The Favorite
This movie is described as a drama/comedy. Since this is a British
film drama beats out comedy. This is a period piece during the reign of Queen
Anne in 17th century England.
Queen Anne played by Olivia Colman is in a feeble state manipulated by her ladies in waiting and ministers
petitioning her for their rival campaigns.
In her bedchamber the Queen keeps 17
rabbits in memory of the seventeen children she lost.
I do not know Olivia Colman. She appears in British television
and film. She played Queen Anne as an insecure easily manipulated person, but
when angered or hurt turns forceful and
absolute. She could be a fawning person cuddling bunnies and the help. There are
many layers to the queen, for the most part she is manipulated and
disinterested. She is the antithesis of Elizabeth I.
The real action is between Abigail Masham, Emma Stone, and
Sarah Churchill, Rachel Weisz. They are battling vipers. Sarah Churchill was the favorite of the Queen and used her position
to manipulate her. Weisz played role with absolute confidence and resolve; crushing
anyone in her way. Abigail Masham is her rival, they are cousins. Abigale fell on
hard times when her father lost his fortune and gambled her away in a card game
to a German (enter English humor). These two were having so much fun playing their
roles they should fortieth their salary. The rivalry escalates to dangerous
levels while see sawing for the Queen’s affection. What they do to win her over would make
Machiavelli blush.
Nicholas Hault (“About a Boy”) played the 1st Earl
of Oxford. He was always wearing a wig and had make up and enjoyed it (more British
humor). He uses Abigale to win over the Queen . He played the aristocratic snob
well.
This being a period piece the costumes were flamboyant. I
think I saw RuPaul in the credits. With the puffed wigs and high heels, the men
grew about eight inches in height. Their makeup was like pancake and their moles
moved to different positions. It would be great to speak to a dance historian
because the dances in the movie were outrages and kinetic. It was not your
usual starchy curtsy and bow you see in British film.
One thing I never saw
before in a film is the extreme wide angle lens shots. Straight doorways were curved,
hallways bent around themselves. Sometimes a shot will be at an angle to emphasis
evil or foreboding, but here I did not understand the shots.
There is much I am not saying for fear of backlash. If you
like the hilarity of Downton Abby, this is your movie.
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