Another winner from Yorgos Lanthimos

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2019)

I've seen most of Yorgos Lanthimos's previous films, and not only is The Favourite one of his best, it's also one of his most accessible. As with much of his previous work, it features defective relationships as a central theme. This time, however, the conflict isn't buried in layers of symbolism or allegorical sci-fi; it's immediately apparent. I think this greatly benefits the film, as it helps to channel a complex network of issues into a simple story structure.
In The Favourite, the most prominent defect of the depicted relationships is their imbalance of power. Abigail (Emma Stone) faces the court of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) as an untitled servant, the court's preying men as an unmarried woman, and her cousin Sarah (Rachel Weisz) as the disgraced daughter of the family drunk. The film asks us to what lengths such a woman must go to defend herself and improve her station, as Abigail is determined to do.
Abigail is a careful observer of the court's internal politics, and quickly learns how to take advantage. Early in the film she expresses surprise that anyone would suspect her of betrayal, but she soon realizes that loyalty has no place at court. The external political circumstances - a war with France and its prosecution - are significant to the court participants only as symbolic wins and losses as they jockey for power and prestige. In this conflict even honesty does not signify love and loyalty, instead doubling a weapon for bullying. Abigail's participation in this wrangling, though it sullies her and her relationships, works in the film because she is vulnerable. A moment of weakness would result in further harm.
This exploration of the effects of power is triumphantly executed with Lanthimos's signature dark humor, and bolstered by a magnificant performance from Emma Stone. Excellent work is turned in by Weisz and Colman as well. This very funny film is a must-see, and because of its accessilibility it makes a great introduction to Lanthimos. Possibly the only complaint I have is that it feels a bit long; I suspect most criticism, however, will come from those expecting a high-society drama played fairly straight. Instead we have this uproarious romp of a film that manages to ask a number of serious questions along the way.