Film Review: The Favourite

Yorgos Lanthimos hits the target once more with the brilliant The Favourite. The film is Lanthimos’ most enjoyable to date. 

It is the early 18th century, and England is at war with France. Queen Anne, in an ailing state, is guided by her friend and confidant Lady Sarah. When Lady Sarah’s cousin arrives, there is an upheaval at court…

Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos with a screenplay by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara, The Favourite is a superb film. Set in the court of Queen Anne, the film mixes social manoeuvring with political intrigue. It plays for laughs, but there is much texture to proceedings. The Favourite still radiates the darkness of Lanthimos’ other films, but it is delivered in a subtler format. This works incredibly well.

The Favourite focuses on characters vying for the attention of the queen. The main characters in the film are very well drawn. They are multi-faceted, with each showing shades of grey. The film could have easily painted everyone as irredeemable, yet there is much more nuance than this. It is surprisingly moving at times, thanks to the script and great performances.

As a comedy, The Favourite is very, very funny. Humour is derived from multiple sources. The script is incredibly funny; there are great lines, and great delivery. There is also slapstick humour which is at times absurdist. The ballroom scene in particular is a joy. Lanthimos’ trademark dark humour is present here, but the scriptwriters inject some very dry, British humour that complements it ever so well.

Performances in the film are great all round. Olivia Colman and Rachel Weisz are perfect in their respective roles. Coleman adds depth and heart to the character, which could have easily appeared a mere caricature in the wrong hands. Emma Stone is wonderful; sometimes it is a simple expression from her that can generate a great laugh. Nicholas Hoult is also a revelation in a supporting role.

Lanthimos and cinematographer Robbie Ryan have created quite the aesthetic in The Favourite. Some shots could just as well be oil paintings. Ryan makes the most the location, such as the sweeping halls of the palace. The soundtrack is fantastic, particularly when it is juxtaposed with some absurd imagery. Sandy Powell’s costumes are sublime.

The Favourite is a world away from other period romps. Lanthimos’ film is hilarious, consuming, and at times touching.

The Favourite is being screened at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2018.

Film Review: Carol

Based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel, Carol is a sumptuous and engaging romantic drama.

Working in a department store in New York, shop girl Therese meets married older lady Carol when the latter comes into the store to buy a Christmas gift. The two embark on a friendship that spells danger for Carol’s home life…

Director Todd Haynes’ Carol is a entertaining drama which offers good performances and great production values. The film concentrates on the relationship between the wealthy Carol and the younger shop girl Therese in a time when any non-traditional relationship was taboo or worse. The film works in social issues of its 1950s setting in a way that seems a natural outcome of the relationship.

Haynes’ direction and Phyllis Nagy’s screenplay are effective at keeping viewers engaged throughout the film. Carol and Therese’s relationship is portrayed in a compelling way; the writing and performances make it easy to get on board with the protagonists. Both characters are depicted in a believable fashion, and are given enough personality to engage with the audience. Viewers will root for the couple, even if their union looks doomed. The ending of the film is a brilliant stroke.

The period setting calls for issues with a same-sex relationship to be at the forefront. Carol respects this; the film’s narrative allows for a number of different aspects to be brought up. The illustrations of these problems are entirely convincing. Moreover, the film highlights other differences in Carol and Therese’s relationship, namely age and class. These social issues are dealt with a slighter hand, yet still represent the constraints of the period.

Cate Blanchett delivers as competent a performance as ever; she is completely convincing as Carol. Rooney Mara offers perhaps her best performance to date. Her quiet understatement seems perfect for Therese. Carter Burwell’s score is magnificent, and Sandy Powell’s costumes are wonderful. This is particularly true of Blanchett’s glamorous wardrobe.

In spite of the social issues at play, Carol is ultimately a love story. The film is a finely executed piece of romantic drama.

Carol is being screened at the London Film Festival in October 2015.

Cinderella Press Conference

The Cinderella press conference took place in London last week. Director Kenneth Branagh was joined by producers David Barron and Allison Shearmur, costume designer Sandy Powell, and stars Lily James, Richard Madden, and Holliday Grainger to discuss the latest Disney fairy tale…

On costumes in the film…

Sandy Powell: It was a costume designer’s dream. What really struck me was it was a film about girls. A lot of the main characters were girls, and ok there were male characters too, but it was predominantly women which doesn’t happen that often. It was a dream and I ran with it.

On adapting the story for a modern audience…

David Barron: When Ken [Branagh] mentioned to me that Disney had been in touch about a live action version of Cinderella, I said: “ooh, interesting”. I thought; how do you do something that is relevant for a contemporary audience, and in its own way faithful to the animated classic. Ken had a very clear vision on how to make this a film for today. This central message of courage and kindness… it just seemed that it would work for today and for a contemporary audience.

On Cinderella‘s influences…

Kenneth Branagh:[To be compared with Powell and Pressburger] is a wonderful compliment, because I revere those guys. A huge personal inspiration, that particular partnership.

Sandy Powell: For me, it was the nineteenth century, all over the nineteenth century, bits of the 1940s and 1950s thrown in for the Stepmother. I was looking at those 1940s actresses like Marlene Dietrich, Joan Crawford, and when they were in films made in the 1940s set in the nineteenth century, and I really liked that look for Cate [Blanchett]. For the sisters I went a decade higher to the 1950s fashions, but keeping the nineteenth century look.

On the character of Cinderella…

Lily James: [She has] this strength can come from within. This dignified strength and grace… that in doing so she finds such joy and happiness in her life regardless of her situation. Even if it’s just talking to little Gus Gus! When I read the script I was just bowled over by the fact that it was such a faithful retelling of the fairy tale without any tricks or twists. It felt really strong. This was a girl I really wanted to play and felt inspired playing.

On the ballroom scene…

Kenneth Branagh: The kind of films that were wonderful to go and visit [for inspiration], apart from Powell and Pressburger were, well we looked at again The Red Shoes, we looked at Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, Visconti’s The Leopard. We also looked Cyrano de Bergerac, the Rappeneau film for some wonderful camera work, particularly the sweeping shots that end up on close-ups of our heroine. The Age of Innocence is a Scorsese film that I love for its immersion into a world that you can feel, see, taste and touch and smell. Certainly we went to the classics.

Cinderella is released in UK cinemas on 27th March 2015.

Film Review: Cinderella

Kenneth Branagh’s live action version of Cinderella is a visually sumptuous fairy tale. The film’s sentiment might be twee, but it is an entertaining picture.

Ella has a happy childhood with her parents. When her father passes away, Ella must live with her cruel stepmother and stepsisters. Despite her misfortune, Ella does not give up hope…

The latest Disney fairy tale to get an update, Cinderella distinguishes itself from other recent Disney films thanks to its protagonist. Director Kenneth Branagh and writer Chris Weitz have a challenge to update the fairy tale to make it relevant to modern audiences. With Disney’s forthright female protagonists of late, Cinderella seems rather anachronistic.

Branagh chooses to keep the title character true to her animation roots. Cinderella here is not feisty or fiercely independent. Instead, the values which the film eschews are kindness and positivity. On the surface, this may feel a little old fashioned. Nevertheless, the film succeeds in promoting these virtues. Cinderella suggests kindness as a strength, even if it a less overt one.

The film does well to flesh out the title character and that of the prince. These characters are given more depth in this version of Cinderella. The light humour in the film sets the right tone, and key sequences are finely executed. Pacing could have been tighter, but overall the film is an enjoyable watch.

The real star of Cinderella is Sandy Powell’s magnificent costumes. These are opulent and appealing. Dante Ferretti’s production design also adds to the spectacle. The ballroom sequence is a dazzling affair, thanks to the costumes, production design and cinematography. Cate Blanchett is wonderfully hammy as the stepmother. Lily James makes a sweet Cinderella, whilst Richard Madden looks the part as Prince Kit.

Cinderella is the perfect fix for those looking for fairy tale escapism. The film is certainly a feast for the eyes.

Cinderella is released in UK cinemas on 27th March 2015 and will be screened alongside new animated short Frozen Fever.

Preview of Coming Attractions: Disney in 2015

This year sees the release of numerous films under the Disney banner, ranging from sci-fi adventure (Tomorrowland – A World Beyond), fairy tale musicals (Into The Woods), superhero movies (Avengers: Age of Ultron), and re-envisioned classics (The Jungle Book). Here are some highlights from Disney in 2015…

Big Hero 6

Above is an introduction to Baymax, one of the stars of Disney’s Big Hero 6. The film is about Hiro, a young robotics expert who spends his time competing in back alley robot fights. Although the film was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, several members of Marvel’s creative team were involved in the production of Big Hero 6.

See it because: Big Hero 6 has been getting rave reviews from critics and audiences.

Big Hero 6 is released in UK cinemas on 30th January 2015.

Cinderella

Disney’s live action version of fairy tale Cinderella looks sumptuous. Starring Lily James, Richard Madden and Helena Bonham Carter, the film looks set to dazzle with costume designer Sandy Powell’s collaboration with Swarovski for the jewellery and costumes, including the crystal slipper.

See it because: Cate Blanchett will surely be a wonderful wicked stepmother.

Cinderella hits UK screens on 27th March 2015.

Ant-Man

The above trailer for Ant-Man was released this week, giving viewers a taste of what to expect from Marvel’s latest comic book adaptation. Starring Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas, the film brings one of the lesser-known Avengers to the big screen for the first time.

See it because: The curiosity factor of seeing a miniature superhero.

Ant-Man is released in UK cinemas on 17th July 2015.

Inside Out

Pixar Animation Studio’s newest feature looks to be a lot of fun, judging from the above trailer. The film takes viewers inside the mind, looking at the emotions based in its headquarters. Inside Out features the voices of Amy Poehler, Bill Hader and Mindy Kaling.

See it because: The imaginative Pixar seem to have done it again with this film.

Inside Out his UK cinemas on 24th July 2015.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Giving Avengers: Age of Ultron a run for its money in the hotly-anticipated movie stakes, Star Wars: The Force Awakens sees the big screen return of the sci-fi franchise. With the cast of the film still growing, there is still a lot to be revealed about the seventh Star Wars film.

See it because: Director J.J. Abrams did a good job re-invigorating the Star Trek franchise; hopefully he can work his magic here.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens is due to be released on 18th December 2015.