The Favourite
Starring: Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Nicholas Hoult
Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
Rated: R
How goes the kingdom? On the outside, Queen Anne’s kingdom is a seemingly gorgeous place. Her castle is full of ornate designs and lavish parties. There are servants who wait on her every whim. People wish to gain the queen’s favor. Yet, behind the decadence, there lies a dark world of scheming, loneliness, and misery. Long live the Queen.
The Favourite explores a dramatized account of shifting power dynamics during the reign of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) in the 18th century. As the queen attempts to lead England through war with France, she is plagued with illness. She depends on close friend (and lover), Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), to help her through each day, but it seems that Lady Sarah may be swaying the Queen’s political decisions. Soon, Lady Sarah’s cousin, Abigail (Emma Stone), arrives to the royal court looking for a job. When she finds a treatment to help the Queen’s gout pain, she gains her favor. Sarah and Abigial begin a war, bidding for the queen’s favor. Who will be The Favourite?
In the past, I’ve had a difficult time appreciating director Yorgos Lanthimos’ films. The Lobster was a bit too bizarre for me and I could not get invested in The Killing of a Sacred Deer. His work often seems too pretentious and artsy for my taste. However, that is not the case with The Favourite. This is not your average costume drama. It’s an intriguing and dark character study that keeps you guessing. He doesn’t lose his quirky flair here though. The film is broken up into chapters, each chapter containing an equally eye catching name like, “What an Outfit” and “I Dreamt I Stabbed You in the Eye.” The titles immediately make you sit up and take notice as you wonder what’s about to happen. Lanthimos makes sure you are paying attention in every scene. Thanks to cinematographer Robbie Ryan, each scene is filmed brilliantly. The film begins with a natural, well-lit aesthetic to fit the comedic tone. Yet, as the mood darkens, the shots become aggressively tense. Ryan employs the use of a wide angle and fish eye lens throughout the film to convey the characters are like tiny puppets in the grand scheme of the kingdom. Shots that may seem insignificant prove to be pivotal. Whether it’s a shot of rabbits in a cage or children playing in an orchestra, each scene has a greater significance.
Building on the significant elements is the film’s screenplay. Written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNarma, the dialogue is razor sharp. Abigail and Sarah end up sparring with their words just as much as they do with their actions. Much like the visual cues in the film’s direction, it’s important that you pay attention to what the characters say because small bits of dialogue become hugely important as the film progresses. The screenplay excels in building 3 completely different, yet equally complex characters that keep the audience guessing. It’s very rare to see a film with 3 lead female characters that have such complex characterization.
Olivia Colman plays Queen Anne in a brilliant performance. I was worried in the first few scenes of the film that she would turn in a one-note caricature, but in just one scene, she quickly turned everything around. She is a demanding and child-like queen, co-dependent on Lady Sarah and easily influenced by others. However, tragedy has found her at every corner in life. She lost 17 children and in their place, she keeps 17 rabbits. Colman is able to convey the pain and tragedy of Queen Anne with just facial expressions. The dynamic of Queen Anne is truly fascinating. She has all of the power in England, but her childish nature attracts so many attempting to sway her opinion. Can she ever gain her own voice? At the end of the day, it’s as if she’s no more powerful than one of her caged rabbits.
Olivia Colman as Queen Anne in The Favourite
Emma Stone plays Abigail. She once was a lady who lost everything when her father gambled her away in a game of poker. She and the queen bond over their tragic backgrounds. All she wants is a chance to get that life back. She will stop at nothing to do so. Abigail is on her side, always. In the first act, she seems to be a sweet and innocent girl who has fallen on awful times. However, as the film progresses, we see she may not be as innocent as she seems. Emma Stone has delivered two of her most complex roles in 2018 and nailed them both. (Maniac and The Favourite) As Abigail, she portrays a wide-eyed innocence that slowly descends into maniacal manipulation. She stands in corners observing the Queen’s every move like a snake waiting to strike the rabbit.
Emma Stone as Abigail in The Favourite
Rachel Weisz is Lady Sarah, the Queen’s closest friend and lover. Since the two are so close, Queen Anne depends on Sarah to make many important political decisions. Soon, it seems Sarah is making decisions about England’s fate for her own personal benefit. She is a leader, who isn’t afraid to express exactly how she feels. There are many moments that she harshly berates Queen Anne, all in the name of being “truthful”, but is it truth or toxicity? Weisz gives a stellar performance as the headstrong Sarah. From the first scene, it’s clear she is a commanding force to be reckoned with.
Both Sarah and Abigail battle to gain the queen’s favor for political and societal gain. They fight, lie, and manipulate for her favor. Losing is not an option. They believe becoming the favorite will solve all of their problems. What they don’t see among their battle is that they are both paving a road to their own personal hell.
Rachel Weisz as Lady Sarah in The Favourite
Keep in mind, this is not a film for everyone. I have a feeling it will be very divisive among audiences. The final act descends into a dark scenario that is quite disturbing. Sarah and Abigail are incredibly complex characters who will stop at nothing to get what they want. They lie, manipulate, and perform sexual favors in order to achieve their goals. In a lot of ways, The Favourite reminds me of last year’s Phantom Thread. In my opinion, they’re both fascinating films about gender politics and twisted relationship dynamics.
“Favor is a breeze that shifts in direction all the time.” So the royal court goes, like leaves in the wind, back and forth for that small chance at a moment of the queen’s favor. Is it possible to be the favorite of a woman who doesn’t even love herself? The Favourite is a dark tale of ambition, manipulation, and corruption. Boasting some of the strongest performances and filmmaking of the year, The Favourite is a royal spectacle!
My Rating: 9/10