Masterpiece? Well, not quite

Rating: 3/10 (9 March 2019)

I like lots of movie genres and I try to remain positive about my thoughts on them, mainly because the people reviewing here seem to have a love or hate relationship with the whole thing. And often reviewers are polar opposites of what the consumer thinks. Some even go so far as to say that the extreme split indicates a masterpiece or a bomb and they are on the masterpiece side. Not hardly. It's pretty middle of the road with a couple of highlights and a lot of low lights.
I think Olivia Colman does a wonderful job. Best actress Oscar? Not really. Rachael Weiss did a pretty decent job. Emma Stone, who I love, was only adequate. The plot was plodding, difficult to understand what they were saying, and too long. We didn't really learn anything about Lady Marlborough or Queen Anne, other than alleged homosexual desires which is not based in fact. One reviewer pointed out that it's really a remake of 'The Three Faces of Eve" but not as good.
The score for the music, as many have commented, is terrible. It's worse than that. It's so disjointed that I found myself examining how silly the scene actually would be without the music, something a good movie score composer would never let happen. The music supports what's on the screen. Not in this case. It this case, I think, it's supposed to bring out a heightened sense of drama and suspense. In this respect it fails miserably. It's the worst part of the movie.
Also the funky camera shots, especially the fish eye lens shots look amateurish and are unnecessary.
If you read the trivia section on this i tkhink you'll see part of the problem: no budget with which to make it. The costumes were recycled throughout the shoot which is about a shoestring budget as you can believe. How can you make a "masterpiece" with no financial support? You can't, is the answer. I"m the only person on earth who hasn't seen "A Star is Born" but I'm guessing Lady Gaga did a better job as best actress.
I waited until it for hit Redbox and I'm glad I did. I would have hated paying full price for it.
So. If you're bored and feel compelled to spend money, then this is for you. Otherwise stay away. Watch at home, but only if the overall themes of the picture of jealously, hate, deviousness and conspiracy have no meaning to you and you're willing to watch and believe then, then do so by all means