"There are wolves out there, are there not?"

Rating: 8/10 (26 February 2019)

I don't believe I've ever seen actress Olivia Colman before. She obviously has the 'Queen' thing down pat as I see she also portrays Queen Elizabeth II in the TV series, "The Crown". She's not really up to the task in this story, as Queen Anne Morley is quite often bedridden and complaining of one ill or another, and the country relies on the more capable hands of her aide, Sarah, the Lady Marlborough (Rachel Weisz). It's always interesting to see from an earlier perspective the type of scheming and double crossing that took place in prior centuries, not much unlike our own era with it's duplicity and devious cunning. Lady Sarah inspires the forces of those who would outlast and defeat the French in their running war, while the opposition wishes to sue for peace before any more blood is shed by England's army. Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it?
The cinematography is excellent and the period costumes evoke the royalty of Eighteenth Century England, but I have to admit, the story gets bogged down at times with the sheer decadence and lecherous behavior of many of the principals. There's some humor thrown in as well, and I for one had never considered the possibility of racing ducks as a hobby. Not flying ducks mind you, but waddling along at a leisurely enough clip to turn a head or two. Horatio, who's credited in the cast list with his real name, is deemed the Fastest Duck in the City, and is the pride and joy of the oddly named Godolphin (James Smith).
Watching this film the day after the Academy Awards ceremony, I'm aware that Olivia Colman won Best Actress for her role here, although one could argue that Emma Stone could have been up for the same award instead of the Best Supporting category. It seemed much of the story revolved around her and the machinations she eventually adopted to get on the Queen's good side, thereby preempting Lady Sarah's position in the royal hierarchy. The palace intrigue and sexual proclivities of the principals makes for a provocative story at times, but ultimately the picture wore itself out for me, and I was ready for it to be over when the Queen requested a final rubdown.