Spencer Review: Lady Diana visits the Overlook Hotel

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care in hopes that Lady Diana soon would be there. Spoiler alert: she won’t. Our first glimpse of the Princess introduces us to her as lost. Lost, indeed she is. Physically, she can’t find Sandringham Estate where the rest of the royal family anxiously awaits her arrival. Mentally, she’s desperate to be anywhere else entirely, lost in an avalanche of pain and extreme anxiety as she heads to the estate for a 3-day Christmas celebration. Attempting to simultaneously drive and read a map (oh yes the horror, an actual paper map–the first of many horrors to come during this 2-hour journey with Diana) Diana is already late and the clock is ticking. She ultimately does find her way (only after taking the time to pull over and walk halfway across a field where an old scarecrow sits, still donning her father’s jacket from when her family lived there years and years before) and chatting with the head chef of the Royal Family, who just happened to be passing by. He begs her to get in the car and go to the palace but she evades his questions and concerns. “Will they kill me do you think?” she asks him, seemingly because she is so late, although it’s unclear whether she meant something else entirely. Finally Diana arrives but unfortunately it’s too late and the biggest crime has already been committed–Diana has arrived to the palace after the Queen herself. As the music builds and the tension rises, Diana pulls up to the estate knowing well and good that she’s in for a long weekend full of stress, strife and stoicism. Happy Christmas!

Upon arriving at the palace, it is immediately clear that Diana is not in the right state of mind to withstand suffering through these next 3 days. Between issues with bulimia, paranoia about her husband’s relationship with his mistress and a perpetual coldness the Royal family displays towards her, Diana has nothing to lean on but her boys, the only real light in her life and the only reason she is willing to endure Christmas weekend at the Royal palace. Diana’s relationship with her boys is the heart of the film and a huge reason why it’s my #1 of the year. There is one scene in particular, in which the trio is playing a game of “Soldier” where they ask each other questions and must tell the truth no matter what, that really highlights how special their relationship is and how much her pain is affecting them. The emotional gravitas that her mental health issues have on these young boys highlights the issue in a way that some people may have never even considered–but it’s extremely clear that they are both just as affected as she is and that is truly tragic and heartbreaking.

Over the course of the film Diana continues to slip deeper and deeper into extreme paranoia and despair–to the point where she envisions herself eating the pearl necklace that Prince Charles once gave her, cuts her arm with wire cutters 5 minutes before Christmas dinner, and even envisions herself as Anne Boleyn on the chopping block at one point (this is the highest point of camp in the film but I was HOLLERING the first time in the theaters–truly loved it) (yes I said first time, I have seen this movie in theaters 4 times hehehe). Everything culminates in Diana running away from Christmas dinner in a fit of anguish and literally sprinting to her old house, now abandoned and boarded up. This is ~the~ moment of the film–the moment where Diana finally has a cathartic moment, finally the moment where she breaks through and realizes that she deserves better and our Princess (and the audience) finally get to just breathe. The last 20 minutes of the film really let up on the horror elements and the ending is simply perfect–Diana and her boys, eating KFC, enjoying each other’s company away from the hostility of everything going on with the royals. It’s wonderful.

Speaking of wonderful, this! movie! is! WONDERFUL! It’s everything. Truly everything. A biopic of its own kind, part horror, part thriller, part drama, part character study and even a little bit of camp at times. Kristen Stewart absolutely and completely shines in the role of the brilliant and enigmatic Diana, on the brink of a complete meltdown in front of the entire world and doing her best to hold it together (without much success). Her acting prowess is on full display here–the facial expressions, the accent, the internalization of a woman so desperate to escape a doomed situation, the perfect encapsulation of our beloved Princess of Wales as if she was a character in a Stephen King novel. I could write an entire 10 page essay on why her acting in this film is a masterclass in subtlety. For now I’ll say all the hype towards Kristen Stewart is real, everything you’ve heard is true, she is THE moment and this is HER movie. Point blank period. The queen of cinema herself. I’m completely and utterly obsessed with her and everything she’s doing in this incredible film. Director Pablo Larrain demonstrates that he knows EXACTLY what he’s doing and has created a film that fuses my 2 favorite dramas–horror and iconic actresses portraying women on the verge of a breakdown–in a way that I don’t believe anyone else could do better and for that this man should be CELEBRATED!

The supporting cast is just as strong, and though most of the parts are relatively small they all play their part in making this juggernaut what it is. I specifically want to shout-out Sally Hawkins as the trustworthy and understanding Maggie, Diana’s dresser and the only person she can trust besides her kids. Hawkins brings a necessary lightness to the movie, especially in the last 20 minutes, that allows us to finally breathe and move forward with the Princess. I also want to highlight Jack Farthing’s performance as Prince Charles–he was extremely hot he exudes coldness and cruelty that makes Diana’s paranoia understandable and believable. Aside from the scene with Diana and her boys playing soldier, the other scene in this film that really stands out to me is the snookers table scene between Diana and Charles where the two go head to head when Diana confronts her husband about his infidelities. The intensity, the drama, the emotion from Diana and lack-thereof from Charles, it’s all just completely and truly incredible cinema in every single way. I could honestly write something for every single member of the cast because they are all that great. Sean Harris is the silent MVP of the film and should not go unnoticed either!

Moving on with the list of things I absolutely have to gush about, the cinematography from Claire Mathon!!!! Wagner somehow manages to make a huge mansion feel so very tiny, so excruciatingly suffocating. Every single shot is simply gorgeous and I’m not sure why she isn’t being talked about more for an Oscar contender because to me this should be literally winning the entire Oscar category; honestly sickening that she isn’t being talked about more. Lastly Johnny Greenwood’s score is the perfect combination of complete dread mixed with royal Christmas coldness–does that even make sense??? It does now!!! I was listening to the score in the car the other day and I literally started to panic because of how anxiety-inducing it was. The score ultimately brings the whole film together with a nice bow, bridging the gap between horror/thriller and historical drama. Hopefully Greenwood will be nominated for Best Score (although he potentially could be nominated for The Power of the Dog instead, which would be completely perfect as well!!!)

The last thing I want to touch on are the themes and motif in this film. While they obviously didn’t work for everyone (we’re all looking at you, Ms. Boleyn) I thought they were all interesting and positively impactful to the story. I specifically liked the necklace, THE necklace, the necklace that Charles gave to both Diana and her (aka Camilla Parker Bowles) and the weight it was having on her, a little chain around her neck tying her to this hideous family. The moment where Diana finally breaks the necklace is the moment she breaks through to the feeling of freedom; it was beautiful. I also personally enjoyed the Anne Boleyn analogy; I found it relevant and a bit hilarious in all the right ways.

Overall, this movie is, well, EVERYTHING TO ME. Really truly everything to me. My favorite of the year. Probably in my Top 3 Favorite Movies of all time. Kristen’s stunning performance as Lady Di is also in my Top 3 favorite performances of all time–potentially even #1. I am DESPERATE for her to win that Best Actress Oscar and will be truly, completely heartbroken if she doesn’t. Which is honestly so dumb because usually my favorite doesn’t win so I shouldn’t even be concerned about it but I AM DAMNIT and you should be too!!!!!

I’ve been referring to this film as Lady Di meets Black Swan meets The Shining because that’s exactly what it is. I need more of this genre immediately because there are truly so many avenues it could go. The psychologically disturbing elements of this movie are what make it stand out as a modern classic, an absolute great. When I tell you to watch this movie ASAP, I mean l i t e r a l l y NOW. I could not recommend any movie more than I do this one. We love you Ms. Spencer!!!

The verdict is in: the tea is PIPING HOT!!!! Watch this as soon as you can!

Xoxo,

Wesley