The Favourite review

Film information:

Cast: Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz, The Lobster), Rachel Weisz (The Mummy, The Fountain, The Constant Gardener, The Lobster), Emma Stone (Easy A, Birdman, La La Land), Nicholas Hoult (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Mad Max: Fury Road)

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos (Dogtooth, Alps, The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer)

Writers: Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara

Producers: Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Yorgos Lanthimos

Release date: 14 February 2019

Distributor: Fox Searchlight (through 20th Century Fox here in Singapore)

Runtime: 119 minutes

Rating: R21 (Some Homosexual Content)

Plot: In The Favourite, the arrival of Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) at the Queen's palace threatens the relationship between Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) and Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz), as she strives to take over Sarah's standing as the Queen's favourite.

Fox Searchlight and Film4 struck gold again with The Favourite after making one of my favourite films of 2017, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. This was my introduction to Yorgos Lanthimos' films, and man did I have a blast with this one. Partly because I saw it with the right crowd. (in a packed theatre for a preview, two months before it opened here) I later saw The Lobster and loved that one too. Normally, I find historical dramas to be very overrated. The Imitation Game. Darkest Hour. The Post. I understand why critics gush over these films but they are not the type of film that I love. Not this one. This subverts the tropes that you'd see in those films to be a lively black comedy that you don't see nowadays. (and note I say this not because of the lesbian subplot)

Colman plays the sick Queen Anne who rather spends time playing with her 17 rabbits (who represent her dead children) and eating cake, than settling the war with France. You can see why she won the Best Actress award at the Oscars with her performance. There is a 40-second (continuous!) shot of Queen Anne going through a series of emotions - that scene is Oscar worthy, and that's not the only one! Like Frances McDormand with Three Billboards, Colman was Lanthimos' only choice for the role here. Weisz and Stone shine in their roles as the cousins vying for the Queen's attention through whatever way possible, including sexual offers. (this plays a major role in the plot) The difference between them is black and white as discovered later in the movie. It's particularly outstanding for Stone, as she's the only American in the cast, and for her to be able to make a British accent, I must commend her. Nicholas Hoult and Joe Alwyn (Taylor Swift's current boyfriend) add in great supporting roles to the film with whatever screen time they had. I also want to give a shout out to the cinematography which is great. Alfonso Cuarón shot Roma better but this movie looks great nonetheless, especially with the usage of the fish eye lenses. And the script and story is so well-written! Where else would you see duck racing, or rabbits as pets?

I had pretty much no issues with the movie, but one. Again, the ending. I was so invested with it that I wanted to see more than what the film ended with. However, I do believe that it's Lanthimos' decision to end the film as it is. That is a very minor flaw though, and I highly recommend you to see this film, if you are able to tolerate the R21-content.

My rating: Of course it gets a 4.5/5

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