3 Reasons Why ‘The Favourite’ Should Be Your Favorite

Nominated for 10 Academy Awards, The Favourite is different from other films by director Yorgos Lanthimos. It’s different because this one is set in the 18th century while all his others have been set in the 21st. It is similar because it shares the same kind of dark absurd  humor that is found in his other features like The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dogtooth, and the The Lobster.  However this tale is adjusted more to a general audience more than his previous efforts, due mostly to the fact that Lanthimos did not write the screenplay. That task went to Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara who are also nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars this year.

During the war between Britain and France. Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) is in ill health, both physically and mentally. Her adviser, her friend, and lover Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) basically makes all the rules and passes them off as the Queen’s ideas. A member of Parliament, Robert Harley (Nicholas Hoult) doesn’t like that the war with France is still going on and disapproves of the recent property tax hike.

In enters Abigail (Emma Stone), Sarah’s cousin who lost her title when her father gambled it away in a card game. She befriends Queen Anne by attending to a bad case of the gout on her legs and the two become closer. Sarah sees this and tries to find ways to prevent this from blossoming. But do these women actually love Anne or are they trying to be the favorite for their own needs? So let’s discuss why this is one to watch, especially for those who might still be on the fence.

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It’s easy to see why this has gathered nominations in the acting category at this years Oscars. Stone and Weisz are the definition of perfection with their onscreen chemistry, even if their characters don’t get along. Their back and forth banter with each other and with other actors really something to see. What’s even more amazing is noticing the subtle changes of these complex characters as the story unfolds. At the start, your rooting for one, and at the end, you’re sneering at another. It’s brilliant. Likewise, Coleman is a treasure. She has moments when your laughing at her, and others where you are quite literally crying for her. It’s complete performance that I hope doesn’t go unnoticed at the Academy Awards.

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Shot by Robbie Ryan, the look of royalty in early 18th century Britain has never been better.  There is one sequence involving candles that reminded me of Barry Lyndon, which itself won an Oscar in 1975 for Best Cinematography, but improved on because Ryan is doing a sort of Steadicam thing that works its own sense of style. Many have made mention of the wide fisheye lens in certain shots, but it nothing distracting. It helps represent the odd and somewhat absurd world where these characters exist.

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From the first scene when Lady Sarah tells Queen Anne that she looks like a badger to the moment Abigail plays hard-to-get with her suitor by causing extreme pain to certain regions of his body, there are a number of moments that are sure to spark some laughs.  Sure, some of this may make audiences raise an eyebrow, but hearing this kind of language come from these so called prim and proper folk just make it all the more fun.

Contrast this with a great moment that happens when Lady Sarah finds out that Queen Anne has been spending more time with Abigail than her. Anne tells her that she enjoys Abigail’s company because she doesn’t say things about her weight or that she looks like a badger. Sarah responds that those responses are not love. Love is built out of honesty not telling someone what they want to hear. That’s smart, and delivered by these great talents, truly hits the mark. Love is the thing.

Think about it. When you first date someone, you tell them things you think they will like to hear, but if you keep at that, you will never find out who they really are. Sarah may be honest about her approach about her love to Anne, yet does she really love her or does she love the power that she gained, and with Abigail moving in fast? Then it becomes a game of will she keep it or lose it?

The Favourite is not your average period drama. If you are expecting something like The Crown, this ain’t it. It has a lot more biting humor than expected and does so with impeccable quality. The Favourite is up for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Director, and many more. Deservedly so.

Learn more on this at The LAMB Devours The Oscars.