This peak behind the curtains of the court of Queen Anne of Great Britain in the early 18th century is a fun little piece of feminist revisionism detailing a supposed love triangle between the Queen (Olivia Colman), her advisor and confidant Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz), and a very ambitious newly hired maid named Abigail Hill (Emma Stone). This is one Yorgos Lanthimos' most narratively straightforward films, and his more restrained approach suits the material and lets the strong trio of lead characters shine. That being said, the use of fisheye lenses and continual focus on the characters' self-degradation ensure that you certainly feel the Greek director's pulling of the strings. The Favourite is at its most enjoyable and playful when detailing the farcical aspects of the court, from these people's daily habits and antics to their at times seemingly arbitrary handling of political matters. And it is headlined by a magnificent performance by Olivia Colman, who positively wallows in the Queen's array of qualities and flaws with full dedication, making sure she is presented with equal measures comedy and tragedy.
Review of The Favourite
