Review of The Favourite (2018) by Rebecca31 — 05 Jan 2019

There's no competition, give the Oscar to Olivia Coleman. Anyone who knows me will tell you I don't like period dramas, but this is far from your ordinary period drama. This is a Yorgos film and with director Yorgos Lanthimos I got what I expected and so much more. The three central performances from Coleman, Weisz and Stone elevate this quirky historical film. If this is your first experience with a Lanthimos film then you're either in for a real treat, or you'll leave bitterly disappointed, or you'll walk out half way through. You really won't be able to tell until you give it a chance so get on board the Award Season train and go see The Favourite.

18th century England under the rule of a frail Queen Anne (Olivia Coleman). Her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country while tending to her ill health. Their friendship takes a change when a new servant, Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail takes this opportunity to fulfill her ambitions at any means necessary. It's delightfully disturbing, funny and unpredictable all at the same time. I might have preferred a little beheading but that's just me. I absolutely loved Olivia Coleman, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, their acting was superb. Particularly Coleman, perfect casting, she dominates every scene. One of the strangest films you could watch, I'm still trying to decide how much I liked it and the ending is perhaps a little dissatisfying, yet one thing I'm certain of, I'll still be thinking about this film for a while. If the Lobster or The Killing of a Sacred Deer is your cup of tea then The Favourite is not to be missed. Highly recommended.