The Favourite (2018)
[Reader disclaimer: there will be spoilers discussed].
Next up on our list is The Favourite (2018), a historical drama focusing on 18th century ruler Queen Anne (played by Olivia Colman) and her relationship with her friend, Sarah (played by Rachel Weisz) and Sarah's cousin, Abigail (played by Emma Stone).
What is essentially a story of two women trying to win favour with the queen, this film is surprising in many ways. The dialogue, atypical of its genre, was wonderfully weird and vulgar in places. The quasi-queer chemistry between our main characters drove the narrative for the main part but the addition of other supporting actors (such as Nicholas Hoult and Joe Alwyn) made for some delightfully strange and, at times, harrowing scenes.
One thing that especially stood out for me was structure and stylism. As aforementioned, this film is far from a stereotypical insight into a historical moment, moreso it is a period of time fashioned by modernised camera techniques (e.g. the use of a fish-eye lens) and title cards with witty quips and quotes to structure the narrative into acts.
The main selling point, in my opinion, is that everybody is a villain but likeable in their own way. Weisz is a hard-hitting, tough-loving cast member whose on-screen relationship with Colman is, to put it plainly, simply spellbinding. Colman, in turn, is the other end of the spectrum: paranoid, daft yet stern, and somewhat child-like. These opposing forces make for some truly exceptional interactions, conveying both vulnerability yet a deep-seated relationship which in some scenes goes unsaid because it's unnecessary.
Though I deeply enjoyed The Favourite, it had its flaws: its use of quick cuts are effective but, I feel, the use of transitions are misplaced. The pace of the film takes a drastic drop after the second act and, although consistent afterwards, feels as though it is dragging itself along; the end scene itself was (in my opinion) entirely too long.
There are also questions left unanswered in the stead of the film's conclusion. Why is Queen Anne so opposed to the sound of music? Why does Abigail strive for power, knowing that she can never hold it under the current monarch's rule? I suppose some things are supposed to be left to the imagination but if you're going to include small details, at least allude to an explanation, otherwise deem it unnecessary to the plot and emit it entirely.
Other than that, I have very little to chastise this film for. It's nowhere near perfect, but it's most certainly one of the best of the ones I've seen so far: in essence, I understand why it's nominated for Best Picture.
What's it nominated for?
Currently, The Favourite is nominated for:
- Best Picture - Yorgos Lanthimos, Ed Guiney, Ceci Dempsey and Lee Magiday
- Best Actress - Olivia Colman
- Best Supporting Actress - Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz
- Best Director - Yorgos Lanthimos
- Best Original Screenplay - Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
- Best Cinematography - Robbie Ryan
- Best Costume Design - Sandy Powell
- Best Film Editing - Yorgos Mavropsaridis
- Best Production Design - Fiona Crombie and Alice Felton
Should it win?
I see no reason why it shouldn't. Amongst the other four films I've watched thus far, I'd rank it in the top tier, purely due to its originality and performances from both Colman and Weisz.
As for the actress awards, Colman will be hard-pushed to beat Gaga: not due to ability, mind you, but due to popularity. Gaga sits well with modern audiences and, although Colman is far more established, I'd argue that the marketing for The Favourite wasn't as strong as A Star Is Born (2018); I'd say that Weisz will nab Best Supporting, which is a shame because Amy Adams was phenomenal in Vice (2018).
I mentioned in my review of Black Panther (2018) that it was a strong contender for Best Costume Design, given that it goes unrivalled by any other films, however I will say that the costumes in The Favourite were absolutely gorgeous and surprisingly contemporary in some places, and therefore I believe the award is going to be a tug-of-war between the two.
Overall rating: 8/10
- K
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