Why The Favourite could win the Oscar for Best Picture

There are multiple important films nominated for Best Picture this year. Here’s why we think The Favourite could take home the Oscar.

While there are many films we loved that made were nominated for Best Picture at the 91st Academy Awards, one film stands out for being so delightfully weird, different, and brilliant that it definitely deserves to win, or at least should be considered a top contender.

That movie is The Favourite, and while there are definitely many other important and influential films nominated this year, we think it’s a perfect time for a historical comedy about a queer love triangle to get the win.

As a reminder, nominees for Best Picture this year are:

• Black Panther
• Vice
• The Favourite
• A Star Is Born
• Roma
• BlacKkKlansman
• Green Book
• Bohemian Rhapsody

Films like Black Panther and BlacKkKlansman are socially significant, and we wouldn’t be upset about them getting the win. But, in terms of making a case for The Favourite, it’s very easy to do so.

The Favourite follows the story of Queen Anne in the early 18th century and her lover, Lady Sarah, who makes many decisions for England as Anne’s health declines. When a new maid, Abigail, enters the picture, a comedic, dramatic love triangle begins. The film stars Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, and Olivia Coleman.

The Favourite takes you by surprise and includes inventive storytelling techniques.

While you might know that the film is a historical drama/comedy, what you get isn’t what you expect. It’s extremely funny and uses storytelling techniques that you don’t often see in mainstream films.

From title cards to the end scene that involves superimposing rabbits over Emma Stone’s face while she pleasures Queen Anne, The Favourite is strange and poignant. You will laugh, be confused, and have a lot of questions after leaving.

Overall, the film is a joyous ride full of memorable moments such as the most hilarious wedding night scene you’ve seen in a while involving Emma Stone’s Abigail and her new husband.

It breaks queer tropes and is an important piece of lesbian cinema.

Movies that are about queer women aren’t generally ones that get Best Picture nominations at the Oscars. Queer representation in film is still a struggle and the Academy isn’t particularly known for being progressive or recognizing non-mainstream cinema.

However, there has been some progress. Moonlight did win Best Picture two years ago. This was an important win and moment in LGBTQ film history, and it seems like now is the perfect time for a story about queer women to take the stage.

“Lesbian” movies (to use a more reductive term about movies involving queer women) are known for following a lot of bad tropes and often struggle to not conform to the male gaze. The Favourite breaks most tropes you see in any mainstream film about queer women.

Giving this movie the win would be a great signal to everyone that daring, different stories about queer characters are welcome and can be really successful. The Academy struggles with nominating women across the board (there are no female directors nominated this year) so The Favourite taking home an award for Best Picture would be a big win for women amidst a fairly disappointing awards season.

We are ready for more films like The Favourite that will center on complex queer women and tell interesting, inventive stories about them. 

What did you think about The Favourite? Which film do you think deserve the Best Picture win? Let us know in the comments!