Weird film that had potential

Rating: 5/10 (17 January 2019)

Well, I do not really know where to start. First of all, the performances of the three leads and their interactions are fantastic. They really are the best thing about this movie. Between them, though, Olivia Colman definitely shined brightest. That however, does not mean that any of these characters were even remotely likable, or had any redeeming qualities. Queen Anne, while she delivered some memorable funny lines, was completely out of her mind. The Weisz character was very unpleasant, domineering and condescending, while the Stone character was nothing less than a snake; cunning, manipulative, and quite evil.
The rest of the film was a bit baffling. There is always an attempt for a story arc that never really comes through. Is it the sad life of a troubled and childish queen? No. Is it about the deep and complex relationship between two people who care about each other (Colman and Weisz)? No. Is it about an impoverished young woman who wants to finally amount to something and gain back her rights as someone of good family? Again, no. The story attempts to mix all of these elements, and the result is a weird, somewhat incoherent and eventually boring mess. The ending was unbelievably underwhelming. The very strong language was strange and out of place in this setting.
The fish-eye camera was completely unnecessary, and pretentious if I might add, while the film also looked very dark. The costumes and production design were great, as were the hair and makeup. The music was really annoying and awkwardly placed.
While the Queen did have some humorous moments and lines, this is certainly NOT a comedy.
All in all, with a definite story arc, this film could have had potential, but ultimately a somewhat incapable director turned the concept into a mess.