Pomp, pomposity, politics, intrigue and backstabbing. This is the court of Queen Anne in the early 18th century. Anne (Olivia Colman) leaves control of affairs of state to her intimate, Sarah the Duchess of Marlborough (Rachel Weisz), and is annoyed when her presence is demanded on official business. Sarah finds a servant's position at court for her cousin Abigail (Emma Stone), who finds life in the lower ranks of the palace to be tough. When the opportunity arrives to ingratiate herself with Anne she uses all her cunning to become the queen's favourite, aiming to usurp Sarah. In doing so she becomes involved in the control of the government and the direction of the war in France. One of the rivals has to come out on top....
For all that these are real life characters and, to a degree, events, this is more comedy than historical drama. Colman's Anne is a petulant child, obsessed with her pet rabbits, easily buttered up but capable of sudden rage and arbitrary use of her powers. The 2 rivals for her attention spark off one another well, with the tensions in their relationship well managed. And there's an array of lesser characters enjoying the license of a costume drama that leaves plenty of scope for individual interpretations, Mark Gatiss' Marlborough notable amongst them.
It's wonderfully acted and the cinematography is striking, full of stunning images and filled with background detail. Add in a funny and clever script and it's clear why the film is garnering plauidits all over the place.
Despite which I still found it a hard movie to warm to. The soundtrack is at times intrusive to the point of irritation and there was, to me, an unresolved tension between the light tone of the humour against all the characters being very difficult to like. Colman's Anne deserves our sympathies at times, but she's not someone you'd want to have a drink with.
Less satisfactory than it should be.
No comments:
Post a Comment