Darkly Comical Period Drama

Rating: 9/10 (5 January 2019)

The Favourite: Queen Victoria is staple of 19th Century drama whether as a character or the subject of a feature portrayal. However the reign of another female Monarch, Queen anne is largely forgotten. Director Yorgos Lanthimos now remedies this with The Favourite, set in 1708 when Queen Anne is distressed and a newly arrived servant raises her spirits. On a superficial level the film is similar to Mrs Brown and Victoria & Abdul, Lanthimos brings his own inimitable style to it.
Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) is depressed, suffering from gout and other ailments. Not caring for Affairs of State she allows her friend (and secret lover) Sarah Churchill (Rachael Weisz) to rule in her stead. Sarah uses this power to advance the military campaigns of her husband, the Duke of Marlborough (Mark Gatiss). Sarah's impoverished cousin Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives seeking a position in the household. At first she is a menial maid but when she provides a herbal remedy to ease the Queen's gout she is promoted and soon comes to vie with Sarah for Anne's affection and confidence.
A darkly comic tale of a battle of wills. For Abigail to lose means be returned to penury but for Sarah defeat will result in the loss of her (de facto) absolute power.Anne's Court can be a odd place, courtiers race ducks and lobsters for amusement, indeed the Prime Minister (James Smith) walks his pet duck around on a leash. Anne herself keeps seventeen pet rabbits, one for each of the children she has lost through miscarriages, still-births and infant deaths. The adventures of the Queen, Sarah and Abigail unfold in a manner which at times seems farcical but always advances the films inner logic. 9/10.