Spencer

You've probably heard that Spencer contains Kristen Stewart's best performance yet and it's worthy of an Academy Award nomination. That's completely true, but is the film any good? Is it worth ten pounds?

It's not. Director Pablo Larrain (Jackie) has created another singular-performance film that is artfully produced but lacking in any entertainment value. As a fabled, reimagination of events around a Christmas gathering at Sandringham House in 1991, it offers no true insight into the historical events surrounding the final royally-married days of Princess Diana either. 

The film opens with the words "A fable from a true tragedy," and hints at a horror film with a pipe-organ score from Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood (There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread), claustrophobic horror movie editing and an actual, unintentionally laughable haunted house. Not kidding. 

We already know that Diana Spencer's privileged life was not one to envy. However, it was certainly not a horror story at this level. I usually have oodles of empathy for any part of her story whether in a documentary or in The Crown series, but my main takeaway from this film was just that Kristen Stewart did a solid, transformed impression. Bravo?

I also want to say it was artfully shot and executed, but in the same way that you might nod to general experimentation in a student film or old 80's music videos. Bravo?

The curiosity factor on this film is high; I understand. If you fellow royalphiles go anyway or those that want to see an Oscar Nominee, you have to go. I imagine that this film will be as memorable to you as the director's equally draining and otherwise totally forgettable Jackie. 

In a nutshell: A royal mess. Ask yourself, how much moping to organ music can you stand?

Award potential: Natalie Portman was nominated for Jackie. Kristen Stewart will be nominated for Best Actress as well. Stewart will be the only nomination for this film. All other actors in the film play one-dimensional foils ranging from the stiff royal family to the equally-cold staff and the evil press.

The costumes are fabulous onscreen, but matching specific historical pieces rarely beats out original designs in the Best Costume Design category. 

Where to see it: In theaters.

The Ten Buck Review: Not worth ten bucks.

Run from this film as fast as you can

Belfast

Nostalgia meets history. Hope meets glory.

Kenneth Branagh has directed some of this era’s best films from English sources (Hamlet, Henry V) and some of its worst from English/Irish sources (Murder on the Orient Express, Artemis Fowl, Thor), so it was a roll of the dice to walk into Belfast, his semi-biographical story of growing up in Northern Ireland.

The film made its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival — and it’s one of the best films of 2021.

Set in 1969 during the height of the conflicts between Protestants and Catholics, Branagh’s love letter to his youth is a family drama that you won’t soon forget. The main characters are so well-drawn, and the cinematography is so vivid and authentically tight that you’re pulled into a family drama that feels like your own.

Nine-year-old Buddy from Belfast (Jude Hill) and his family are Protestant, but his Pa (Jamie Dornan) works for the English government, which makes Ma (Caitriona Balfe) and grandparents (Judi Dench and Ciaran Hinds) targets to the unrest. The family story is the focus here, but the trouble in Northern Ireland serves as the catalyst for why they may have to abandon their home—and hometown.

Branagh, cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos and production designer Jim Clay have assembled a beautiful, black-and-white (mostly) gem and current frontrunner for film of the year. As the heart-tearing final family decisions play out — mostly as small moments — movie magic is accomplished.

In a nutshell: From the very start, open up your heart; it's a story of everlasting love. Buddy’s whole family is going to sneak into your heart.

Award potential: Expect Oscar nominations for Best Motion Picture and across all major and technical categories. Focus Features announced that they will campaign young Jude Hill for Lead Actor and everyone else in Best Supporting categories. The Academy may see it another way but voters most often respect these wishes. 

If nominated, Judi Dench would be the second oldest Supporting Actress nominee ever. But Balfe is the standout here — it’s early in the awards season, but I’ll place her as the frontrunner to win)

Where to see it: Only in theaters. Opens November 11.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.