Play the Favourite

Rating: 8/10 (9 December 2018)

Yorgos Lathinmos might have just made his masterpiece, or so it seems, because The Favourite is as uniquely a product of his twisted world as it is a marketable indie Hollywood film that nobody would expect from him. He's come a long, far way from his Dogtooth days. Yet, that spirit still lives on. Films that make you cringe and gasp at the sublimely grim existences he allows to to explore. The Favorite is deeply unsettling. But at the same time, whimsical, vulgar and hilarious. I'd say watching The Favourite after watching Dogtooth similar to drinking bourbon after swigging gasoline. One burns just a little bit less, but it still burns.
The victorian era of Great Britain has never been more salacious. It's the story of two women, Sarah Churchill and her cousin Abigail Hill, vying for the affection and favor of Queen Anne. As the bloody politics of Europe swirls around the men in parliament, the women of the kingdom settle a battle just as bloody and perhaps even more vicious. Fame, glory, and yes, even sex. Advising the Queen is a royal honor worth having, and Abigail wants in on it. But she needs to shiv Churchill and throw her out with the royal garbage. This becomes a devious, fascinating spectacle. On top of this, Lathinmos comes at the era itself with nothing but good humor. Picture Milos Forman's Amadeus colliding with Monty Python, and you get the absurdity of The Favourite. Don't make the mistake of taking the subject matter too seriously, because even the characters don't. Between debating politics, the kingdom partakes in such sophisticated pastimes as duck racing, fire eating, throwing fruit at portly naked men and dance competitions that look more in line with the 21st century than the 18th.
This movie is begging for me to love it, and in many ways, I do. The originality is off the charts. You won't see any movie this season as wild as The Favourite, and for a stuffy-looking period piece, thank God for that.