“The Favourite” (2018) – Nicholas Hoult’s Fantastic Feminist Period Piece About Lesbian Queens

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman and Emma Stone

‘A Captivating Classic’

Few actresses in Hollywood are as celebrated as Rachel Weisz. Ever since her recognition in the 1990’s, Weisz has become a feminist icon. Whether it’s wives of gardeners, Royal figures or political leaders, Weisz has portrayed many strong characters. Arguably, Weisz’s strength as an actress has often been her commitment. She is one of those rare actresses that always pours her soul into every role. Weisz has never been afraid taking risks in her career depicting characters that aren’t always likeable. Shining a bright light in darkness, Weisz has become a beloved icon in the entertainment business. An iconic figure in entertainment, Weisz has often shown a powerful commitment. A bold British icon, Weisz has become a celebrated actress in Hollywood audiences cherish. Through her abilities to create compelling characters that are relatable, Weisz has become a celebrated actress in Hollywood that audiences value. Throughout a long-lasting career, Weisz has portrayed many compelling characters in timeless movies that are worth seeing.

I’m a huge fan of Weisz and adore all the films she had produced in her career. However, “The Favourite” is my favourite. Since its release in 2019, Rachel Weisz’ movie has stood the test of time as a classic. Packed with breathtaking production-design, engaging storytelling and phenomenal acting, it’s one of the best period pieces ever made. At the centre of it all is an incredible performance by Rachel Weisz, who embodies a competitive woman embarking on a journey to win over affections of the queen. Ultimately, what makes “The Favourite” a great movie is its message. The film delivers a profound message about social class which would resonate with everyone. A mesmerizing period piece, there are several strong reasons why “The Favourite” is a movie which is worth seeing.

Set in the 18th Century, “The Favourite” tells a story of a rivalry between women to become a Queen’s favourite. Rachel Weisz portrays Lady Sarah, a competitive woman with a strong love for her job. Sarah has always shared a strong bond with Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), whom she loves dearly. However, Sarah’s hopes to be the Queen’s favourite are threatened by arrival of the servant Abigail (Emma Stone). Abigail is a competitive servant that seeks to become a favourite mistress of the queen. Abigail treats the queen with a sense of affection that Sarah never has. Growing envious of Abigail’s strong bond with the Queen, Sarah embarks upon a journey to gain the affection of the monarchy. Facing a dilemma, Sarah begins to question if it’s truly possible for her to achieve control of a Queen in the Victorian era. As all the odds are stacked against her favour, Sarah questions if it’s possible for her to be the favourite mistress of a queen that has transformed over time into a lover.

Yorgos Lanthimos is a newcomer towards the stories of competitive queens in history. Before he directed “The Favourite”, Lanthimos hadn’t ever made a movie about competitive queens in his career before. Lanthimos was renowned for making films capturing strange dystopian worlds. With “The Favourite”, however, he had made his first lesbian period piece. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to capture the lives of lesbian queens in the 18th Century, but he pulled it off successfully. Through captivating cinematography, Lanthimos captures a Queen that embarks on a journey to find her identity. Visually, the movie is a stunning feast for the eyes. Lanthimos has always had an aptitude for using stunning visuals in his movies, and “The Favourite” is no exception. Lanthimos effectively employs dim lighting to capture a Queen engaging in an extramarital affair that faces despair. For instance, low-key lighting elevates the sexual affair scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lady Sarah engages in an extramarital affair with the Queen which is hidden from public. Through montages, the filmmaker captures the hardships queens in the 18th Century go through. Using stunning visuals, Lanthimos captures tense hardships Royal queens are facing.

Another admirable aspect of “The Favourite” that deserves appreciation is the production. From a technical perspective, the film is very well made. Lanthimos expertly uses costumes to showcase rivalries between women which compete for winning affections of the queen. Throughout the movie, Lanthimos successfully uses costumes to capture differences among women that are torn apart by social class. For instance, costumes elevate the meeting scene. During this unforgettable scene, Lady Sarah meets Abigail for the first time hiring her to be the housekeeper of the queen. One admires costumes capturing the lives of queens which seek success in the 18th Century. Furthermore, the musical score is dazzling. Jerskin Fendrix’s music is integral to the success of the movie. It gives the movie a tense atmosphere capturing the heavy burden that women experiencing an intense competition always bear. Through bold production, Lanthimos captures queens which deserve celebration.

Storytelling is one of the key reasons why “The Favourite” is a period piece that is compelling. The film is beautifully written, and successfully uses symbolism to capture hardships queens in the 18th Century endure. Lanthimos’ finest screenwriting strength is capturing tensions of competitive queens by symbolism. Throughout the movie, Lanthimos deftly uses symbolism to capture tensions faced by competitive queens in history. For instance, rabbits plays a crucial role in the film. Throughout the movie, rabbits are a strong symbol that showcase the painful fates of doomed queens. For instance, clever symbolism of the rabbits elevates the feeding scene. During this unforgettable scene, Queen Anne feeds rabbits food. One appreciates the symbolism capturing hardships that Queens in the 18th Century are enduring. Symbolism is a tricky technique to employ in movies. As Frank Darabont’s “The Shawshank Redemption” did suggest clearly, symbolism enhances prisoner redemption films. Nevertheless, it works well in this movie. Through an engaging screenplay, Lanthimos honours queens in the 18th Century facing a price to pay.

One admires astonishing performances.

Rachel Weisz delivers one of her finest career performances as Lady Sarah. Weisz achieved appreciation for playing political activists in dramas. With “The Favourite”, however, she took on her most emotional role. It isn’t easy capturing the personality of a woman which romances the Queen in the 18th Century, but she succeeded immensely. This is the actress unlike you’ve ever seen her before: charming, intense and menacing in her most memorable role. Weisz is one of those actresses that has always excelled at communicating emotions through expressions, and her strengths are evident in “The Favourite”. With riveting expressions, she captures angst, desperation and jealousy of a mistress seeking to compete for the affections of the queen. It’s a phenomenal performance from one of the greatest actresses working in the film industry today.

Emma Stone is excellent as a housemaid with charisma seeking to compete for affection of the Queen amid the Victorian era. While Weisz gets the showier role, Stone is also excellent as a woman whose life goes out of control. Stone is one of those exceptional actresses that has commonly excelled at conveying emotions through her body language, and “The Favourite” found her showcasing her strengths. Whether she seeks to win over the affection of the queen through sexual favours or showcasing jealousy seeing the Queen having sex with Sarah, Stone uses her breathtaking body language to create a bold character. It’s an outstanding performance by one of the most commemorated actresses working in the film industry today.

Lastly, Olivia Colman merits appreciation. As the troubled queen, she brings heartwarming emotion to the movie.

Finally, “The Favourite” would earn recognition of everyone for capturing hardship endured by queens seeking affection. Unlike most period pieces about queens, it tackles strong themes everyone would relate to. The movie discusses strong themes including identity, sexuality and marriage which would resonate with everyone. Viewers don’t need to be familiar with history of Queen Anne to admire the film. It delivers a strong message about danger of competitions that would resonate with everyone. Therefore, “The Favourite” is one of those rare films that everyone would adore.

Fans of Rachel Weisz will definitely appreciate “The Favourite” and so will movie-goers that seek educational entertainment. A powerful period price, it celebrates an actress which has built a legacy that’s remarkable.

Centuries after a pair of lesbian women with a strong competitive streak sought to compete in tournaments during the 18th Century to earn the appreciation of the queen, it’s a riveting reminder of an actress that has built a lasting legacy earning worldwide recognition for her abilities to portray larger-than-life characters proving to be compelling whose engaging movies are definitely without a doubt worth celebrating.

5/5 stars