Speaking as a History graduate, the perversion of historical events by Hollywood has never bothered me. I've always understood that film is about entertainment. If you want facts, read a book.
Justin Chadwick's film adaptation of Philippa Gregory's novel, The Other Boleyn Girl fails to convince even as a fantasy.
However, Justin Chadwick's film adaptation of Philippa Gregory's novel fails to convince even as a fantasy.
The all too familiar story of King Henry VIII's love affair with the doomed Anne Boleyn starts promisingly but quickly descends into silly (even ridiculous) melodrama.
But then the movie is not so much about Anne Boleyn as about her forgotten sister, or so the title would have us believe. As it happens, the other Boleyn girl - a dull, pouting Scarlett Johansson - is completely upstaged by the famous Anne, played with icy intensity by Natalie Portman.
At the beginning we are introduced to a pair of loving sisters, daughters of impoverished country gentleman Sir Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance).
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The other Boleyn girl - a dull, pouting Scarlett Johansson is completely upstaged by the famous Anne, played with icy intensity by Natalie Portman.
Hearing of the King's strained relationship with Catherine of Aragon and knowing that he will soon be in search of a mistress, Sir Thomas persuades his daughters to try and woo the monarch in the hope that it will radically alter the family's fortunes.
Unfortunately, all he succeeds in doing is sparking a deadly rivalry that ends in tragedy.
Though its premise is an interesting one, The Other Boleyn Girl is hampered by some questionable performances.
Portman is accomplished enough, but her transformation from vulnerable innocent to ruthless Machiavellian halfway through fails to convince, while Johansson is boring as the goody-goody Mary Boleyn.
Eric Bana, too, seems slightly miscast in a role in which he has little to do but scowl and occasionally bemoan he has no sons.
The climactic drama in the second half of the film seems rushed as Anne Boleyn begins to captivate and bewitch the hapless Tudor.
The ramifications of their affair are hurried like a badly revised GCSE syllabus. Get a divorce Henry. But what about the Pope? Who cares? Just create a new church. Yeah okay, Anne.
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