Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Theater review. Possible spoilers. Just in time for awards season comes a costume dramady set in England during Queen Anne’s brief reign from 1707 to 1714 when she died at age 49. Unlike most films of this era of British power, this is no straight ahead drama, of which there is still plenty. This film is directed by Yorgos Lanthimos whose previous 2 films (“The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and “The Lobster”) I didn’t like much. I was more hopeful with this one and I was rewarded. More than a little credit goes to the 3 lead actresses, all of whom provide Oscar-worthy consideration. Olivia Colman (“Murder on the Orient Express”) plays Anne, a frumpy, often ill monarch. To some degree, due to her inability to bring children into the world. She was pregnant 17 times by her late husband, The Prince of Denmark. In the movie, none survived birth. She replaced them with 17 rabbits who roam her sleeping quarters most of the time. Lady Sarah, the Duchess of Marlborough is played by Rachel Weisz. Sarah is like the chief of staff and essentially runs the country, having gathered the Queen’s favor, not only with her smarts but in their bedroom encounters. Along comes Abigail (Emma Stone) who is Sarah’s cousin but is no longer among the elites after her husband killed himself by setting their castle on fire. Abigail, penniless and now a commoner is taken on, at first as a kitchen worker. But Abigail has bigger plans. Slowly but surely she befriends Sarah and eventually Anne having gathered an organic salve for Anne’s gout. She also has no problem sneaking into Anne’s “apartment” for some late night uh…leg massages. The scenes between the 3, either together or in pairs (especially when Sarah and Abigail are together) are downright funny. And the ladies play it all very straight. Lanthimos’s humor isn’t for everyone and in this film it usually involves sex, some of which is pretty raunchy and the ladies are at the heart of it. A couple of middle aged women sitting near me, were quite shocked if fact. I thought it was great for the women to get their opportunity. One of the best non-raunchy scenes involves Sarah dancing in the ballroom during a party. She and her partner put some moves on that are silly but then suddenly look like 21st century dance clubs moves. Another scene seemed funny but as it went on, just seemed out of place. Lanthimos’s style and humor requires some patience and open mindedness. Sometimes I’m on board and sometimes I don’t know what he’s trying to say. The costumes are great, the music is great and the technical aspects of the movie are well-done. But this is all about Colman, Weisz and Stone who knock it out of the park. As far as the men. Well, they aren’t that important with the possible exception of Nicholas Hoult who plays Lord Harley, the leader of the Whig party. His scenes with Stone are especially biting. All in all, put this film on the list of award season headliners. Highly recommended.