Directed by The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer auteur Yorgos Lanthimos, The Favourite tells the loosely true story of Queen Anne (a remarkable Olivia Colman) and two women vying for her favour in 18th century England.
Rachel Weisz plays the steely and efficient right hand woman Lady Sarah, confident in her manipulations of the weak-willed queen, while Emma Stone plays wily newcomer Abigail, determined to secure her position in court.
If the thought of a period drama turns you off, never fear – this is about as far from stuffy and restrained as it’s possible to get in those dresses. Liberal and creative insult-sparring matches number high, with actual physical fights a close second. The ladies might look fabulous in their gowns, but they’re certainly not above getting their hands dirty.
Powdered wigs and noses are more the domain of the gentlemen here, with Nicholas Hoult’s frilly prime minister getting some of the loudest laughs in the film. It’s remarkable, and depressingly so, how unusual it is to see a political film in which women hold the power and are seen as the biggest pieces on the board. Weisz particularly is a domineering presence throughout, balancing warmongering and tough love with a genuine care for her liege.
The sets and costumes are fabulously showcased by the (perhaps over)use of the fish-eye lens. It loses its impact as the film progresses, but it can’t be denied that the unique visual style lends a certain modernity to the piece as much as the casual dialogue.
Masterful in its scripting, the film easily sways audiences to and fro between who we’re rooting for at any given moment. That being said, it does result in a rather flat ending – necessary perhaps, and even poetic, but anticlimactic all the same.
The stars here are undeniably the three actresses, who deliver some of the best performances of the year. Colman, who’s worked with Lanthimos before, is really given the opportunity to shine in the role of Queen Anne – petulant and childlike at times, mischievous and playful at others, but underneath is all hiding a deep hurt, both physical and emotional. So complex a role is a gift for any actor, and Colman relishes it.
A wickedly fun film that’s unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Not quite as stylised as Lanthimos’ previous work, and therefore more palatable to mainstream audiences. A gateway drug, perhaps, to delighting in the peculiar joys and horrors of the director’s wider filmography. Either way, an absolute must-see.
The Favourite is in cinemas January 1st.