NickReview for The Favourite (2018) Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Starring: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz. IMDB says “In early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne occupies the throne and her close friend, Lady Sarah, governs the country in her stead. When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah.”
“STOP IT!”
Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, Killing of a Sacred Deer) has become a director whose work I will watch regardless. Regardless of the topic, the cast, it’s length, and early reviews from the festival circuit, I genuinely do not care anymore. Just tell me that Yorgos is directing something, it’s release date, and I will be there with open arms. My indoctrination began with The Lobster and continued with Killing of a Sacred Deer and I only grew more and more interested in his work. So, when I heard he was directing a period piece starring Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, AND Emma Stone, I was excited. When the trailer became available, I was on board the hype train before it finished. I was very fortunate to have the chance to see the film in theatres and I was not disappointed.
The Favourite takes place in 18th Century England and tells the story of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman). With her health issues, and what seems to be a genuine disdain for the job, she relegates most of the governing to Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz). All is well until Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives and her relationship with the Queen begins to threaten Lady Sarah. Hijinks ensue and the film turns into a dark and humorous game of Sarah and Abigail trying to outdo the other in hopes of winning the favor, and affection, of the Queen. You couldn’t ask for a stronger trio of actresses to headline this film. The performances among them are some of the best of year and are well deserving of the accolades they are receiving. The characters are well written and the balance is strong in that at no point did I feel one actress had better lines over the other or one outperformed the other. It’s a shame to see them go up against each other as the trio should be nominated as an ensemble.
The performances are so good, they overshadow the writing (Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara) and how well the story and characters are designed. The character arcs are brilliant and the writing is so dark and dry. It’s a great combination that Yorgos works well with and continue to flourishes in without feeling overdone or tired. Lanthimos does a wonderful job with this film, even when employing a fish eye lens. When seeing the trailer, I thought it was a bizarre choice, but was pleased by its use and how it oddly added to the aesthetic. The film is absolutely gorgeous with cinematographer Robbie Ryan (Fish Tank, Slow West) taking full advantage of natural light. The film feels more awash of color and the night scenes are especially deep and mesmerizing. I can’t recommend seeing this film enough.
FTS SCORE: 85%
The Favourite is now playing in a theater near you.