A wild, wickedly funny blast of fresh air

5 stars, out of 5

Mike Scott / The Times-Picayune

To the casual observer, "The Favourite" would appear to be every bit your traditionally stuffy Oscar picture. It's about British royals. It's got extravagant costumes and powdered wigs. It boasts opulent sets and all the other trappings of award season. But while director Yorgos Lanthimos' film can, indeed, be expected to maintain a conspicuous presence on any number of red carpets during Hollywood's impending award season, it is anything but tradition-bound. Rather, his "Favourite" is a refreshingly original and giddily lurid tale of palace intrigue, a comedy of manners posing as a right and proper costume drama -- but one that has its middle finger extended defiantly at the establishment from its very first frame. 

That being said, "The Favourite" is easily his most accessible film to date, centered around the deliciously scandalous whisperings surrounding Queen Anne and her relationships with the Duchess of Marlborough and Lady Marlborough's cousin and fellow lady-in-waiting, Abigail Hill.

More to the point, Lanthimos' film examines the ruthlessly calculated jockeying by Lady Marlborough (Weisz) and Abigail (Emma Stone) for the favor of Colman's Queen Anne -- and their willingness to do anything at all to cement their position at court. 

All three are rich, juicy roles, each boasting their own well-written balance of strength and vulnerability, free agency and oppression, defiance and deference. All three actresses -- Weisz, Stone and particularly Colman -- seize them, too, digging into Lanthimos' tale with both fists.

All three also appear to be having the times of their lives. After all, roles like these don't come around too often.

Neither do movies like "The Favourite" -- or filmmakers like Lanthimos.

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