A review of the Oscar favourite film “The Favourite”
By the time I went to see this film, it had already received 10 Acadeny Award nominations, so there was an incredible buzz around the work. Is this deserved? Well, it is an exceptional work but an odd one too.
Losely based on actual events, this is a (very) black comedy set at the English court in the early 18th century but directed by a Greek, Yorgos Lanthimos, who throws in some modern interpretations (notably in one dance sequence).
As well as being co-written by a woman, all three leading roles are female: Olivia Colman as the lonely and gout-ridden Queen Anne, Rachel Weisz as her aide and lover Lady Sarah, and American Emma Stone, sporting a fine English accent, as Abigail, the new rival for the Queen’s attention and affection. All three are superb and Colman is simply outstanding. The narrative is very cruel and very sexual and both language and behaviour are dirty in this gritty representation of a time of coarseness and struggle.
There is much to admire in the film. As well as the splendid acting, we have a sharply acerbic script, wonderful costumes and wigs, deliberate use of natural lighting, and magnificent locations (mainly Hampton Court Palace and Hartfield House).
But it is a weirdly disorientating and discordant work: all use of text (in the credits and 18 chapter titles) is in an almost unreadable spread-out lettering; there is regular use of loud, repetitive noises which really grind on one’s nerves; and the camerawork is kenetic with much use of wide-angle shots and other shots swinging round 180 degrees.
None of the human characters is appealling – the rabbits and ducks are cute – and most of them are utterly vain and manipulative, although motives may vary, with Lady Sarah influenced by a kind of love and Abigail spurred by her desire for status. I had some sympathy for Sarah, while my female companion identified more with Abigail. So, while this a film that I found ambitious and impressive, I cannot honestly say that I warmed to it.
January 26th, 2019 at 8:35 pm
I haven’t seen it yet, but it does make a change from all the films about Queen Victoria!
February 22nd, 2019 at 9:47 pm
I thought the performances were superb, but the repetitive clanging nearly sent me home! I hear that it was supposed to represent heightening tension – a little too much in my opinion.