A strong queen and two strong women. Who will prevail?

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2018)

The Favourite (2018) was directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. It's an account of a period in the life of Queen Anne, who reigned in the early 18th Century.
Olivia Colman plays Queen Anne, Rachel Weisz plays her friend and confidante, Lady Sarah, and Emma Stone portrays Abigail Hill, who wants to be the queen's friend and confidante.
I looked at the Wikipedia entry for Queen Anne, and the history is extremely complicated. (It was complicated then, and it's even harder for us to understand 300 years later.) However, the movie plot appears to me to conform closely to history. If you're a history buff, you may know the history, or you may want to check it before you watch the film. If not, let it pass, because the film is really about interpersonal relationships rather than history.
Lady Sarah was, indeed, the queen's friend and confidante. The family of Abigail Hill, Sarah's cousin, had fallen onto hard times, and Hill arrived at the palace pleading for a job. She was given a job in the kitchen, but she rose far beyond that.
So, my suggestions is to forget the War of the Spanish Succession, Whigs vs. Tories, and Catholics vs. Protestants. Concentrate on three brilliant actors. One is the queen, and the other two are scheming to be the closest to her.
I enjoyed this movie, and I recommend it. When was the last time you saw a movie with three women actors as the leads, while men have only supporting roles? That in itself makes the film worth seeing. Of course, better yet, Colman, Weisz, and Stone are wonderful actors, who fit into their roles perfectly.
We saw this movie at Rochester's excellent Little Theatre. All the scenery and royal finery will be better appreciated on the large screen. However, I recommend the movie even if watched on the small screen. See it!