“The Favourite” has extensive use of the fisheye camera lens.

A fisheye lens is a wide-angle lens that achieves visual distortion. The resulting image is that of a panoramic or hemispherical view.

In “The Favourite,” rooms, columns, and even people often appear curved. The fisheye lens is not used in every scene. Extreme closeups are also used to great effect, such as for Emma Stone’s captivating eyes.

The fisheye image, which became popular in the 1960s (“Easy Rider,” 1969, for example) is used so often in “The Favourite” that it becomes a distraction and interferes with the inherent drama and acting in particular scenes. Fisheye lens scenes appear so often in “The Favorite” as to become a gimmick.

“The Favourite” is that kind of film: A gimmick.

It’s a costume drama that imprints the leitmotif of the present era over an historical era.

Hollywood is rife with such examples, including “Barry Lyndon” (1975), starring Ryan O’Neal and Marisa Berenson, directed by Stanley Kubrick, and based on the 1844 novel,”The Luck of Barry Lyndon,” by William Makepeace Thackeray, and “Tom Jones” (1963), starring Albert Finney and Susannah York, directed by Tony Richardson, and based on the 1749 novel, “The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling.”

“Barry Lyndon” and “Tom Jones” were romps about shenanigans between opposite sexes.

“The Favourite” is a romp about the shenanigans between same sexes.

“The Favourite” regales us with a tale of ribaldry, debachery and tragedy amidst lush interiors and exteriors with protagonists in fabulous costumes, makeup and wigs. The cast of characters, real or exaggerated, seem to deserve whatever dour fate awaits them. It’s in the style of Opéra bouffe.

Queen Anne (1665 - 1714) ruled England from 1702-1714 at a time of political rivalry between the Whigs and Tories when England was at war with France in 1708. She suffered from gout and died of a stroke.

The queen’s favorite was Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough. They were confidants. How close they were is uncertain despite “The Favourite” depicting them as lovers.

Sarah’s rival for the queen’s affections is Abigail Hill, impoverished cousin of Sarah. Abigail is hired as kitchen help in the castle. She inveigles the queen and becomes her new favorite.

“The Favourite,” a satire of manners, is mannered in performance and style.

The cinematography by director of photography Robbie Ryan is annoying at best and self-indulgent at worst. The use of slow-motion, and an irritating sound design, perhaps of a cello bowing and a single note, renders the film even more off-putting.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos (Oscar nominee, screenplay, “The Lobster,” 2015; “The Killing Of A Sacred Deer,” 2017) seems smugly bent on a cinematic career of obfuscation. With “The Favourite,” he again succeeds.

The fanciful script by Deborah Davis (theatrical motion picture screenplay debut) is a real pigeon-shoot, making sport of real-life personages. Rabbits didn’t run rampant in the castle. We’ll leave it at that.

What saves “The Favourite” are exceptional performances.

Olivia Colman (TV’s “The Crown,” 2019) plays Anne, Queen of Great Britain, as a lonely, pathetic, looney, quixotic figurehead. Her crestfallen face is that of a female lacking the will to invoke the authority she has.

Rachel Weisz (Oscar recipient, supporting actress, “The Constant Gardener,” 2005) plays Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough, as an impudent, manipulative, cunning exploiter of the queen’s weaknesses. Her face sails full-force on her body’s wooden ship of state.

Emma Stone (Oscar recipient, actress, “La La Land,” 2016; Oscar nominee, supporting actress, “Birdman,’ 2014) plays Abigail Masham with solemn grace, vivid subterfuge, opportunistic resignation and deceptive charm. Her face, mouth and eyes whiplash you with lighting-quick emotional shifts.

Memorable in various stages of redolent foppery are Nicholas Hoult as Robert Harley, First Earl of Oxford; Mark Gatiss as John Churchill, First Duke of Marlborough, and Joe Alwyn as Samuel Masham, First Baron Masham.

“The Favourite” is worth seeing if you want to see what the Oscar hooplah is all about. Having seen “The Favourite,” I’m not jumping through the hooplah.

“The Favourite,” MPAA Rated R (Restricted Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. Contains some adult material. Parents are urged to learn more about the film before taking their young children with them.) for strong sexual content, nudity and language; Genre: Biography, Drama, Comedy; Run time: 1 hr., 59 min.; Distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “The Favourite” was filmed on location at Hatfield House, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England, United Kingdom.

Oscar buzz: “The Favourite” is an Oscar favorite, receiving 10 Academy Award nominations, tying with “Roma” for the most nominations in the 2019 contest. “The Favourite” is nominated for Picture (Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday, Yorgos Lanthimos), Director (Yorgos Lanthimos), original screenplay (Deborah Davis, Tony McNamara), leading actress (Olivia Colman); supporting actress (two; one each for Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone); cinematography (Robbie Ryan), editing (Yorgos Mavropsaridis), production design (Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton) and costume design (Sandy Powell).

Box Office, Feb. 8-9: “The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part” assembled a No. 1 opening with $34.4 million, one week, as “What Men Want” opened at No. 2 with $19 million, and “Cold Pursuit” opened at No. 3 with $10.8 million.

4. “The Upside” moved down two places, $7.2 million, $85.8 million, five weeks. 5. “Glass” moved down four places, $6.4 million, $98.4 million, four weeks. 6. “The Prodigy,” $6 million, opening. 7. “Green Book,” with five Oscar nominations, moved down one place, $3.6 million, $61.5 million, 13 weeks. 8. “Aquaman” moved down four places, $3.3 million, $328.5 million, eight weeks. 9. “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse,” an Animated Feature Oscar nominee, moved down four places, $3 million, $179.8 million, nine weeks. 10. “Miss Bala” moved down seven places, $2.7 million, $11.8 million, two weeks. 20. “The Favourite,” $814,423; $30.2 million, 12 weeks.

Unreel, Feb. 15:

“Happy Death Day 2U,” PG-13: Christopher Landon directs Jessica Rothe, Ruby Modine, Israel Broussard and Suraj Sharma in the Horror Film. Dying over and over is never easy. It’s the “Groundhog Day” of horror films.

“Alita: Battle Angel,” PG-13: Robert Rodriguez directs Eiza González, Rosa Salazar, Mahershala Ali and Jennifer Connelly in the Sci-Fi-Action film based on a James Cameron screenplay that Cameron had wanted to direct since 1995. The Computer Generated Imagery enhanced female superehero with the big eyes is based on the first four “Battle Angel Alita” manga comic books by Yukito Kishiro.

“Fighting with My Family,” PG-13: Stephen Merchant directs Dwayne Johnson, a Freedom High School graduate, and Florence Pugh, Lena Headey and Saraya-Jade Bevis in the Comedy. A wrestler performs at small venues while his children want to wrestle in World Wrestling Entertainment shows. The film is based on a true story.

“Isn’t It Romantic,” PG-13: Todd Strauss-Schulson directs Rebel Wilson, Priyanka Chopra, Tom Ellis, Liam Hemsworth and Betty Gilpin in the Fantasy Comedy. A young woman is trapped in a romantic comedy. It’s the “Groundhog Day” of romantic-comedies.

Two Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes