With all due respect to Glenn Close, Olivia Colman’s surprise Best Actress win was an undisputed highlight of the 2019 Oscar ceremony. Not only because it was unexpected, but because The Favourite was one of the best films released that year, and yet until Colman’s name was read out, Yorgos Lanthimos’ subversive history of Queen Anne looked doomed to go home empty handed.
As we wrap up a 2020 Oscar season that sadly provided far fewer surprises in the acting categories, we thought we’d look back on The Favourite and see how well it holds up now that the dust has settled. The good news is we may well have enjoyed it even more on the second go-around. Beyond Colman’s standout performance as the histrionic queen lies a smart and multifaceted exploration of power dynamics and female friendship.
It’s also pretty hysterically funny. Colman gets the showiest role, but not many actors would follow an Oscar win with a role as left-field and unsympathetic as Emma Stone’s scheming Abigail Masham. Meanwhile Rachel Weisz may be the most intriguing performer of all, combining high-handed arrogance with reserves of genuine affection as the Queen’s long-standing lover and gatekeeper. Nicholas Hoult also gets a very funny supporting turn as the eternally frustrated (and magnificently bewigged) politician Robert Harley.
In this week’s episode, we discuss everything from tantrums and tiaras to duck racing and dynasties, including our regularly featured drinking games, listener submissions and a round of sequel pitches that reveal how much more there is to the fascinating life of Queen Anne. If Netflix are looking for a successor to their regal hit The Crown, they could do a lot worse…
Next week, we’ll be paying tribute to one of the most controversial snubs from this year’s Oscars with a classic romantic noir from the late 90s. Until then, happy listening and whatever you do, DON’T look at us…