The Favourite is a costume drama also known as a period piece as well as a black comedy, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos who also directed the arthouse film The Lobster (2015). The Favourite was written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara.
The Favourite was indeed a favorite during the award season and was nominated for countless awards in multiple categories. The Favourite was very successful and took many awards in the award ceremonies in both The United States and Britain. During the Oscars held in Los Angeles on 24th February 2019, it tied with Roma being nominated for ten Academy Awards each. The film was nominated for seven awards at the BAFTAs as well as ten awards at the British Independent Film Awards. Olivia Coleman who played the lead role as the unhinged Queen Anne won the best actress at the Academy Awards, The Gloden Globes, and the BAFTAs. Rachael Weitz who played one of the supporting female characters won best supporting actress at the BAFTAs.
The film is set in the early 18th century in England during the reign of Queen Anne, a little known about monarch who was the daughter of James the second. During her reign, England was at war with the French. Queen Anne (Played by Olivia Coleman) is in the latter part of her life and is in miserable health while her confidante and lover, Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough (Played by Rachael Weisz) ruled the country by manipulating Queen Anne. Abigail Hill (Played by Emma Stone) who is Sarah's impoverished younger cousin arrives at the court and searches for employment in the royal palace. The story goes through eight different chapters with each chapter being named to reflect the mood and events about to unfold. The story examines the relationship between Sarah and Abigail and their battle to win the affections of the Queen and to gain power and influence in the royal court. Each desperate to be the favourite.
The film successfully uses a very clever musical score as a character. The cinematography is beautiful and the main scenes were filmed at an actual stately home in Britain called Hatfield House, in Hertfordshire. The costume design is also excellent with tremendous attention to detail. The over the top court costumes were fantastic with the men being portrayed as vain and flamboyant. The makeup and elaborate wigs were so well used.
In my opinion, this was the best film of the year and I was very happy to see the number of nominations it received including for best picture at the Oscars. The performances given by the three leading ladies were extremely brilliant and some of the best of the year. The scenery, sets, and costumes made me forget that I was watching a film because I lost myself in the world of the 1700s.
The film is very factually accurate and I have investigated and researched the real life of Queen Anne and her relationships with the Dutchess of Marlborough and Abigail Hill. The following information contains spoilers so you have been warned. If you have not yet seen the film and intend to do so do not read the rest of this paragraph. Queen Anne is portrayed as an inept ruler that has been crushed by unending loneliness. She has miscarried or lost babies seventeen times. This portrayal of a Queen Anne during her later years shows a sad, insecure and lonely woman unable to rule her kingdom. She relies heavily on the guidance of the dutchess of Marlborough who is extremely skilled at manipulation. One of the saddest scenes in the movie is the introduction of the rabbits. Queen Anne surrounds herself with seventeen rabbits each representing a lost child of hers. The Duchess does not like the rabbits but Abigail shows them affection which is noticed and appreciated by the queen. In the movie, Abigail outsmarts the Duchess. She does so by poisoning the duchesses tea who whilst suffering from the effects has a terrible horse riding accident and is gone for several days recovering in a whore house. Abigal secures her place in the palace while the Duchess is away. At the end of the movie, it becomes apparent that although on the surface Abigail is victorious she is left to deal with a very frail and declining monarch. Abigail has only won a hollow victory. Abigail throughout the movie even surprises herself in the art of cruelty and manipulation and even comments "As it turns out, I am capable of much unpleasantness". Having grown up poor and been sold off by her father into marriage Abigail understands how high the stakes are for her and is determined to better her circumstances.
I was hesitant to even watch The Favourite as I have always thought of costume dramas as romantic comedies which I tend to not enjoy. The Favourite was a huge surprise to me as it was not a romance, it was gritty and funny and showed this period of time warts and all. I would highly recommend everyone to watch this masterpiece. I give this movie a (good/good).
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