The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)
September 11th 2010 11:24
With the still birth of Queen Catherines son, an opening is created in the Royal Court to be exploited by the powerful men surrounding the King.
The Duke of Norfolk, closest of those to Henry IIIV goes to his sisters home in the country to advise his brother-in-law of the opportunity and potential riches the family of the girl who takes the Kings heart could gain.
Newly married Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson) isn't considered, however elder sister Anne (Natalie Portman) is considered the perfect Mistress to the King of England. A visit is arranged at the family home and when Anne tempts the King to pursue the stag during the hunt, and the King is unhorsed the dreams of Lord Boleyn and his power hungry brother-in-law seem to be over before they've begun.
Mary is sent to wait on the King and Henry becomes enamoured with her innocence and beauty. He issues orders that Mary is to join the retinue of Queen Catherine, and the family move to the palace to take up positions at court.
While at Court, Mary becomes the Kings Mistress, quickly falling pregnant. Anne is left to her own devices and despite the ramifications, quickly marries Henry Percy. Lord Boleyn and her Uncle The Duke of Norfolk send Anne to France in exile. Lady Boleyn (Kristin Scott Thomas), on hearing of her daughters fate advises her daughter to use her time in France to learn all she can about living at Court.
When Mary is confined to her bed early in her pregnancy the Boleyn's send for Anne to come home. Should the King's attention wander, then Boleyns will lose their standing in court. Anne is charged with keeping Henry's attention on her sister Mary,
Anne has other ideas and sets out to seduce a king and win herself a Kingdom. Playing cat and mouse with the King of England, Anne alienates her sister from the King and on the day that Mary births an illegitimate son to the King, Anne extracts from Henry a promise that he will love her above all others.
Mary is sent to the country and Anne works at getting Catherine of Aragon put aside. On the night that the King divorces himself from his Queen and splits England in half by creating the Church of England, he tires of the games and exerts his will as King of England.
Anne birth's Elizabeth, and loses a second child, a son. The King, determined to have an heir has Anne charged with incest and both Anne and her brother George (Jim Sturgess) are beheaded.
This film had all the earmarks of success. A story loaded with love, sex, betrayal, power and corruption. An A List cast of extremely talented actors and yet it feels flat.
The vindictive, manipulative Anne Boleyn has nothing about her that is gentle or relateable. She is cold, throwing everything she has into a one shot deal for power and revenge against the sister she feels stole her life.
Eric Bana in the role of King Henry seemed more confused than anything else. As Henry is manipulated by Anne, appearing to go against his own morals and belief's for the younger woman, he seems to snap and on the eve of getting what he wants turns into a cold and bitter rapist, never forgiving the woman he believes at fault.
The Other Boleyn Girl seemed more 80's soap opera than period film. The pursuit of power and the willingness of the men in the family to sacrifice everyone they loved for the chance at wealth was really one dimensional. There was so much that could have been achieved with this film.
The characters don't seem to develop at all. From cold and manipulative to terrified and unable to think Anne doesn't so much develop and break. The same can be said for the King. From loving and besotted to cold, hate-filled rapist. I'm not overly sure where the film got lost, but there's a damn good story in there, it just didn't come across.
The Other Boleyn Girl is based on the novel of the same name by Phillippa Gregory. The film is ok, but definitely not the best one to have been made about the life and death of Anne Boleyn.
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Comment by Deni
Abstract Magick
Cinema Herald
Nice review.
Comment by Mike Cullen
The Authors Cafe
The Life Design Experiment
OutFlicks
Pop Culturer
Film Mage
I really appreciate your comment. It was a shame really, I though the film had such a great premise.