A Short Review of 'The Favourite' (2018, Yorgos Lanthimos)

I loved The Favourite. No hesitation, I absolutely loved and adored it. Already it has won and been nominated for numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actress, also going onto win seven BAFTAs. Including Best British Film, Best Costume Design, Best Actress in a Leading Role and Best Original Screenplay. It is a truly well put together blend of history, comedy, politics, and satire.

If you want a witty, dark comedy, you'll love it.

If you want a well-structured drama looking into the deep fabric of madness and psychological manipulation, you'll love it.

If you love tense, conniving political dramas delving into the depths of corruption, you'll love it.

The Favourite is a smart, intense, funny, and an incredibly entertaining film. I constantly enjoyed every minute and never found a single un-entertaining moment. I can only describe it as a truly wonderful and fulfilling film, that has been made with true passion. It's tone, an immensely dark and near depraved satire of aristocracy and politics, hooked me from the first second and drew me into a true luring tale of the excessive pleasures and taboos of the entitlement that is inherited power. It is a truly great, superbly made and beautifully shot film.

The story centres around the reign of Queen Anne, a very unexplored monarch of British history, and the power struggle between her court favourites, for her approval and affection, that lead to a complete diplomatic crisis. Olivia Colman brilliantly plays the role of the mentally challenged Queen and the roles of her feuding favourites, are played by Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz. Stone who plays Baroness Masham and Weisz who plays the Duchess of Marlborough both put in equally breathtaking performances, that immensely carry forward the story. Keeping the audiences fully gripped and entertained.

The competence and passion of both the cast and crew come across in the film. One cannot avoid being hooked and follow every detail. Each and every performance was superb and the whole authentic visual style of the film, complimented it in a way that made it truly fantastic to look at. The film's cinematographer, Robbie Ryan, has truly created an inspiring visual work. This combined with the brilliant directing style of Yorgos Lanthimos and the extremely fulfilling script by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, gives us the formation of, what is in my opinion, one of the best films of the decade.

If I had to pick a flaw within it, I will have a very difficult job. The only thing I can think is that the ending seems to fall a bit flat. It didn't have as much impact as I'd like the ending to have, especially considering the tone that consistently flows throughout the film. However, still the film holds up for me and its content constantly intrigues me. Though based on historical events, the content of the script is highly original and very inventive.

Foul language, debauchery, and rabbits all make the mark in this film. If you're an individual easily offended by little things like swear words, I advise you against watching this film but if you're like me and don't mind a bit of bad language and have a dark, twisted sense of humor, that others could misinterpret as you being a truly despicable and depraved human being, this film is perfect for you.

Or even if you're just a regular human being who happens to like a good film and a fairly decent laugh you'll like it. I know I certainly did and I feel confident a number of others will enjoy it too.