The Favourite (2018)

• Year: 2018
• Released: 21 Dec 2018
• Country: Ireland, United Kingdom, United States
• Adwords: Won 1 Oscar. 185 wins & 345 nominations total
• IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5083738/
• Rotten Tomatoes: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_favourite
• Metacritics: https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-favourite
• Available in: 720p, 1080p, 720p
• Language: English
• MPA Rating: R
• Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama
• Runtime: 119 min
• Writer: Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara
• Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
• Cast: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz
• Keywords: lgbt, rivalry, 18th century, queen, rabbit,

	7.5/10
	91/100
	93% – Critics
	70% – Audience

The Favourite Storyline

The power dynamic among three women in the royal house of England in the early 18th century is presented during a time when England is at war with France. The first is Queen Anne, the current ruler. She tries to overcome her insecurities, paranoia, and potential perceived weakness in being lame by that outward power of being ruler. The second is Sarah, Lady Marlborough, the Queen’s trusted lady-in-waiting and the wife to Lord Marlborough, the head of the British military. The third is Abigail Hill, Sarah’s cousin, whose family has fallen on hard times; Sarah hires her to work in the royal palace in various domestic roles. The Queen’s motivation is to appear that she is in charge while desperately wanting to feel loved by those whom she loves. Sarah’s motivation is to implement her desired policies, especially with regard to the war. Abigail’s motivation is to regain her status as a lady in not wanting to feel at the mercy of poverty ever again. Others try to exploit this dynamic, especially Harley, the leader of the opposition in Parliament, who doesn’t feel that he has the Queen’s ear at this important time of war.

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The Favourite Movie Reviews

Unsettling favouritism

‘The Favourite’ from the day it came out quickly became one of my most anticipated films. Mainly for the critical acclaim, the vast awards attention and the talented cast (namely Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz). Anybody who has seen and liked Yorgos Lanthimos’ previous films, including ‘The Lobster’, would also find another reason to be psyched about seeing it. Interesting furthermore for seeing a monarch and reign/era not explored an awful lot on film and actually even in general.

Seeing it finally last weekend with my sister, ‘The Favourite’ didn’t disappoint me at all. Completely agree with the acclaim (and just to say there have been times where that has not always been the case) and the award nominations, with it receiving the most nominations of the year along with ‘Roma’ (another favourite of the year), and hopefully wins for at least a few of the categories are richly deserved. Just to say that my sister also loved it and she knew very little about its critical reception and accolades until when we were talking about the film afterwards, so this is not a case of being “followers” and this is a genuine review from somebody who actually did love it and has been known quite a number of times before for going against the grain when it comes to critical consensus. With that being said, can understand why ‘The Favourite’ won’t click, and hasn’t clicked, for some. But what some have deemed bizarre, cruel and pointless for me was one of the most entertaining, most visually striking, best acted and surprising films of the year.

Won’t say that ‘The Favourite’ is exempt from criticism. Do have to agree with everybody who found the ending disappointing. Far too abrupt and it didn’t make sense, leaving a very odd feeling and aftertaste.

However, the production values are exemplary. It is a beautifully shot and cleverly edited film, with a few effectively nightmarish moments that didn’t distract at all (this is including at the end). All of this complements the evocative attention to period detail and the sumptuous locations interiors and exteriors. Especially good in this regard are the costumes, gorgeously designed and opulent and the muted colour pallette for some of them looks tasteful. Lanthimos keeps things going at a breezy pace while allowing it all to breathe, the surreal and strange elements that has not appealed to all in his previous films certainly present but more toned down here in comparison, which makes ‘The Favourite’ one of his more accessible films in my view.

Do not agree with those panning the soundtrack. Sure, the Ferrari and Messiaen weren’t to my tastes and some of the placement is repetitive in places, but the pieces featured are great pieces on their own. The most authentic uses being Bach, Vivaldi and Purcell (including one of his most beautiful songs “Music for a while”), but most effective was the Schumann Piano Quintet (the opening chords and rhythms are truly haunting) and the poignantly sombre Schubert Piano Sonata, which happened to be one of his last works before his ultimely death. Apart from the repetition, the placement mostly didn’t bother me with none of it really juxtaposing with the mood of the scenes (mixing a little camp and just as much seriousness) in question, there is a teasing and disorienting quality that is oddly captivating and clever.

One of ‘The Favourite’s’ biggest triumphs is the script, one of the most entertaining and most beautifully balanced and structured of the year. Many parts are irreverently witty, boasting a number of laugh out loud moments throughout and showing a farce with teeth and bite without being over-the-top or tired. It is also quite darkly disarming and pulls no punches, showing that a period that seems so beautiful and glamorous is not as much as appeared underneath. There is shock value here but it didn’t feel that gratuitous and was one of the reasons as to why ‘The Favourite’ stands out as more than one’s “typical” idea of a period film. The political elements are sharp and insightful. And then there is a sensuality that both disturbs and charms, the chemistry between the three leads being witty, chilling and tense. On a story level, only the ending misfired for me, everything else is thoroughly absorbing and the different tones and shifts are balanced expertly with no real jarring, the twists in the story being manic without being too much that one can’t take it seriously and the deceptions really digging deep.

A great job is done getting quality performances from the cast, all thoroughly committing to their roles and avoiding falling too much in overplayed caricature. Anne especially in her human fraility is given a good deal of depth that one does root for her, and the film did well providing some poignant emotion when needed without being overt amongst all the strangeness and irreverence. The supporting cast are on point, with Nicholas Hoult being particularly enjoyable in a very gleeful way. It’s the three female leads that carry ‘The Favourite’ and all three give performances that are among the best of the year. Emma Stone is alluring and one roots for her at first, while making Abigail’s shrewish character change unsettlingly believable. A perhaps never better Rachel Weisz brings caustic wit and authority to Sarah. Even better is Olivia Colman, a truly magnificent performance that gives the character many shades and vulnerability.

Summing up, a great film and one of my favourite films of the year. 9/10 Bethany Cox

A classic case of overplaying one’s hand

After having seen and become a fan of the very first series on Masterpiece Theater The First Churchills, I was anxious to see the different slant The Favourite had on what is an enlargement of the last years of that story. As The First Churchills was based on Winston Churchill’s biography of his ancestor The Duke of Marlborough it was as expected slanted toward Sarah Jennings Churchill.

Accounts other than Churchill’s cast Sarah as a shrew. As you see in the First Churchills, Sarah and Anne grew up together as playmates and were the most intimate of friends since puberty. When they were apart they wrote letters and gave each other pen names for their letters. Anne was Mrs. Morley and Sarah was Mrs. Freeman. The Duke of Marlborough was a great military commander, but no doubt his wife’s influence with first Princess Anne when she was in line for succession and when she became Queen in 1702 the Marlboroughs were riding high.

The First Churchills had Margaret Tyzack as Anne who over the course of the series grew from an eager young princess to a rather dowdy queen. Olivia Colman’s portrayal of Anne is of a woman who has nothing really left but the throne. This woman had several pregnancies from her husband, the longest surviving of their children who wasn’t stillborn lived to be 9. Her husband a prince from Denmark also died.

By the time this all takes place Anne who patiently put up with Sarah Churchill’s constant begging of favors and trying to influence policy was ripe for a new favorite. And in The Favourite Sarah herself introduces her own downfall into Anne’s court with her own cousin Abigail Hill. It was a classic case of overplaying one’s hand.

The three actresses who play Anne, Sarah, and Abigail dominate this film. Olivia Colman won the film’s only Oscar for Best Actress playing Queen Anne and she is dowdy, tired, mercurial and plain tired and world weary all at once. Quite a few people died before she who never expected to be queen was. By all accounts she was a nice woman before being overwhelmed with the responsibility’s of the throne. There’s also more than a hint of a lesbian relationship with Anne and Sarah. Getting all those emotions out and then some is the hallmark of a great performance.

Rachel Weisz plays Sarah who like Susan Hampshire in The First Churchills just never knew when to quit. Emma Stone as Abigail knew exactly when to quit. She made a good marriage to Sam Masham who became a Baron. When Anne died, Abigail knew it was time to gracefully bow it. She lived quietly in the countryside and died in 1734. Sarah way outlived both Anne and Abigail dying 1748. Her saved correspondence provide a lively account of her era written from Sarah’s point of view.

The Favourite’s only Oscar was for Olivia Colman. Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone both got Supporting Actress nominations and the film also was nominated for Best Picture and a flock of other awards.

I really recommend seeing this and then getting a copy of The First Churchills. Or you might read Winston Churchill’s award winning biography of the Duke to get Sarah’s side in that magnificent Churchillian prose.

Hideous

THE FAVOURITE is a follow-up from the same Greek director who made THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER, which I absolutely despised, so my reaction to this was something of a foregone conclusion. And it’s another instance of the “emperor’s new clothes”, a film I and those with me found personally ridiculous and repulsive in equal measure, the only things of note the nice costumes and locations. Otherwise it’s an exercise in crudity that just goes on and on, focusing on bodily functions over the niceties of plot or accuracy. Characters speak anachronistically, everyone’s horrible, the performances – particularly from luvvy Colman – completely over the top. A hideous viewing experience, then; others are welcome to it.