Post by Nora on Nov 30, 2018 2:07:19 GMT
I have to admit I liked it a little bit less than the Lobster (or even the Killing of a Sacred Deer in a way), BUT that is mostly because Lanthimos didnt write The Favorite and I am CRAZY about his writing style. This was also his first (english spoken) film where he didnt use his signature dead pan dialogue delivery style for his cast, which I was a bit disappointed about, because that is one of the things I love the most about his films.
Now, having gotten that out, I have to say the movie is really great. The acting alone is superb, the comedy with Lanthimos signature cynicism and brutality is wonderful, and combine that with late European renaissance royalty evoking production design and classical music and you have a real gem.
In style of story telling it reminded me a little bit of two other movies I liked recently. PTAs Phantom Thread and Soderbergs Unsane. PTA because of the raw and slow burning of a story with insanely strong characters in it, and Soderbergs cinematography choices with their oddity in how they tell the characters story.
Lanthimos uses very peculiar angles and lenses here, but peculiar in a good sense. Similar like in his previous movies the camera is often moving with the characters in this almost divine flow and plays an incredibly important part in the film. Even though his usual cinematographe Thimios Bakatakis didnt do it.
I cant give it a 10 because Lobster is at 10 for me and this was missing the amazing dead pan delivery, but a solid 9 it is. Go and enjoy, especially if you like dark comedy, you will find it hilarious. And the ladies in it will for sure garner many accolades. And deservingly so.
Predicted Oscar nominations upon first viewing:
1. Olivia Colman
2. Cinematography (first for Robbie Ryan)
3. Production Design
4. Directing