Get ready for this mesmerizing trio of actresses

Rating: 6/10 (10 February 2019)

"The Favourite" is a new English-language movie from 2018 that is considered among the big players this awards season. For director Yorgos Lanthimos, it marks another step in his successful transition to Hollywood, even if he has worked with the likes of Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman before. As for the writers, it is pretty impressive what they came up with. For Tony McNamara, even if he is experienced, it is somewhat his first big project and Deborah Davis, also a producer here, has never worked on another movie before apparently. The cast is basically the three actresses at the center of it all: Golden Globe winner (already before this movie) Olivia Colman and Oscar winners Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. The latter two probably don't have a shot at a second Oscar with Regina King cruising this awards season, but Colman seems like a potential upset to Glenn Close. But back from the awards now and back to this film. It runs for 2 hours pretty much and takes us back 300 years in the past, to the court of Queen Anne and her most loyal helper who faces competition in a new aspiring maid coming to court and she quickly finds her way into Queen Anne's heart. Like the German title says, it is really an intriguing watch. There were more than just a few moments when I was tempted to give this film a higher rating than 3 out of 5, but in the end it just wasn't enough. There is also nothing wrong with costumes, sets, makeup, cinematography etc. it is also among the most visually impressive films of 2018 and all this without huge special effects. You can definitely say this is a period piece, but one that is oh so different compared to all the Keira Knightley films for example. The main characters are swearing and talking in the most obscene language. Character transformations and character depth is everywhere. In terms of transformations, Stone's character is the best example. She is ambitious from the very beginning, but it needs a while for her to really become relentless in achieving her goals. The duck shooting sequences are the best example. Early on, she is still a slightly innocent maid fooled even simply by another maid and nowhere near Weisz' character during their first meeting. But the longer the film goes, the less morals she has. Of course the tea poisoning scene needs to be mentioned, but also for example her brief comment about collecting the herbs she needed to cure the Queen or her love relationship with a nobleman on the court. She seems to be into him, attracted to him, physically interested in him, but the more power she becomes the less interest she shows. The wedding night is the best example. As unintimate as it gets really. And of course the bunny moment near the end when she steps on it and I do believe that early on she really finds them cute, but her affection there vanishes quickly too and makes room for her greed and longing for power. She is a true sociopath. And Emma Stone brilliantly shows that she can portray evil very well too. By the way speaking about the bunny sequence, anybody else was more worried about the bunny than about Wesiz' character being pulled to death by her own horse when the poison kicks in? Says a lot does it? By the way, animals always have a very special significance in Lanthimos' films, not just this one.
Now for Weisz' character. She is far from likable either. And she is a schemer, but she is not a sociopath. I do believe that she kinda likes the Queen and values the friendship with her, which is obvious throughout the movie, but also in her last scene behind the wall when she basically is ready to sacrifice her dignity. Also her harsher moments like when she slaps the Queen or is very dominant towards her, it is because at that very moment it is what the Queen needs. To be lead by somebody else when she herself does not have the power. And she does not pretend to care for the rabbits and she is not scared to call her mastress a badger. And even if her presence includes sexual favors, she will not humiliate herself beyond her hand and Stone's character is not scared of using her tongue for her own plans. Very interesting character Weisz portrays here. Now as for the Queen. Yes there would be no servants and maids without her, but I am still struggling a bit with the idea that she is the only lead. Would there really be a movie without Stone and Weisz? With the gigantic amount of screen time they have. Anyway, Colman does a good job here and shows she is as capable on the big screen as on the small screen and we will see a whole lot more from her in the next years I am sure. That effort and performance cannot be ignored and good by Lanthimos casting her here. She has more than just a few moments, dramatic and comedic and she also brings a huge deal of comedy in here. It is basically her effort that the film qualified for comedy at the Globes. Her effortless switching between helpless and dominant was very impressive. And her last scene with Stone's character is very telling about who is in charge here. She knows very well that the latter's efforts in terms of politics and finances are more than clumsy and she is not scared to let her know and humiliate her. There is no way for Stone to ever bridge the gap to the Queen and become an equal individual, maybe a peer even. Not a chance. Weisz' character got as close as it gets, but she will not. She will always be a servant no matter what. Even if the Queen has a day when she feels weaker. There was a comment from Weisz' character briefly before she has to leave when she says something along the lines that she and Stone's character are playing very different games here and that Stone should not consider herself the winner only because she is the one staying at the Royal Court. And that final shot somewhat confirms it. I must admit I did not like the ending too much initially because it felt that it went very strongly against some of the story and plot before that, not because evil wins or so (does it really?), but the more time passes and the longer I think about it the more I like it. Not a flawless film and maybe a bit overrated as a whole, but definitely a good movie and I give it a thumbs-up and positive recommendation. Also a defining historic femme fatale performance by Stone here. Cannot say I wasn't really amazed by her as a heterosexual male. Go check it out.