PROVOKR PICK
Emma Stone Vs Rachael Weisz to be The Favourite
The true story of the complicated relationship between Queen Anne, Sarah Churchill, and Abigail Masham is ripe for the cinematic treatment, but since it’s a story about three women, it’s naturally not been adapted to historical fiction until now.
Olivia Colman (The Crown) stars as Anne, who was the Queen of England from 1702 until her death in 1714. The Favourite isn’t so much about her reign as it is her relationship with her two most trusted aides, the cousins Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and Abigail Masham (Emma Stone). There are strong romantic overtones to the story, though the real-life history is murky on the subject and may never fully be understood, which makes it all the more ripe for dramatic interpretation and allegorical retelling.
The Favourite is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos, who is hot off his recent successes The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, stylish and thematic stories with a distinct message they wish to convey. It looks like The Favourite is aiming to tell a story about complex women who engage in distinct power dynamics completely separate from their relationships with men or their parents or children, which is a surprisingly rare occurrence in today’s Hollywood landscape. Time will tell if the movie lives up to the pedigree of the talent involved, but our hopes are high based on the trailer, which features strong acting, entertaining comedy, and a whole lot of Beastie Boys-styled fisheye lens shots.
The Favourite is in theaters now.
