Olivia Colman Shines in this English Black Comedy

Rating: 10/10 (5 July 2019)

This bizarre little gem holds the best performance of 2018. Olivia Colman has proven herself to be one of the greats over and over again in a wide array of TV shows and Indie films. She is at the top of her game here as crazy Queen Anne, caught in a battle between two women, played brilliantly by the always magnificent Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone. She's tragic, hysterical, scary, and ultimately loveable.
Yorgos Lanthimos definitely has a style. If you've seen The Lobster or The Killing of a Sacred Deer or even Dogtooth, you know what I'm talking about. Funny, uncomfortable, cold, disturbing, distant, beautiful, and tragic can all be words to describe his films. Most of the times an audience member may experience all of these things within a single moment while watching his films. The Favourite is no different.
The Favourite is truly a beautiful and absolutely hysterical film. It's definitely his funniest and most accessible film. He creates a world in which his characters speak in both a period style and a contemporary style. Rachel Weisz feels very period and cold while Emma Stone is warm and contemporary. You expect Stone to roll her eyes, pull out her cellphone, and take a selfie. It creates a brilliant comedic tone throughout the film. The dialogue is also absolutely brilliant and the cast makes it shine.
This is a deeply effective film that I expect many will hate. It's certainly not an easy film to watch and it does require a specific sense of humor. I found myself thinking about it for weeks. That final shot, much like the final shot of The Lobster, will spark debates among you and your friends for months after watching.