‘The Favourite’ is a tedious, yet entertaining comedy
By Julie Burkett// Staff Writer
The new film, “The Favourite” is set in the early 18th century and examines a complicated relationship between two cousins that are aiming to befriend infamous Queen Anne. This historical ‘black comedy’ film is subtle and will be loved by any avid period piece enthusiast. The term ‘black comedy’ refers to a type of humor that is generally considered to be taboo or makes light of the dark subject matter. The movie was produced in Ireland, the UK, and the united states. This gives the movie a foreign and dark tone that intrigues the audience. The Favourite’s main characters Abigail Hill and Sarah Churchill are fighting for the affections of someone who has never had to work; which can become increasingly frustrating for the audience- and for Sarah and Abigail. This ‘comedy’ uses its period to critique the class divide in the early 18th century. Multiple times throughout the film Queen Anne makes drastic decisions about the country that have tragic ramifications. She can’t seem to care because she is unable to put herself in their shoes. She relies on Sarah or Abigail to inform her of the right decision to make. The rising tension and hunger for power amongst the upper-middle-class cause fight between Abigail and Sarah which causes the plot to end in a twist crescendo. The Favourite uses dramatic music and dark corridors to show the dark and twisted minds of the Queen and her two helpers.
This movie has been entered in multiple film festivals, and award shows as a comedy. A High Point University sophomore voiced their opinion about it being labeled as a comedy,
“I was expecting it to be more exciting and funny but the plot, along with the music and the costumes, was still cool,” said Olivia Waterman, a sophomore and Event Management major at High Point University. The historical genre of a ‘black comedy’ is understandable but its prevalence in this film is not enough to call it a comedy. The film critiques the class divide in the 18th century, but this genre is hardly considered taboo. So, what exactly makes it a ‘black comedy’? I am unsure. In my personal opinion, I liked the film, the set and costumes were beautiful. However, the plot line was a little sparse for a comedy even if it was meant to be subtle.
The Favourite uses an almost tedious storyline to show humanity’s hunger for power. The film is beautifully written and directed. The visuals are stunning and any fan of cinema will love the layout and tone of this film. It was enjoyable to watch and will hold value when re-watching for months to come. Overall, This movie was interesting to watch but its meticulous nature was hard to follow at times. Emma Stone (Abigail Hill) and Rachel Weisz (Sarah Churchill) do a beautiful job in showing the intricate relationship between Queen Anne and her aids. Colman shows the audience how an explosive and immature queen can damage a nation. The Favourite is an interesting take on comedy that will surprise film lovers and provide an interesting experience for all who take the time to watch it.
‘The Favourite’ was nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Lead Actress, Supporting Actress and Best Director. Photo by Variety.com