'Favourite' comes home just before Oscar night
If you're cramming for Oscar night but don't want to head to the theater this weekend, you'll be happy to learn that another best-picture nominee became available on home video last week.
"The Favourite," the shockingly raunchy and well-acted comedy from director Yorgos Lanthimos, is now available for purchase across digital platforms including iTunes and Vudu. You'll have to wait until March 5 for the cheaper rental price or the DVD, but buying it digitally will still cost you less than the price of two movie tickets, two drinks and a giant popcorn.
I'd say it's worth $20 to see supporting-actress nominees Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone compete for the affections of regal best-actress nominee Olivia Colman. "The Favourite" also rewards repeat viewers: The first time, we laugh as Weisz's consigliere and Stone's ambitious scullery maid one-up each other to live up to the title. The second time, we cry for Colman's ailing, overmatched Queen Anne, the 18th-century British monarch who keeps 17 rabbits to commemorate the 17 children she lost.
The only candidate for the big prize you can't watch at home before Sunday is the satirical Dick Cheney biopic "Vice." That won't hit digital platforms until March 12.
More from Lanthimos
"The Favourite" is a unique experience. Unique experiences are Yorgos Lanthimos' forte - like 2015's "The Lobster," a darkly funny rumination on contemporary romance starring Colin Farrell as a man who must find love before his captors turn him into a lobster. Yes, you read that correctly. Take a chance and watch "The Lobster" on Netflix; Weisz and Colman are along for the ride, too, as are John C. Reilly, Lea Seydoux and Ben Whishaw.
• Follow Sean on Twitter at @SeanStanglandDH.