If you aren’t familiar with director Yorgos Lanthimos already, it’s time to catch up on his works. Each subsequent film he crafts (important designation there) is bigger, wilder and more audacious than the one before it. They’re all contained balls of insanity that are as captivating as they are maddening. His latest film, The Favourite, looks to continue that trend, but now under the veil of a period piece. Take a look at the trailer below, that dropped earlier today.
Sweet merciful cinematic gods above! This is a movie I have to see immediately! Sorry for the shouting there, but that trailer is a thing of bewildering beauty. From the deliciously fantastic dialogue to the stunning cinematography and costumes, there’s a lot to take in. Casting Emma Stone along side Rachel Weiz and Olivia Coleman alone is a masterstroke. Their chemistry is infectious and sure to be the highlight of the film. For those who have seen The Lobster, Dogtooth and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, the hinted at one-upsmanship for the Queen’s favor will probably lead the film into darker territory. All for the better.
As always, for those who cannot view the trailer for whatever reasons (we won’t judge), here’s the official synopsis for The Favourite:
“In the early 18th century, England is at war with the French. Nevertheless, duck racing and pineapple eating are thriving. A frail Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) occupies the throne, and her close friend Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) governs the country in her stead while tending to Anne’s ill health and mercurial temper. When a new servant, Abigail (Emma Stone), arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Sarah takes Abigail under her wing, and Abigail sees a chance to return to her aristocratic roots.”
Yes, yes and a final, more emphatic YES. As stated above Lanthimos makes weird movies. Yet they’re the kinds that can easily be loved, if you embrace the wavelength they’re operating on. It’s rather refreshing for a filmmaker to make a movie that’s wholly their own, as opposed to cow-towing to studio pressure. So you know Lanthimos is doing something right, when he can continually rope in A-List talent.
What do you make of the trailer? Does it seem too off-kilter for your liking? Will you devour any period piece film that gets released theatrically or streaming? What did you make of last year’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer? Let us know in the comments below. The Favourite gets a limited release on November 23rd (the heart of award season), before opening wide in January. We can’t wait for this one to come out. In the meantime, marvel at the poster below.
