Quick thoughts

Spencer

Spencer is a film that completely hinges on its lead performance, and I’m happy to say that Kristen Stewart not only rose to the task, but exceeded every expectation.

Covering the Christmas weekend that ultimately resulted in Princess Diana choosing to separate from Prince Charles, Spencer turns the real life struggles into a psychological nightmare for viewers. Every moment watched and judged, any spark of individuality snuffed out. While it does take some creative liberties as it blends facts with fiction - it feels like a genuine display of Diana’s resiliency. It’s a very character driven drama, locking you in with Diana for the runtime of the movie which is why Stewart’s performance was so critical.

I’m admittedly a fairly big fan of Stewart’s work so I didn’t need much convincing to champion her, but she really did do an amazing job here. It was easy to see how much work was put in to capturing the essence and dialect of Diana in the performance and she absolutely deserves that Oscar. Everything from the emotions to the physicality of the role felt genuine.

With a stunning score, beautiful shots and a heart wrenching look at the torment faced- Spencer truly is a spectacle of a film and an excellent way to close out my TIFF