"The Favourite" (2018) | Sam Gall Movie Review Issue #99 Gem Mint 10.0
“The Favourite“ (2018)
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Writer: Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara
Starring: Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Joe Alwyn, Mark Gatiss, James Smith
Rated: R for strong sexual content, nudity and language
Runtime: 1h 59min
Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, History
Country: Ireland | UK | USA
Language: English
"In early 18th-century England, the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne."
You might like this if you like: Emma Stone, Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, Nicholas Hoult, Biographies, Dramas, Historical/Period Films, Yorgos Lanthimos
Emma Stone in "The Favourite" (2018)
“The Favourite” (2018) was a wild ride that was equally as emotional as it was strangely hilarious.
My fiancé, Rachel, and I watched this one just a few weeks ago, watched the trailer and was intrigued by Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz’s performances. Weisz is on the top of our list right now as we’re ramping for her debut in Marvel’s “Black Widow” currently expected May 7th (but it’s already been delayed twice, maybe even 3 times).
Olivia Colman in "The Favourite" (2018)
I had seen “The Lobster” (2016) also starring Rachel Weisz and also written and directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. So I sort of knew to expect a little out of the ordinary. My fiancé Rachel hadn’t seen anything by Lanthimos so she didn’t really know what to expect other than from what we saw in the trailer.
Olivia Colman was the standout surprise for me. It’s been awhile since I’d seen “The Lobster”, but she was unforgettable in this. Terrifyingly good. Nicholas Hoult was also a pleasant surprise as I’d hadn’t seen him do a period piece before.
Nicholas Hoult in "The Favourite" (2018)
It was a little confusing at first, yet nonetheless intriguing. It’s strangely cinematic when I feel like on the page it wouldn’t necessarily jump out as that. Yorgos Lanthimos has got an eye for detail and gives us a beautiful cinematic image of what seems like everyday drama.
Emma Stone (left) & Rachel Weisz (right) in "The Favourite" (2018)
A really unique look at a section of history I found so interesting that Lanthimos chose to make for the silver screen, and I’m so glad he did.
Written by Sam Gall on 03/11/21
CGC Grading: Gem Mint 10.0
"While a politically charged, 19th century, somewhat slapstick comedy isn't the filmmaker's usual wheelhouse, maybe it should be." - Sarah Ward, Concrete Playground
"Think of The Favourite as humorous Barry Lyndon. The stately glacial façade of Kubrick's film was always a stone's throw away from parodying comedy anyway." - Dustin Chang, Floating World
"A stunning, salacious, sharp look at female power dynamics that plays more like a modern satire than a stodgy period piece." - Candice McMillan, Seattle Refined
"A strongly acted costume drama that is completely brazen in its execution in the best possible ways." - Matthew St. Clair, Cinema Sentries
"A comely comedy of manners, supported by a cast that knows when to go for scandalous laughs and when to play it straight." -Bill Newcott, Movies For The Rest Of Us
Official Trailer:
Behind the Scenes:
Available on various VOD platforms
#YorgosLanthimos #RachelWeisz #EmmaStone #OliviaColman #NicholasHoult #TheFavourite #BlackWidow