Christmas with the royals, but really is an appointment with something much more sinister and darker. You see, it's not Pablo's movie that punishes Princess Diana, more the family she wedded into, for bitter or worse. From a customary tradition of sitting on scales, to be weighed pound-for-pound, to portraits of Anne Boleyn by the book, being not so subtly placed on the bed of the would be Queen. It's enough to haunt your every nightmare. Heads will roll with this other Boleyn girl, as a simmering Stewart gives her best performance since the ghost story of 'Personal Shopper'. Get ready to keep an Oscar on the receipts.

An Oscar winning Sally Hawkins on her own award form in support, and an always amazing Sean Harris ready to have everyone saying "yes, Chef" like Ralph Fiennes this fall feel like Diana's only allies. All in this shape of subconscious slaughter from the bonds broken by family forged together by tradition and submission. 'Succession' has got nothing on this. Neither has the incredible 'Crown'. If the palace didn't like that, they certainly won't want to watch this. Sure, right now after the passing of Her Majesty, this might make for uncomfortable viewing. But the truth, or something that looks for it, always sits that well. Shall we begin?

Timothy Spall is appallingly good as a Major charged with watching the late Princesses every move. Whilst 'The Lost Daughter' (with the royal Olivia Colman) star Jack Farthing may be spare change as our new King, compared to Josh O'Connor's Charles, but he still deserves his place on the throne. It's Stewart who is simply sublime, mind. At times, you can't tell it's really here. Sure, sometimes she looks like Kate McKinnon, the comedy genius whose played many a parody. But for the most part, Stewart is Diana like the 'Elvis' King Austin Butler and 'Blonde' ambition of Ana de Armas' Marylin Monroe. Another candle in the wind. But unlike the latter misfire, this one is real, raw, yet respectful and not cruelly exploitative of a powerful woman blinded by the glare from many a lens and male manipulated gaze. Too may have already done that wrong.

Psychologically haunting in a fever nightmare like Larraín's lavish mourning of 'Jackie' with Natalie Portman, this kindred spirit in Sandringham spreads itself out like the glorious gown of the princess as she cradles a toilet bowl. Juxtaposing itself also with the length of Corrin's 'Crown' wedding dress and the gilded cage that comes with it here. Justifiably though, 'Spencer' like 'The Crown' treats Diana's rumoured and reported struggles with bulimia with grace as well as grit. And not tabloid gratuity. Providing a voice and helping hand up for those who face the same fate, feeling others disgrace. There's a quote about beauty here that we want you to see and hear for yourself, like a lesson learned. It's truly something to behold like Kristen, far from the 'Twilight' of her career. But instead, one of the industry's best actors. Wounded with wire cutters, this peak into the private life of someone made so public, with a script from 'Peaky Blinders' writer Steven Knight, will at times make you wish you were blind. But just like the out of nowhere hope of 'The Florida Project' a KFC run to the Thames with Mike and the Mechanics will retool your hope. Just like one of love by the beach in whatever form you like. Through the desperation and the darkness, all you need is a miracle like that to show you who Diana Spencer really was. Spend some time for your consideration. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Jackie', 'Personal Shopper', 'The Crown'.