One of the key elements that makes movies designed as being historical set-pieces so interesting as well as engaging for the audience, are the distinct and unique forms of storytelling that each filmmaker brings to their respective stories. Whereas most films based around historical settings tend to follow a straight-forward and even narrative, there are some that aim to take a more unconventional and unique approach in telling their stories. With 2018's The Favorite starting Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, audiences get that unusually different approach that not only feels bizarre but is bold, daring, and ultimately comes across as feeling a bit timely with its overall themes and messages. Named as one of the top 10 best films of 2018 and nominated for 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture with a single win for Olivia Colman in a supporting actress role as Queen Anne, The Favorite aimed to throw audiences off their feet with both its weird and witty style of telling its story with the end result being that for the most part, it works. Whereas The Favorite may not be among the most interesting of films set around a different historical era and can be too much of a slow-burner for the average filmgoer, there's much to appreciate here in terms of the strong performances the main cast of lead actresses deliver along with the crafty direction that filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos brings to the story.
Set during 18th century England, the plot for The Favorite focuses on a frail Queen Anne (Played by Olivia Colman) occupying the throne with her close friend, Lady Sarah (Played by Rachel Weisz) govering the country in her stead. When a new servant arrives named Abigail (Played by Emma Stone), her charm endears her to Sarah along with capturing the attention of the queen with both women finding themselves fighting for her favor. Designed as a dark comedy disguised as a period piece, The Favorite aims to surprise audiences with both its strange blending of wit and knife-in-the-back politics. The film aggressively entertains its audience with the fantastic acting of its main trio with Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, and Olivia Colman delivering some of the finest performances of their careers with striking, cinematography, gorgeous costume and set design cementing the whole proceedings as a unique and bold period piece. The movie is essentially about two women fighting for the affections of their queen with Lanthimos getting the most of his cast. The Favorite works as being a well-staged and put together production that carries a smartly written and quirky script with fantastic performances, strong production qualities, and directing that's skillful at blending all of the films key elements together in making it a striking period piece that catches the audiences attention along with maintaining it. The most notable aspect of the film is how much its willing to take risks with its unconventional style of storytelling. Instead of taking a bland approach to telling its story, the film is willing to reimagine its historical plot in a way that subverts audiences expectations while still managing to entertain and ultimately satisfy for those who carry an open mind for the films changes to history as well as its darkly comedic approach. The Favorite is not a film that aims to play it safe nor please everyone, but those going in with the expectation of receiving an unusual yet artistic approach to its story will be satisfied by the films overall quality and dynamic performances from its main cast.
As skillful as the films writing and directing comes across, it's the killer performances from the main trio that make the story work as well as it ultimately does. All three actresses here are phenomenal and rightly earn their respective Oscar nominations for their performances. The dedication that the lead actresses put into their roles and display on the screen, is evident with each doing both a beautiful and effective job of playing their roles. Rachel Weisz delivers an excellent performance as Lady Sarah, Queen Anne's confidante, advisor, and secretive lover who rules the country largely due to her influence over the queen. Weisz performance is near flawless with her characters presence being authoritative, commanding and darkly witty with her character establishing herself as being the one wearing the pants in the relationship between her and Anne along with essentially filling in her shoes as being the undisclosed ruler of Great Britain. As great as Weisz turns out to be in her role, Emma Stone also impresses as Sarah's impoverished younger cousin Abigail Hill, who arrives in search of employment. Stone does a great job of displaying her characters vulnerabilities as she's forced to do menial work as a scullery maid in the palace. The role Stone plays is unlike any that she's played before previously with her not only managing to do a terrific job but is a delight to watch when her character begins to compete against Lady Sarah for the affections of the queen. Not only are Weisz and Stone excellent together as the films main leads, both manage to work off each other in terms of generating the best performances while showcasing strong chemistry. As terrific as Weisz and Stone are in the main roles, it's Olivia Colman who both surprises as well as impresses as the ill and ineffective Queen Anne. Like the other actresses, Colman is brilliant in her performance with her showing the frail state of her character, as well as both her lack of desire to rule any further along with her affection for both female servants. The relationship between the three main characters in the film are presented as being dynamic with their performances and chemistry being on point. Colman's performance helps to solidify the strength of the trip with her Oscar win being well-deserved. The rest of the supporting cast delivers strong and notable performances with Nicholas Hoult as Robert Harley, leader of the Opposition who thwart's Sarah's efforts to control Anne with him arguing against a doubling of property taxes proposed to fund the war against the French, and Joe Alwyn as Masham, British courtier in the court of Queen Anne, as well as the husband of her favorite, Abigail Masham. The cast for The Favorite remains one of its most appealing and strongest elements with everyone delivering performances that range from being good to phenomenal. The film ultimately wouldn't work as effectively as it does if it didn't have the combined talents of its main actresses giving their all on the screen, along with working exceptionally well together. Regardless of how one feels about the film as a whole given its darkly comedic tone, it can be agreed upon that the performances from the main actresses stand as being one of the films main highlights.
What helps make the performances of the main actresses so appealing as well as effective, is the skillful direction that filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos brings to the story. He manages to give the film a rich and stylish production that masterfully blends with the stories dryly funny tone. The cinematography is beautifully handled with the film utilizing a combination of steady cam, wide angle shots, and long tracking ones that give film lovers flashbacks to the style of cinematography that Stanley Kubrick used in his films. The films set and costume design are terrific with both selling the stories timeline to the audience. The black and white costumes appropriately fit the tone of the story with the brownish background being effectively used. The costumes also manage to represent the characters and events they experience in the story such as Abigail's constant changing wardrobe with the further she climbs up the social ladder. The films editing moves the story at a snail's pace but builds up growing conflict between Lady Sarah and Abigail, as well as showing the jealously both parties hold when it seems that the other has the advantage in terms of having the queen's affections. Lanthimos sets up the first half of the movie to be humor based while establishing the relationship between the main trio before taking things down a darker and more cynical path with the films second half. The score is also effective in blending with the films period setting with its score consisting mostly of baroque and classical music. I'm terms of directing, Lanthimos gives the film a dark and slapstick approach in terms of presenting a story that essentially revolves around the theme of power and those competing against each other to get in a higher position of it. He takes what's essentially a straight-forward narrative and spins it on its head with the bizarre approach taken in telling the story. The films sexual content is handled in a way that's beneficial to the story as well as surprising the audience in terms of shock value that reemphasize the story as not only being about fighting over power, but is also one about seduction. In terms of overall look, Lanthimos gives the film the right grim black and white look that's revealing of its tone. If anything, he demonstrates both his firm and creative hand in meshing a historical set-piece with witty and dry-wit humour.
The screenplay by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara serves as being a well-written and thoughtful effort, that essentially works as being an effective morality play between the three characters with themes incorporated into its script regarding greed, wealth, power, manipulation, jealously, blackmail, loyalty, betrayal, confidence, and solidifying one's own position within society. The overall message that the film conveys is a timely one which says amoral people can rise to power by manipulation, flattery, and ultimately a lack of empathy which is evidenced by the firm grip that Lady Sarah has over Queen Anne, along with the jealously she displays upon seeing Abigail being favored by her. What the script does well is build up the conflict between both Sarah and Abigail with their relationship with Anne feeling like a confused love triangle with the two women doing their absolute best to one up each other. The writing comes across as feeling smart and well thought out with the roles of the two women beginning to reverse over the course of the story with Abigail going from being the vulnerable and struggling newcomer to being the queen's new favorite, and Sarah going from being the one in control to her being pissed and jealous at Abigail's progression in terms of winning Anne's heart. The scenario is written in a way that makes it feel cruel, seductive, yet engaging to watch with everything from lousy tricks to ground shiftings between the two being thrown out there. The script also does well with emphasizing how people mislead and use others to further their own personal gain which is evidenced by Abigail getting close to the queen in order to retain her aristocratic roots after being gambled away by her father in a game of whist, as well as marrying Masham for both financial and stature purposes. The screenplay's most compelling element is how it flips the roles of both main characters as the story progresses with the three main actresses all carrying complexed performances that aren't usually seen in today's films. It's the complexity of the characters as well as the dark and satirical edge of the story that allows the audience to become invested in the film, along with holding their interest throughout its 120 minute running time.
The best way to describe how The Favorite presents its story to the audience, is that its fearless. The film takes both risks and chances with altering historical events regarding the characters and plot to make it more compelling with the end result being that it works in giving audiences an unusual yet rewarding experience with characters they grow connected to in the films period setting. The film is aggressive in its desire to entertain, and is detailed in its exploration of how power and manipulation can put the most amoral people in a high position of having it. Those who appreciate well-acted and staged period pieces will find much to appreciate here with the performances being the soul of the movie, as well as the directing being stylishly effective. While it may be a bit too slow-moving for mainstream audiences along with its humour being hit or miss, those looking for strange yet bold unconventional storytelling will find this to be a genuinely fun and enjoyable experience if they watch it with the appropriate mindset. If anything else, the performances from the main actresses alone are worth the watch.
Final Verdict: Fans of historical period pieces and those who like bizarre and completely random forms of storytelling will appreciate and enjoy The Favorite as it's stunningly well acted, brilliantly written, and directed by a filmmaker who shows a firm hand over his craft.
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