Bitterly hilarious

Rating: 9/10 (4 September 2019)

Changing his tune from the disturbing revenge saga The Killing of a Sacred Deer, of which I am a big fan, Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos returns in even better form with this viciously funny tragicomedy set in and around the court of Queen Anne.
The Favourite follows a trio of characters as Abigail (Emma Stone) and her cousin Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) vie for their position as the favourite of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman); a three-way power struggle involving manipulation, blackmail and jealousy, where no one holds true authority. This often results in wickedly hilarious consequences, inspiring many more laughs than most modern comedies, mainly due to brilliantly composed dialogue and characters expertly crafted by writers Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. At the hands of Yorgos Lanthimos however, this comedy almost becomes surrealist and absurdist, a common theme throughout all his films, emphasised by the frequent use of a wide angle lens which bends the landscape, and an ominous score underlying the usual classical music that laces costume dramas. This adds sophistication and satirical comedic touches to the drama, outcomes representative of Lanthimos' talent and emergence from the arthouse world.
Despite the fact that all three lead characters are played to perfection - something which is echoed in the awards attention they have received - the stand out is Colman as the child-like and at times tragic Queen Anne. Her performance adds both bitterness and tenderness to the film, reflected not only in her sudden outbursts and complaints but also her care and love for her rabbits, enabling the audience to remain grounded and preventing the film from tipping over into the bizarre.
Yorgos Lanthimos triumphs with this multi-layered period piece, comprised of erudite humour, absurdist satire and an unsettling atmosphere, expertly delivered by three perfectly judged performances.