Another notch on Lanthimos' bed post...

Rating: 10/10 (3 January 2019)

The Favourite (2019), starting the year as I mean to go on.
It's awkward when one of the first films released this year, turns out being on my top 20, last year 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' and this year apparently will be no different.
Yorgos Lanthimos had created himself a hefty job to top either 'The Lobster' or 'The Killing Of A Sacred Deer', but he succeeds on all fronts making a deliciously hilarious and wildly unique experience (which will most likely go missed outside of the film community).
As 'The Favourite' unfolds it reveals more than meets the eye. It is simply more than two people battling it out to win the affection of the Queen. Many subplots cause ripples in this story making a thoroughly enjoyable rollercoaster.
I would be kidding myself if I said the strongest aspect to Lanthimos' newest feature wasn't himself. He continuously proves himself to be an outstanding director and a more than capable film maker. His films are always aggressively unique and feature admirable storytelling methods.
The performances however cannot go unnoticed. I can finally release a huge sigh of relief as I can comfortably say Olivia Colman has finally managed to break onto the big screen with a leading role, which subsequently is one of her best. Her charm and wit does all the work and carries the film leaps and bounds. It goes without saying both Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone, are nothing short than exceptional also. The two share remarkable chemistry. All three leads are entrancing and deserve all the praise they seem to be getting.
The structure of this, is told in almost as set of chapters, to a book, which marvellously breaks up the film and allows the scenes to have tonal and pacing variations without making it seem messy.
'The Favourite' may be the first film of the year, but it may also be one of the best. Good luck to 2019 on topping this.