The Favourite

It's Christmas Day, a time of peace and love. It's time for a film full of lies and deceit. That film is the historical dramedy The Favourite, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster) and written by Tony McNamara and Deborah Davis.

England, 1708. Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) rules during the War of the Spanish Succession. She's in poor physical and emotional health. Her best friends are her 17 rabbits, one for each of her doomed pregnancies, and her adviser, Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz).

Along comes Sarah's cousin Abigail Hill (Emma Stone) looking for employment. She starts out as a low scullery maid. But she gains favor with the Queen and becomes her lady-in-waiting. This doesn't sit well with Sarah, who correctly sees Abigail as a threat to her place in Anne's court and heart. Sarah and Abigail use any means necessary to take the other out. Meanwhile, the pompous men try to assert themselves. It doesn't go exactly as planned for them.

The story is divided into seven chapters. Sarah and Abigail gradually reverse audience sympathies throughout the story. Abigail's plight is sympathetic and it's unfair how foppish Robert Harley (Nicholas Hoult) treats her. But she turns into a sociopath by the end. Meanwhile, Sarah starts off as cold and uncaring, but we learn her affections for Anne are genuine. Her getting spiked by Abigail and subsequently falling off - and getting dragged by - her horse is too much for her. One can ultimately pity her when she's exiled from England near the end.

The one truly all-sympathetic character is Queen Anne herself. Her mood swings are funny and sad. She's an emotional wreck who needs company. She's easily distracted by frivolities. But she'll remind you that she is The Queen if you push her. The film is about her asserting herself as a person. It's rewarding to see her deal with Abigail in the last scene.

The film's view of the 18th century is anything but glamorous. Its soundtrack is an mix of unsettling modern and classical pieces. Even the Fox Searchlight Logo's custom tune sets the audience ill at ease. Cinematographer Robbie Ryan's fisheye lenses add to the surreal atmosphere. Fiona Crombie and Sandy Powell's production and costume designs are both low-key and formidable. Even the men are creepy with their overdone makeup and wigs. The film's style is a dark and alluring world. It's appropriate for the dark comedy of manners.

The Favourite succeeds because of its three leads. They're captivating characters even if only one is truly good. The only real downside is the film's ungainly and almost unreadable font. But if you can get past that, you'll get an intriguing story of royal backstabbing. Its final scene is succinct and powerful. You'll understand the gravity once the film's 119 minutes are up.