The Favourite

— “The Favourite” is a wonderful romp that may not be for everyone. If you liked “The Lobster,” you’ll probably like “The Favourite.” It’s a good deal more bawdy than I expected, maybe even a little vulgar, but it’s deliciously served up by three scheming women—Queen Anne herself, her closest friend, the Duchess of Marlborough, and the duchess’ cousin, Abigail. They are something of a political and erotic triumvirate in a world where women depend on men for titles and status and smart women know how to make use of men…and women. Their stories inside the palace touch on pride, loneliness, defeat, flattery, loss, humiliation, greed, envy, lust, and almost any other emotion imaginable. The film moves at a dizzying speed, then slows to savor a moment, and the person who has the upper hand keeps changing. It’s a world where men throw fruit as some poor, naked schmuck, there for their entertainment, or cheer at indoor goose races for fun. Women use their sexuality matter-of-factly, as just another charm in their arsenal, and the line between the affairs of state and of the heart is faint. The three women—Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone—are outstanding and the pace and editing and music all are perfectly thought out. This is an odd film, but a very good one about the cost of going after power. It’s also one of the best films this year.

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[2018. 119 min. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Starring Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Robert Harley, Joe Alwyn, and Mark Gatiss.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-favourite-2018