IESB Presents - FilmGeekz.com - The Other Boleyn Girl

The Other Boleyn Girl - Review Hot

Movie Reviews

Release Date: February 29, 2008
Studio: Sony Pictures
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romantic • Drama
Director: Justin Chadwick
Writers: Philippa Gregory, Peter Morgan
Cast: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristen Scott Thomas, Mark Rylance, David Morrissey
Synopsis: Based on the best selling novel by Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl is an engrossing and sensual tale of intrigue, romance, and betrayal set against the backdrop of a defining moment in history. Two sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) Boleyn, are driven by their ambitious father and uncle to advance the family's power and status by courting the affections of the King of England (Eric Bana). Leaving behind the simplicity of country life, the girls are thrust into the dangerous and thrilling world of court life – and what began as a bid to help their family develops into a ruthless rivalry between Anne and Mary for the love of the king. Initially, Mary wins King Henry’s favor and becomes his mistress, bearing him an illegitimate child. But Anne, clever, conniving, and fearless, edges aside both her sister and Henry’s wife, Queen Katherine of Aragon, in her relentless pursuit of the king. Despite Mary’s genuine feelings for Henry, her sister Anne has her sights set on the ultimate prize; Anne will not stop until she is Queen of England. As the Boleyn girls battle for the love of a king – one driven by ambition, the other by true affection – England is torn apart. Despite the dramatic consequences, the Boleyn girls ultimately find strength and loyalty in each other, and they remain forever connected by their bond as sisters.
The Review: Mikey discovers that this is NOT the prequel to "The Other Sister" while Rori rebuts.

Better put this out there before I begin; I haven't read the book. So this isn't going to be one of those book adaptation reviews. I'll leave that portion to Rori (See Below) and just focus on my unspoiled take on things.

I wasn't really sure what to expect from this movie; looking at the cast and the trailers leaves you wondering if this is more Dangerous Liaisons, Henry V, or *shiver* Marie Antoinette. I had hope and faith that it would fall somewhere south of the first two and far north of that last one, and it wasn't unfounded.

In case you don't know your history or the book this is based on; this is the story of Anne Boleyn (Natalie Portman) and how her love and ambition for King Henry VIII tore apart her family and changed England forever. Watching the Boleyn family navigate their way to power is pretty nauseating, stopping at nothing to attain status and power. But it's Anne who becomes the Great White Shark of the family and pays the ultimate price with her virtue and soul.

The sad part of Anne's story is the simple moment where she was ready to just go her own way and find love over seeking power; naturally her family wouldn't allow it, and from then on Anne just becomes more twisted and cunning, quite literally a monster they can no longer control. A few days ago I watched Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, which featured a tooth achy sweet Natalie Portman. Natalie is this generation’s Audrey Hepburn, gorgeous, classy, and yet somehow approachable. Seeing Magorium and Boleyn so close together is like watching Portman go from zero to bitchy in record time.

Of all the tales of Henry VIII (Eric Bana), this one is pretty tame; he's more lead by his cock than the vicious nature other stories would focus on. He's damn near likable in this movie and so is Bana's portrayal of him. Though I admit in my head I was secretly hoping he'd turn green and smash France or something (Nothing against France). Anyway...how lucky is this mofo? Knocking Royal boots with Portman and Johansson...you are a god among insects sir, and I envy you.

Every story needs a victim, and this one has Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson); honestly I kept expecting some twist ending where Mary just totally screws over everyone, but as it turns out she was just a nice girl in love who also loved her sister. So maybe I'm entirely too cynical. Scarlett Johansson is damn cute in this, in a sad puppy kind of way. Normally she's just knock out hot, but here you just want to give her a hug (hey, I give great hugs...ask around). I know rumors keep popping up that Scarlett is becoming more and more of a party girl but I really hope it's unfounded or that she can keep it in check, she's too talented to waste it...leave that crap to Spears and Hilton.

Again, having not read the book, I'm not sure what's been changed, removed or added to the story, but one major complaint I have is that while they focus in on the finer details for some portions, other moments just seem to get skipped over. It feels like a three hour movie that has gotten trimmed down to a two hour one. I think this one needs another pass through editing to expand it out for a more solid story.

The bottom line of course is that I found the movie enjoyable and that most people who are fans of period pieces will enjoy it as well...but if you are a fan of the book..well, lets face it how many times have you heard "The book was better" ?

Rori’s Rebuttal:

I read the book; and yes, it WAS better. Of course, there was wayyyyyy too much material to do it justice in two hours. I did feel, too, that they edited badly, making too much out of insignificant stuff and glossing over or skipping entirely things that were far more important. Perhaps the creation of the Church of England as a tool to circumvent the Catholic Church for the sole purpose of putting aside the first of many wives who didn’t pass muster isn’t glamorous enough to spend much time on, but it really did affect every one of these characters far more than the line it qualified for let on.

Similarly, Henry’s rise and decline as one of history’s most fascinating rulers was given sad treatment. Bana’s Henry didn’t have much emotional, physical or age range; historically (and yes, in the book – nyah) he went from young and hot while wooing the younger Boleyn girl to fat, broken down, sullen and hard to want by the time Anne got her talons into him. And she was only his second wife!

While the movie doesn’t treat historical accuracy, nor the novel it’s based on with too much respect, the leading ladies were spectacular; Scarlett was perfect as the “milk & honey” foil to Anne’s conniving, darker sister. They are a well matched set in the chess game that was Court life in Henry’s era; I really did enjoy watching Portman shift from naïve but arrogant Anne to courtly and viper-esque after banishment to French royal life.

The costumes too were amazing. For a period piece, the sets didn’t grab me too much, but the costumes had me pondering the wisdom of a Ren-Faire visit (you’d have to know me to understand how unlikely that is under normal circumstances).

It was pretty to look at, and did offer a new point of view to an old story (that of the infamous second wife of Henry the 8th), but I will say that if you’re at all inclined to read, perhaps picking up the book would be your better bet.
Rating: 3 out of 5

Latest Headlines

Podcasts Coming Soon!

IESB.net Headlines

CinemaSkin Headlines

Audio Frequency Headlines

Reel Urban Headlines

Coming Soon!

Ahora Hollywood Headlines
Coming Soon!

acne water filter career treadmill refinance airline tickets acne debt water filter replica handbags refinance air purifier lawn personal loan treadmill treadmill replica sunglsses replica sunglsses credit card golf airline tickets loan rugs airline tickets finance insurance debt replica handbags mortgage lingerie college insurance career cigars cigars rugs diapers lingerie water filter lingerie college mortgage insurance treadmill lawn personal airline tickets loan bankruptcy