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Member since:30.04.2003
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I have always been interested in Tudor history and enjoyed reading Philipa Gregory’s well-researched novels set in the period. One of my favourites was the other Boleyn girl, so when I received the DVD of the same name as a present I couldn’t wait to watch it. However as this review will show my excitement was ill founded!
The cast. *********** Natalie Portman-Anne Boleyn. Scarlett Johansson-Mary Boleyn. Eric Bana-King Henry V111. Ana Torren-Queen Catherine of Aragon. Jim Sturgess- George Boleyn. Kristin Scott Thomas-Lady Elizabeth Boleyn. David Morrissey-Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk.
Directed by Justin Chadwick. Writer- Peter Morgan. Cert-12 Running time-115 minutes.
The story begins when Anne, Mary and their brother George are young children. The opening scene shows the three children playing happily together. Their parents are discussing a marriage for Mary. Mary is married to William Carey who is described as the son of a local merchant. There is brief scene showing the wedding celebration.
The story continues with King Henry paying a visit to the Boleyn household at Hever castle. The beautiful and witty Anne catches the Kings eye. Later the king sustains a fall whilst out riding and it is the quite Mary who nurses him. The king is now besotted with Mary.
Anne begins a relationship with Henry Percy, son of the powerful Duke of Northumberland. She is secretly betrothed to him.
Mary finds out and tells their father and uncle, the Duke of Norfolk. Outraged by her action George Boleyn and Thomas Howard send Anne away to the French court. To marry a noble without the Kings consent is an act of treason and they want to scandal when they are trying to further their ambitions through the affair that Mary is having with the King.
Keen to further the Boleyn fortunes uncle Thomas Howard and George Boleyn encourage Mary to court the King’s favour and become his mistress. Queen Catherine is fully aware of her husband’s extra marital affairs and this one is no exception. There follows a scene with Henry and Mary in a passionate embrace but the scene ends without showing anything too explicit. Mary becomes pregnant with the Kings child and gives birth to a son. Whilst Mary is pregnant the King has become besotted with Anne.
Henry now decides to abandon Mary and gives his full attention to Anne. Anne resists his attentions as she has ambitions of her own. Anne wants to be queen and persuades Henry to set aside Queen Catherine. There is a brief scene showing the court that was set up to accuse Queen Catherine of not being King Henrys true wife. However there is only a fleeting mention of her marriage to Arthur, Henry’s older brother! This was the reason cited for the divorce.
The divorce is granted and Henry is now free to marry Anne. The film now seems to really speed up, missing huge chunks of Anne’s life with Henry. The birth of Elizabeth is shown with Henrys disappointment at having another daughter. Following the birth the King is no longer really interested in his wife and seeks comfort elsewhere. Anne has a stillbirth and her fate is sealed.
Anne now sees the only way for her to regain her position is to give Henry the son he so desperately desires. In order to try and do this she begs her brother George to father a child with her. Their meetings are seen and the King informed. Anne is arrested and tried. She is accused of having an incestuous relationship with her brother an act of high treason. She is found guilty by all present including her uncle the Duke of Norfolk. As we know from history Anne was beheaded for her so called crimes.
The film started off fairly well. The Boleyn's are shown to be of similar age which we know from history is true. From there onwards however things quickly go down hill! The story bears little resemblance to Philippa Gregory’s excellent book or to the events of history. William Carey was in fact a member of the privy chamber with access to the king. This is not mentioned. Anne spent much of her early life at the French court where she was sent to accompany Mary, Henry V111’s younger sister. She was not exiled as a punishment for her betrothal to Northumberland. In fact it was Thomas Cromwell who ended the relationship between Anne and Henry Percy. However as Cromwell is never mentioned in this film history has been rewritten!
Not only is Cromwell not mentioned neither are many of the other important players from this period of history. There is no mention of Archbishop Cramner or the Spanish ambassador Chapuys. Thomas Cromwell was instrumental in securing the King his divorce from Catherine of Aragon but this is not mentioned.
Anne was married to Henry for 3 years. Watching this film you could be forgiven for thinking it was a few weeks! There is no insight gained into the relationship between Anne and Henry. As this was probably one of the most passionate love affairs of all time you would have expected any film to portray a fair bit of passion! This film fails miserably. There is very little substance to the film at all. We know Anne attended an important meeting between Henry and the French King Francis 1. This was known as the field of the cloth of gold as it was so lavish. This is not mentioned. When Anne was arrested she was accused of having sexual relationships with several noble men as well as with the musician Mark Smeaton. None of this was mentioned.
If the acting had been good then the film may have redeemed itself a little despite the weak plot. However the acting was, for me, as weak as the plot! Natalie Portman as Anne was nowhere near as feisty as I would have liked. Scarlett Johansson was a bit better as Mary but given the script there was little she could really do! At least she bought some passion to the film with her bedroom scene!
Eric Bana should never have been cast as Henry. He looked nothing like the portraits of the king and showed none of the presence we associate with Henry. In fact he came across as a slightly weak figure who was totally manipulated by those around him. Ana Torrent was a bit more convincing as the Spanish Queen Catherine as was David Morrissey as Norfolk. However the best performance for me was that of Kristen Scott-Thomas as lady Elizabeth Boleyn. I thought she portrayed the feisty mother of Anne and Mary well and with feeling.
The only positive things I can say about this film is that the costumes were good and the settings convincing. There were several shots showing the Tudor buildings in detail that were pleasing. The costumes were not outstanding or gorgeous as you might have expected but they were good.
Overall this looks like a budget film made in a hurry! I found it extremely frustrating to watch given its historical inaccuracies. If you want to know more about this fascinating period of history then I suggest you read Philipa Gregory’s book by the same name!
Definitely not recommended! However if you really want to watch this then you can pick up a copy for £4.98 from Amazon.
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I didn't go see this as I knew it would be an atrocious butchery of history. From your review it obviously doesn't cut it as a fictional bodice ripper either.
anonymili 09.05.2009 15:22
Henry VIII was a pig of a man by all accounts. I refuse to watch films about this joke of a king but enjoyed reading your take on this film.x
A sumptuous and sensual tale of intrigue, romance and betrayel set against the backdrop of ... more
a defining moment in European history, The Other Boleyn Girl tells the story of two beautiful sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary Boleyn (Scarlett Johansson...
Advantages: Beautiful lead actressess and sumptuous costumes. Disadvantages: Historically inaccurate and a bit rushed at the end.
space_chick2004 20.10.2008 (21.10.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Other Boleyn Girl (DVD)
Advantages: Costuming is a joy, Portman is enchanting Disadvantages: Eric Bana is misplaced, some parts lack passion
huntressofthenight 16.11.2008 (16.11.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Other Boleyn Girl (DVD)
![The Other Boleyn Girl [DVD] [2008]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/79124883.jpg "The Other Boleyn Girl [DVD] [2008]")
![The Other Boleyn Girl [DVD] [2003]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78679273.jpg "The Other Boleyn Girl [DVD] [2003]")
Mar 16th, 2009
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