The year is 1708, and the story is set almost entirely in the Palace of Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), a reclusive and sickly woman who relies on her partnership with Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) in order to run her government. In the first few scenes, we see Sarah deciding the trajectory of military troops, arranging meetings with heads of state, and guiding the Queen's hand here and there. Queen Anne, on the other hand, is immediately a sharply-drawn character. Out of touch, childish, easily manipulative...
Enter Abigail (Emma Stone), a former Lady herself who has fallen on hard times (her father lost her in a game of cards) and now returns to the aide of her cousin, Sarah, in hopes of finding work and steady employment at the palace. At first, Abigail catches glimpses of the Queen, comes to understand her relationship with Sarah... Soon she is scheming in an attempt to win back some semblance of respect and money again. She takes action through any means necessary.
This is less a battle of strength as it is about wits. This is not to say the favor of the Queen takes chess-like strategy to achieve. The real battle comes between Sarah and Abigail, both women who probably do not even love their monarch, but work tirelessly to remain at her right hand if only to say "yes, I'm the brains of this organization." It should also not be said that the Queen is painted as an oaf. There are so many moments of tenderness and sadness in which we learn how she has miscarried or lost all of her 17 pregnancies, and her sole companions in the Palace are her beloved rabbits. This is also not to say that she is a 'dumb' character. I thought back on the film once it ended, and I think our final moments with her highness show that there is some more plotting yet to be achieved after the credits begin to role. If an aspect of this movie's strength is its cast, then it is entirely Olivia Colman's performance that deserves all acclaim. Who could come along and beat her to an Oscar is beyond me. This is the year's best performance by 5 miles.
The real stars are the film's writers, Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara. Theirs is a story so crammed with juicy details that I think you do the film a disservice to only see it once. The film covers a wide range of political actions, tracking the politics of war while showing locked door meetings with the likes of the Prime Minister and politician Robert Harley (Nicolas Hoult). Harley attempts to use Abigail as a spy inside the Palace to learn of the Queen's plans for war, but how clueless he is to Abigail's ultimate motives. The dialogue is crisp, fresh, feeling more like a current drama than some stuffy period piece. Look no further than the film's dance sequence to know that we are not watching a movie aiming for 100% historical accuracy (I think).
In a year so full of great movies focused on women, here is another stunning addition. Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz complete a trifecta that is likely the best cast of the year. To see any of the three leads snubbed come Oscar time would be a travesty, and can I also hold out some hope for the always-great Hoult? It's amazing to see a movie like THE FAVOURITE receive such acclaim since it's more likely the film will be seen by a wider audience. That's not to say Yorgos Lanthimos (the director) has made a movie that is by the numbers. If you've seen his other films, you might find the conclusion to be a bit sudden at best, disappointing at worst. Think on it. I have been for hours. I have to hold out hope for the Queen to finally make matters right. In a story that ends with so little finality, we conclude on a long shot that fades in and out between the faces of Colman and Stone. I can only hope that the head that wears the crown will soon begin to start using her brain in the end...
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