Princess Diana, who was tragically killed in a car accident in 1997, deserved better than this hokey television flick. Diana wasn't actually a made-for-television movie, of course - that's just the only description that befits its complete lack of tact and elegance. As a biopic of a beloved public figure, Diana is an insult. As a movie in general, it's about as tepid as they come. We expected more from Oliver Hirschbiegel, who managed to make Hitler look sympathetic in Downfall, surely? Naomi Watts does her best with what she's given here, but the storytelling her isn't up to scratch, and fails to do its subject justice at every turn: as a result, the whole thing - Watts included - comes across as rather embarrassing. Focusing on the last two years of Diana's life and her relationship with Hasnat Kahn wasn't the worst narrative decision ever, but Hirschbiegel can't free himself of the inherently tacky tone: in places, Diana very nearly verges into that of full-on parody.
