Academy Award nominee for best picture, The Favourite, is now playing at AMC Assembly Row 12 and Somerville Theatre.

By Michael LoPilato

A costume-drama period piece, set in 18th century England, revolving around the parliament types, usually elicits a certain sense of boredom if not done correctly. The Favourite has all the costumes, proper vocabulary, royal manners, and parliament members you could ever want, but it’s anything but a bore.

The story centers around Queen Anne (Olivia Coleman), at best a frail queen, struggling with health, temper issues, and the tragic loss of 17 potential children and heirs. She’s accompanied by her friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), who rules in her stead by dripping gossip into the queen’s ears.

During this time, a new servant by the name of Abigail (Emma Stone) arrives and starts to put a wrench in relationship between the queen and Lady Sarah. This starts a war of wits between the two, vying for the affection of the queen, and thus, the power and comforts that come from being the queen’s companion.

Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos inundates this film with his far from ordinary artistic direction. Peculiar camera angles, specifically a round lensed shot that is sprinkled in all over the film, along with fascinating and perfectly executed cinematography from Robbie Ryan, lead to riveting visuals throughout, not to mention the eye-catching, standout costumes that are worn by all of the characters.

The director works with a script that is delightfully funny, subtly maniacal, and so seemingly out of place for the period. England is at war with France, and yet duck racing is all the rage, and the three main characters all vomit at least once. The script is beyond refreshing.

The Favourite deserves to sweep any and all acting nominations it has received from the Academy. Olivia Coleman steals the show in the lead role, perfectly balancing the comedic undertones and the deep sadness that comes from being a queen stalked by tragedy. Stone and Weisz, battling it out for the queen’s affection, are both brilliantly deviant and fantastically funny. They both have the perfect blend of the proper English lady temperament and the envious evil that envelopes their characters. Nicholas Holt is firmly planted in the background of your mind when compared to the starring women of the film, but he is able to get his comedic licks in with his one-liners and outrageous costumes.

On reflection, The Favourite is out of the ordinary in every fashion, which is why it’s so enthralling to watch. The blend of comedy and drama, the amazing set and costumes, along with the outstanding performances from its leads is what makes The Favourite a contender for Best Picture and, at the least, a film that shouldn’t be missed.

The Favourite: 5/5

The Favourite is currently playing at AMC Assembly Row 12 and Somerville Theatre.