The Favourite

Discuss movies (including free films)
Message
Author
User avatar
kevinknapman
Kids' Choice Awards 2016 Prediction Master
Kids' Choice Awards 2016 Prediction Master
Posts: 2920
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 1:55 am
Old post count: 0

The Favourite

#1 Post by kevinknapman » Wed Oct 31, 2018 11:16 am

The Killing of a Sacred Deer director Yorgos Lanthimos returns with his most conventional film yet, a fact-based period piece set in early 18th century England.

An ailing Queen Anne sits on the throne with Lady Sarah, her closest friend and ally, at her side. When Sarah's cousin Abigail arrives, she takes her under her wing. With the Queen unable to deal with political matters due to health, Sarah takes her place and Abigail soon becomes the Queen's new favourite.

A bawdy and filthy delight, The Favourite was one of my personal highlights of the festival.
With a very funny, expletive laden script, the first not co-written by Lanthimos since his 2001 debut, and with appropriately grubby set dressing, this is not your usual regal period piece.

An impressive cast helps bring it to life, with Olivia Colman on career best form as the Queen. Her petulant, tantrum throwing on a level with Miranda Richardson's Queenie, just with added gout. Though Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone as Sarah and Abigail more than hold their own against her. Stone in particular offering up a charming mix of feigned innocence and Machiavellian intent as she works her way up through the royal court. Excellent support comes from Nicholas Hoult and The Thick of It's James Smith as rival politicians, Hoult in particular delivering the various expletives with relish, while Mark Gatiss delivers a brief but effect turn as Lord Marlborough, Sarah's husband.

With Lanthimos putting aside his trademark deadpan surrealism, this may disappoint hardcore fans of his work, but should prove entertaining enough for everyone else.
A wonderful film.
Member No.41 of the "100 free films in 2018" club! 22 seen 78 to go
Recent free films:A Star is Born, Smallfoot, Overlord, The Girl in the Spider's Web, Home Alone

Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2017" club! 29 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2016" club! 44 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2015" club! 61 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2014" club! 40 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2013" club! 64 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2012" club! 88 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2011" club! 108 seen
Member No. 41 of the "100 free films in 2010" club! 84 films seen

helenecolin
You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Oct 30, 2018 10:45 am
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: BFI IMAX, Odeon Leicester Square, Odeon Swiss Cottage
Location: London

Re: The Favourite

#2 Post by helenecolin » Wed Oct 31, 2018 4:17 pm

I was lucky enough to attend the BFI London Film Festival screening of this movie, and I have to say I'm not regretting any second of that incredible event!

Not only we were privileged at the Embankment screening to have Olivia Coleman and Rachel Weisz come alongside director Yorgos Lanthimos to briefly introduce the movie, but I'm pretty sure that the screen was actually larger than in usual screening rooms, the Embankment cinema being built specially for the LFF each year.

I was familiar with the story having seen the play Queen Anne in London in 2016 (a fantastic performance from Emma Cunniffe and Romola Garai as respectively Queen Anne and the Duchess of Marlborough), but Yorgos Lanthimos went so much further into the intricacies of the different relationships between the characters.

I couldn't recommend this movie more!

The Sparrow
8 1/2
8 1/2
Posts: 6874
Joined: Sat Sep 12, 2009 7:15 pm
Old post count: 0

Re: The Favourite

#3 Post by The Sparrow » Wed Jan 02, 2019 9:33 pm

I was just thinking to myself how much I was enjoying this; far more than The Lobster and then it ended!! WTF????
Great performances though.
Free Films Seen 2016
Jan - 7. Feb - 15. Mar - 39
Apr - 28. May - 41. June - 36
July - 39. Aug - 27. Sept - 42
Oct- 12 and counting. = 286

User avatar
McG
8 1/2
8 1/2
Posts: 8985
Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:18 pm
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Paisley, Braehead, Glasgow Odeon & Cineworld
Location: Paisley

Re: The Favourite

#4 Post by McG » Fri Jan 04, 2019 12:09 am

Saw this yesterday and found it ok . . .kind of what I expected but not great. I thought Olivia Coleman was very good playing Queen Anne but found the story slow and not particularly entertaining.
Marks 5/10
Edit: Not hugely surprised that Olivia Coleman won the Golden Globe for Best Actress as she is very good.
Last edited by McG on Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
Preferred cinemas: Best: Glasgow Quay, Glasgow Braehead, Glasgow Renfield Street, Glasgow Fort & Paisley
Others I'd go to: Glasgow Showcase Baillieston


Films already booked for:

Hope to get tickets for: Every film if they come to my preferred cinemas

Member of the 100 Free Films of 2019.
Aim will again be 150. 54 seen: 96 to go.

Member no.9 again for the 100 Free Films of 2018.
My aim will be 150. 143 seen, 07 to go.

Member No. 9 again for the 100 Free Films in 2017. 156 seen, 0 to go
Member no.9 of the 100 Free Films in 2016: 135 seen 0 to go
Member no.9 of the 100 Free Films in 2015: 72 28 to go
Member no. 9 of the 100 Free Films in 2014; 85 seen 15 to go!
Member No. 9 of the "100 Free Films in 2013" ; 89 seen 11 to go!
Member No. 9 of the "100 free films in 2012" club. 86 seen 14 short of 100!

RandomHajile
The Third Man
The Third Man
Posts: 191
Joined: Sat Oct 18, 2014 4:43 am
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: London, Leicester
Location: London

Re: The Favourite

#5 Post by RandomHajile » Fri Jan 04, 2019 2:31 pm

saw this weeks ago, and all the as the low angles did show of the locations well some of the panning with super wide angles was a bit off :P

prob cos i saw amadeus in concert the month before, this movie reminded me a bit of that :P

as hilarious as the critics are saying this is, to me, "The Death of Stalin" did it better :)

this will prob win loads tho :P

7/10

only cos it looked good

User avatar
raj101
8 1/2
8 1/2
Posts: 6501
Joined: Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:08 am
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: kingston, wimbledon, wandsworth, fulham

Re: The Favourite

#6 Post by raj101 » Tue Jan 08, 2019 9:37 am

Coleman was very good, she got the "stroke features" just right. Wackjob royalty beleaguered by a pair of vindictive bastiches, you can actually feel sorry for the royal, its safe to say that no film has ever made me feel that. Great film 4.5 stars.
fav 5 films of the year - Tenet, Bill n Ted 3, Invisible Man, JoJo Rabbit, ?

seamo
Air Force One
Air Force One
Posts: 12
Joined: Sat Dec 29, 2018 12:42 pm
Old post count: 0

Re: The Favourite

#7 Post by seamo » Fri Jan 11, 2019 8:20 am

Widely touted as a 'dark comedic drama' but I didn't really get that and overall I left the cinema somewhat underwhelmed. Olivia Colman was good and she's come a long way from The Peep Show but I doubt whether it's an Oscar winning performance as more carricature than convincing. Some of the director's tricks weren't totally effective either, such as the distorted 'wide angle' shots and use of a deep repetitive bass beat to suggest suspense. Over-hyped but worth a watch, 6/10.

User avatar
jcolombi
The Sixth Sense
The Sixth Sense
Posts: 1020
Joined: Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:46 pm
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Coventry, Birmingham, Leamington
Location: Coventry

Re: The Favourite

#8 Post by jcolombi » Fri Jan 11, 2019 1:28 pm

Really enjoyed this one. I think it's a must watch although prehaps a little slow in parts. Some of the language is very obseen which may put some people off.

8/10
A horse walks into a bar and the bartender asks, "Why the long face?"


A pony walks into the bar and whispers, "I'll have a beer, please." The barkeeper asks, "Why are you whispering?".
"I'm a little hoarse."

User avatar
prettyxcool
8 1/2
8 1/2
Posts: 9937
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:37 pm
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Prefer all Central London, then Islington, Notting Hill, Whiteleys, Shepherd's Bush, Westfield, Holloway, Swiss Cottage, Clapham, WIQ, Greenwich 02, Surrey Quays, Fulham.
Location: London

Re: The Favourite

#9 Post by prettyxcool » Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:46 pm

A bizzare love triangle with a difference, in Queen Anne's court, with her two ladies in waiting, competing against each other for Queen Anne's favour.

A black comedy, with all three characters played beautifully by Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone as the ladies in waiting and Olivia Colman, as Queen Anne. Riveting and entertaining. 9/10.
Member No. 17 of the "100 free films in 2019" club. 50 seen so far
My Movie Scores click here

2018 - 100 seen (9 premieres/Press) Also 2 Opera, 1 Netfix, 15 theatres, 2 concerts, 1 ballet)
2017 - 106 seen
2016 - 116 seen
2015 - 120 seen (16 premieres, 2 Gala Screenings). Also 3 theatres/shows, 2 concerts
2014 - 132 seen (26 premieres and 7 Gala Screenings). Also 18 misc. free events/concerts
2013 - 115 Seen (12 premieres). Also 6 theatres/shows, 5 concerts
2012 - 118 seen (23 premieres). Also 12 theatres/shows.
2011 - 133 seen
2010 - 105 seen


User avatar
prettyxcool
8 1/2
8 1/2
Posts: 9937
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:37 pm
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Prefer all Central London, then Islington, Notting Hill, Whiteleys, Shepherd's Bush, Westfield, Holloway, Swiss Cottage, Clapham, WIQ, Greenwich 02, Surrey Quays, Fulham.
Location: London

Re: The Favourite

#10 Post by prettyxcool » Wed Jan 30, 2019 10:49 pm

The Sparrow wrote:I was just thinking to myself how much I was enjoying this; far more than The Lobster and then it ended!! WTF????
Great performances though.
Same here, an abrupt end! :D
Member No. 17 of the "100 free films in 2019" club. 50 seen so far
My Movie Scores click here

2018 - 100 seen (9 premieres/Press) Also 2 Opera, 1 Netfix, 15 theatres, 2 concerts, 1 ballet)
2017 - 106 seen
2016 - 116 seen
2015 - 120 seen (16 premieres, 2 Gala Screenings). Also 3 theatres/shows, 2 concerts
2014 - 132 seen (26 premieres and 7 Gala Screenings). Also 18 misc. free events/concerts
2013 - 115 Seen (12 premieres). Also 6 theatres/shows, 5 concerts
2012 - 118 seen (23 premieres). Also 12 theatres/shows.
2011 - 133 seen
2010 - 105 seen


Post Reply