The Favourite: Best Picture Review

Synopsis

The Favourite tells the story of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), the frail and sickly queen of England in the early 17th century. Her partner, Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) who has to run the country while the queen has a bout with the gout, and Lady Abigail (Emma Stone), a new maid in the castle, are in a proverbial battle for the queen's love and courtship.

Review

First, a disclaimer. DISCLAIMER: THIS FILM IS VERY BRITISH. The film is so British, one can forget that one of the main actresses is American and the director is Greek. But, I digress. The Favourite is a very well-written film. The script is written with a type of zany wit that works towards its benefit and downfall. It is beneficial because the script gives the film a pleasurable idiosyncrasy that work for some people, but the script works to the film's downfall because some of the humor, which is also very British gets lost. Also, the story does not lend itself to an odd writing and directorial style. The film looks great. The elaborate costume and production design help to add to the grandiose spectacle of the Queen’s castle. However, I do have to say that this film has one of the grossest uses of the “fish-eye” camera. The Favourite provides a great showcase for Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, but the real standout in this film is Olivia Colman. She gives a devastating and often hilarious portrayal of the frail, bumbling Queen Anne. If there were one word to describe this film, it would be this: UNIQUE.