The Funniest Most Brutal Film of The Millenium

Rating: 10/10 (8 December 2018)

Those who are familiar with the somewhat self indulgent monosyllabic writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos may watch this and feel a bit of commercial appeal style that we were all wondering when he was going to get it. He does, and we've been made the fools by previous efforts.
This is acerbic, hilarious and brutally immature look at regal life during a time when feudal wars were at hand. While it still lacks the typical Hollywood-ised completion, this is the film I've been waiting for for a VERY long time.
The story is of Queen Anne who is at the head of England suffering from...responsibility. A Millenial in her time, perhaps? She is played pitch perfect by Olivia Colman, whom if Academy voters aren't too weighed down by all the political "movements" should see this as the most perfect performance of the year. When the story begins, Queen Anne is watched over meticulously and with a great deal of tough love by Lady Sarah, played perfectly by Rachel Weisz. Along comes her cousin Abigail, who recently traveled to the estate to seek out employment. Little by little she integrates herself into the good graces of the Queen and slyly usurps positioning.
While this seems like a game of up-womanship, it is really about the fate of England. Admittedly, I know very little about royalty, this film requires you don't know much. Only that women can be brutally cruel to one another to edge one another out. And, boy...is it brutal. The verbal sparring and bitter passive aggressive behavior is catty and mean but also wickedly fun. Pay close attention to the small statements that get under your skin. Even the men get into the act, sooner or later. It's when we learn later that these positions do require favors to remain, in favor (hence, "The Favourite" what we are watching is Joan Crawford vs. Bette Davis in royal garb.
And guess what? Emma Stone holds her own in English vernacular against the English Weisz INCREDIBLY well. Though it slips at points, it's the rhythm of the speak that makes you forget she is an American from Arizona.
The beautiful cinematography by Robbie Ryan is brave. Oh boy is it ever brave. Extreme wide angles cover ever corner of that manor which oddly makes it feel like some cold dripping prison. Poor workers who wait in the shadows are felt like the presence of statues, yet do very little to quell Anne's horrific behavior.
For those who see this film as their first Yorgos Lathimos project...I mean, "The Killing of A Sacred Deer" is tedious work. This, however, written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara holds him to a brilliant standard. Along with his usual surrealist imagery and dark comedic timing, it proves to be a match made in Hell (in this case).
I love love LOVE this film. One last thing...I hope Nicholas Hoult gets a nod by the Academy as well. He is brilliant as Harley, who spins his own web every time he is on screen. While dueling with Sarah, he turns favor (reluctantly) with Abigail to attempt to gather some foothold in how the kingdom will survive. In the most devious way. Just awesome all around. Something else to consider, once this film was done, I wanted to stay past credits so I could watch again. It's that much fun.