“THE FAVOURITE”
Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday and Yorgos Lanthimos
Director: Yorgos Lanthimos
Producers: Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday and Yorgos Lanthimos
Writers: Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara
Cinematography: Robbie Ryan
Editor: Yorgos Mavropsaridis
Composer: Komeil S. Hosseini
Distributor: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Release Date: November 23, 2018
Budget: $15 million
Run-time: 120 minutes
FILM SYNOPSIS: In the early 1700s, Queen Anne, in poor health and emotionally unstable, allows her most trusted confidante, Lady Sarah, to act as the de facto ruler of Great Britain during its war with France. Sarah’s control slips, however, when her cousin Abigail arrives at court and charms the queen
Unfortunately, “The Favourite” does not land in the films that feel like they could be the big winners. Films like “Roma” and “Black Panther,” “BlacKkKlansman” and “A Star Is Born,” “Green Book” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” all have stronger claims to the Best Picture win. All of this, even though “The Favourite” has ten nominations. That does not mean it won’t be taking home some gold.
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
|||
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 (88th) | “Room” | Nominated | Best Picture (Producer) |
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
|||
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 (89th) | “The Lobster” | Nominated | Best Original Screenplay |
YORGOS LANTHIMOS
The fact that Yorgos Lanthimos got nominated for Best Directing is telling as to how much the Academy loved this film, as he was a huge surprise to most people predicting the awards. The pressing winners here seem more like Alfonso Cuarón and Spike Lee because their films feel like they will have the bigger presence, especially in the Best Picture category.
OLIVIA COLMAN
CHARACTER SYNOPSIS: Olivia Colman portrays Queen Anne, the temperamental ruler of Great Britain whose devious courtiers joust for her favor and political power during the early 1700s.
Best Actress in a Leading Role appears to have come down to Olivia Colman and Glenn Close. Personally, Close feels like the more odds-on favorite, but Colman has been so damn charming and likable this awards season that it might just lead to her win at the Oscars. I want Colman to win, but I’ve bet on Close, because she seems like a slightly safer choice.
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
|||
EMMA STONE
CHARACTER SYNOPSIS: As Abigail, Emma Stone plays a disenfranchised aristocrat who must start over in the court of Queen Anne, whom she hopes will elevate her to her former status.
Having just won an Oscar for her leading performance in “La La Land,” I would be hugely surprised if Stone pulled this one off. Her co-star feels like the safer choice of the two, if they can overcome Regina King’s huge claim on the award.
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 (87th) | “Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” | Nominated | Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 2016 (89th) | “La La Land” | Won | Best Actress in a Leading Role |
RACHEL WEISZ
CHARACTER SYNOPSIS: Rachel Weisz plays Lady Sarah, the Duchess of Marlborough, whose complex and advantageous relationship with Queen Anne is threatened by her scheming cousin.
Rachel Weisz has a much more dynamic role in the film, presenting a performance we haven’t really ever seen out of her. Although Emma Stone is likable in her role and deserves the nomination, Weisz seems like the better choice. The fact that she’s already won an Oscar could be the thing that helps Regina King get her first win for her performance in “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 (78th) | “The Constant Gardener” | Won | Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
ROBBIE RYAN
Alfonso Cuarón and his work in “Roma” feels like the safest bet, but one cannot deny that the cinematography in “The Favourite” is exceptional. If anything is going to beat out “Roma” it would probably be this one.
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
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SANDY POWELL
The big question here is whether “The Favourite” can beat out the costume design of the popular “Black Panther.” Personally, I picking “The Favourite,” just because period films are ever-popular with the Academy. Also, I feel like the love for “Black Panther” is a coin flip while, with 10 nominations, it’s clear that the Academy loves “The Favourite.”
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 (66th) | “Orlando” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
| 1997 (70th) | “The Wings of the Dove” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
| 1998 (71st) | “Shakespeare In Love” | Won | Best Costume Design |
| “Velvet Goldmine” | Nominated | Best Costume Design | |
| 2002 (75th) | “Gangs Of New York” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
| 2004 (77th) | “The Aviator” | Won | Best Costume Design |
| 2005 (78th) | “Mrs. Henderson Presents” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
| 2009 (82nd) | “The Young Victoria” | Won | Best Costume Design |
| 2010 (83rd) | “The Tempest” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
| 2011 (84th) | “Hugo” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
| 2015 (88th) | “Carol” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
| “Cinderella” | Nominated | Best Costume Design |
YORGOS MAVROPSARIDIS
Deciding film editing feels tough. My gut tells me “Vice” is one of the bigger choices, just because it has such a style to its editing and Hank Corwin has won some big awards thus far this season. But all the films in this category seem equally likely and there’s no reason “The Favourite” couldn’t win this category.
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
|||
FIONA CROMBIE
(Production Design)
ALICE FELTON
(Set Decoration)
The Production Design in “The Favourite” is always front and center, making these castle settings feel lived in and authentic, which seems like a huge feat. Its biggest competition is likely “Black Panther,” which has to create its own kingdom feel from scratch and does so brilliantly. The winner likely comes down to one of the two and my money is on “The Favourite,” just because the Academy tends to lean the route of period dramas. But perhaps this is the year that everything changes.
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
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| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
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DEBORAH DAVIS and TONY MCNAMARA
What is more original than a screenplay for a Yorgos Lanthimos film? “The Favourite feels entirely original and feels like the choice when deciding what it truly the most original. However, “Green Book” has won some other high profile awards and could show the Academy’s hand as far as where their allegiances lie for the night. Don’t count out “Roma” either, as Best Picture and Best Screenplay get linked more times than not.
| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
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| YEAR | FILM | AWARD | CATEGORY |
|---|---|---|---|
NONE |
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SCREENER |
VIEWED: Saturday, February 9, 2019 |
22 |
15 |
| Films Left | Days Left |
