Hey fellow movie buffs! Welcome to my take on The Favourite, a jaw-dropping gem directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who is no stranger to mixing whimsy with depth. This delightful concoction is a biography, comedy, and drama wrapped in a royal setting, earning its place in the list of best historical films. My movie review explores the cunning antics in early 18th-century England and trust me—it's anything but your typical period piece.
So, what's the deal with The Favourite's plot? Picture this: the court of a frail Queen Anne, played by the stellar Olivia Colman, is a battlefield of wit and manipulation. Her closest confidante, Rachel Weisz's Lady Sarah, has kept the crown secure but under tight control. Enter Emma Stone as Abigail, a new servant with wide eyes and sharper instincts, ready to stir up a hilarious and dramatic tussle for favouritism. These ladies aren't playing for keeps—they're playing for power, and every giggle or gasp could mean the world.
What really stands out in this cinematic masterpiece is the dynamic trio of Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone. Colman's performance, which snagged her an Oscar, is nothing short of a comedy-drama masterclass. She brings vulnerability and humor to a monarch often depicted as merely powerful or worn. Weisz and Stone bring their A-game in a fierce yet funny rivalry, backed by Deobrah Davis and Tony McNamara's sharp screenplay. The biting dialogue is as cutting as the period costumes are extravagant. Hats off to Lanthimos for his eccentric direction that transforms royal boredom into gripping cinema!
Comparing The Favourite to other films in its genre is like comparing tea to tequila—unconventional, surprising, and bracing all the same! Where most historical pieces might aim for grandeur and gravitas like in 'The Queen' or 'Elizabeth', Lanthimos serves us a dish full of wit and wicked delight. Think less 'Downton Abbey' and more a scandalous soap opera set in Versailles, complete with rabbit races and duck-based gambling.
If historical comedy-drama tickles your fancy as it does mine, missing out on The Favourite would be a royal blunder. It's a must-watch film that defies expectations and redefines what power play looks like in cinema. So grab some popcorn—salty or sweet, no judgment here—and immerse yourself in this outrageous power struggle. Dive into the scandals of the royal court and let the film's humor brighten your day! Your movie critique awaits.