The Favourite review — Mary Queen of Scots review : Two distinctly different period pieces with heavy weight casts do battle during awards season.

The Favourite Review

The Favourite, from wildly creative and original director Yorgos Lanthimos (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) is unlike any period costume drama you’ve ever seen. Yes, it has elaborate wigs, bustles and corsets, as well as ornate palace interiors, but it’s substantially cheekier, of plot, dialogue and action.

Not for tender ears, The Favourite is outrageously raunchy, which makes it deliciously intriguing. And there is no cast better suited to pull off the hereto for unheard of escapades of England’s flighty Queen Anne (Olivia Coleman) and two attendants vying for her favor; Lady Sarah Churchill (Rachel Weisz) and young upstart Abigail Masham (Emma Stone).

One of the best films of the year in my book, The Favourite is a must see for the open minded with a sense of humor. I promise it will leave you chuckling for days.

Rated R

1 Hour 59 Minutes

Mary Queen of Scots Review

Such a shame The Favourite and Mary Queen of Scots were released in the same season! Comparisons can’t help but be made,  and frankly, the latter comes out wanting.

But not for lack of trying by the game cast. Saoirse Ronan plays the young Scottish Queen with a claim to Queen Elizabeth’s (Margot Robbie) throne. Trouble ensues.

The rivalry and and intrigue between the two Queens has already been well documented, both on screen and on the written page. There is little new here, other than a depiction of Mary’s first unorthodox orgasm, and an inclusive cast that shows Queen Mary with an Asian Lady in Waiting (Gemma Chan) and a prominent English Lord of African descent (Adrian Lester).

Everything else we’ve pretty much seen or heard before, but I believe I’d be far more receptive to it had it been released in the summer or spring or even early fall, some months prior to The Favourite turning the genre on its ear.

Rated R

1 Hour 52 Minutes

If this The Favorite review and/or Mary Queen of Scots review inspires you to get up and out and got to the cinema, get times and tickets at Fandango.com.