Duck racing, pineapple eating and plenty of shooting abound in Yorgos Lanthimos’ 18th century-set absurdist comedy The Favourite, which sees the great Olivia Colman take on the role of a frail but belligerent Queen Anne at a time of war between England and France.
Rachel Weisz, as Lady Sarah, strives to keep the crown from slipping as Anne’s health deteriorates, while Emma Stone’s servant Abigail wins over Sarah with her ingénue charm. Nicholas Hoult, Mark Gatiss and Joe Alwyn co-star in what looks to be a sly period comedy of monarchical misdemeanours in a similar vein to Whit Stillman’s Love & Friendship or Peter Greenaway’s The Draughtsman’s Contract.
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The Greek filmmaker has been on a roll of late, having built on the success of his debut English-language feature The Lobster with 2017’s sensational The Killing of a Sacred Deer. With Weisz, Colman and co on board, and with an original screenplay from Deborah Davis, the director’s seventh feature has the makings of something very special indeed.
The Favourite arrives in cinemas 1 January, 2019.
