Chris here. One of our most conspicuously hidden fall movies has finally teased us with a feisty first look trailer: Yorgos Lanthimos' royal period piece The Favourite. We've suffered months without a glimpse at what a Lanthmos costume drama might look like, with even the first teaser poster being literal white text on a black background. But rest assured that this intriguing setting for the starkly contemporary director does not look to be tamer than his previous films. In fact, it might just be his Lanthimost.
Last year's The Killing of a Sacred Deer had a fairly divisive response, so some of his fans will rejoice to note that this trailer promises something more in line with The Lobster. And it's not just the mischievous, cutting tone that is in line. It looks like we will also be getting another dryly genius performance with supporting player Olivia Colman as Queen Anne. Set during the 18th century during war with France, the film stars Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz as servants clashing for her favor. Take a look at Lanthimos' take in the trailer, and we'll break down the Yes No Maybe So...
YES
- Colman has always felt *this* close to getting the awards traction she's deserved in small roles like The Lobster and underseen gems like Tyrannosaur and Amazon's Fleabag. Whether or not this will be a supporting role, it looks like she has herself a real showcase to make people finally pay attention.
- "I have sent for some lobsters. I thought we could race them and then eat them."
- Sex costume dramas are the best costume dramas. Pleased to see the director hasn't lost his kinky subtext.
- We should have already suspected a Lanthimos aristocratic period piece would essentially be "Barry Lyndon on crack, but also he's a horny demon".
- Lanthimos gets Weisz's capacity for prickliness and used it so well with The Lobster's narration. She looks like a coiled copperhead here, ready to pounce on the less reserved Emma Stone. More evil Rachel Weisz!
- The understated S&M flair to these costumes! Oh wait, it's none other than The Film Experience favo(u)rite SANDY POWELL!!
NO
- Stone has been a lingering question mark in regards to this film. Pairing with Lanthimos already feels like an odd fit for her particular comic gifts, and she unfortunately doesn't really registere here. Miscast??
- [general grumble under breath about how every movie these days is prey to lazy comparisons to our batshit evil administration]
- Peter Greenaway is currently on hold with his lawyers.
MAYBE SO
- Lanthimos is stepping away from screenwriting duties this time, with The Favourite written by Deborah Davis and Troy McNamara. It will be interesting to see what he does with someone else's words for once...
- Blink and you'll miss Nicholas Hoult and Joe Alwyn. Sorry, boys, even Lanthimos knows why we're here.
One imagines we'll soon hear word of The Favourite arriving at at least one of the major fall festivals. For now, I am a full-bodied loudspeaker YES on the film. Does it look like your piece of cake?