Review: The Favourite (2018)

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos

Starring: Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone

The plot follows the relationship between two cousins, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough (Weisz), and Abigail Masham (Stone), as they vie to be Court favourites of Queen Anne (Colman).

Oh Yorgos, you've done it again. From the same director of films such as Dogtooth, The Lobster, and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, brings another uniquely twisted, and hilarious story. Alongside Yorgos's brilliant direction, is it's fresh and well-written screenplay, and it's powerful performances from the three actresses, that truly make this film one of the greatest of 2018.

Loosely based on actual events, the plot is unique and engaging, as well as the tone humorous. With Lanthimos, I always expect a good film, but this one blew all my expectations. The story is told through different acts that help pace the film with it's 2 hour runtime. The acting was powerful, and the chemistry between all three actresses was incredible. Props to Olivia Colman for her hilarious and fantastic role as Queen Anne, who undoubtedly deserved the Academy Award for Best Actress (That moment being the greatest thing that happened that night). Nicholas Hoult was great too, and I had a few laughs whenever he was on the screen.

The cinematography is beautifully and artistically done by Robbie Ryan. The production design is incredible and instantly immersed me into it’s early 18th century setting. The costume design was stunning and extraordinarily designed by Sandy Powell. With that being said, I am incredibly disappointed in how it was snubbed from those respected awards in the Academy Awards (to Black Panther no less). The music is great and fits the tone.

In conclusion, a fantastic addition to Lanthimos’s filmography. This film does incredibly well with elements such as its well-written screenplay, brilliant direction, and great performances, that it has de-ranked Dogtooth, and is currently my favorite Lanthimos film. Definitely one of the greatest films of 2018 and deserves all the praise it has received.

My rating: 9.5/10

#FilmReview #2018 #CTRecommended #2019