Review: The Favourite

​The Favourite is a rich period piece full of captivating leads (Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone), timely subtext, and dark humor. A twisted satire that will be admired more overtime for cinema.

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​Director Yorgos Lanthimos’ (The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer) rich period piece is a film that will surely get under your skin. With its cunning dialogue and wicked humor, The Favourite is an eccentric picture of madness. Lanthimos’ masterwork is full of wit, profanity, and sexual desires. In addition, the film is chop full of elegant costumes and breathtaking production designs. Along with fish-eyed camera viewpoints, The Favourite messes with your head. Oscar will most likely bow to this Queen. It’s the early 18th century and England is at war with France. A maddening Queen Anne (the wonderful Olivia Colman) sits at the throne and her close friend, Lady Sarah (a cunning Rachel Weisz), helps govern the country in her stead. Colman was born to play this role, as she brings out the Queen’s inner humanity – sweet and ugly.

​Queen Anne is ill at health but still has a vicious temper. While Lady Sarah’s comfort to power is about to be shaken. When a new servant Abigail (the never better Emma Stone) arrives, her noble charm takes an acquaintance to the Queen's liking. Lady Sarah and Abigail begin their own war and pursuit to see who can stay on top as the Queen’s right-hand woman. They’ll do anything for power, like sleeping with the Queen or feeding her sweets in bed or even taking care of her pet rabbits. Along with this interweaving plot, comes a British statesman played by a brilliant Nicholas Hoult. Robert Harley (Hoult) is also power hungry and is trying to make his way up the Parliament ladder. Harley and Abigail make an alliance to take control and to push out Lady Sarah from the Queen’s inner circle. This film is an artistic triumph for Lanthimos, backed by mesmerizing performances from Colman, Weisz, and Stone. Their dynamic trio will leave you jaw-dropped by the end.

​The film received multiple awards and nominations, it won two awards in the Venice International Film Festival the Grand Jury Prize and the Volpi Cup for Best Actress (Colman), 10 British Independent Film Awards including Best Picture, Best Actress (Colman), Best Supporting Actress (Weisz), Best Director, and Best Screenplay. It was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture and was ranked by the American Film Institute as one of the top 10 films of 2018. Fingers crossed it receives a handful of Oscar nominations tomorrow. This strange tale of love, corruption, and desire showcases the ugliness of partisan politics. A drama of gnashing teeth and political insanity is an instant classic and will be more cinematically appreciated over time. The Favourite will leave you laughing in one scene and uncomfortable in the next. It stands tall like a ravishing game of chess. The sadism experienced by these Royals will stick with you from the first frame until the last. “Some wounds do not close; I have many such.” Blimey, I command you to see it. 

The Favourite is rated R (Restricted). For strong sexual content, nudity and language.