Bound to be a classic

Rating: 9/10 (30 December 2018)

"The Favourite" is a near-perfect film that solidifies Yorgos Lanthimos amongst the rarified club of master filmmakers. Its script crackles with caustic dialogue that rivals "The Sweet Smell of Success," its dark humour rivals "Dr. Strangelove," and its costumes rival "Barry Lyndon." The top-shelf actors are at the top of their game. And what a beautiful film, with stunning photography that elegantly captures the massive scale of the palace, often utilising a fish-eye lens to lend an off-kilter feeling, reminiscent of the Czech New Wave. As a lover of film, there are a lot of suspect reviews here. I'm never surprised that there are a few people who are turned off by something or other-period pieces, sardonic humour-but to give a low rating to a film as well-acted and well-crafted as this film-clearly one of the year's best-is completely disingenuous. Catch it on the big screen, it's deserving.