The Other Boleyn Girl

Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Jim Sturgess, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey, Mark Rylance, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne, Juno Temple
Directed by: Justin Chadwick
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, History, Romance
2008

Times Seen:
Tim: 1


Summary: Two sisters (Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson) vie for the attention of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). Their meddling threatens to tear England apart and may result in their own deaths.

Review:

Tim: This film accomplishes a rare feat- make a stuffy period piece feel modern and live to contemporary audiences. This has failed before (Marie Antoinette), but here it works. This film does a very good job of telling the story of Henry VIII and the Boleyn sisters, which ultimately results in the eventual ascension of Elizabeth to the throne (tell me you've seen Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth).

This film works because of an excellent cast. Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn and Scarlett Johansson as Mary is terrific casting work. I especially liked that they were cast opposite of what you'd traditionally expect them to play. Portman is the scheming, ambitious sister, while Johansson is much kinder and more conservative. They work well together throughout the movie, although they aren't exactly believable as sisters. Eric Bana is great as Henry VIII. He lends the film additional credibility and seriousness as he throws himself emotionally into his role. His charisma is evident, and he works well with both Portman and Johansson. Jim Sturgess is good in his smaller role, as is Kristin Scott Thomas.

As often happens with period pieces, the movie does drag in a few places. There is just so much involved in this story, and the movie makes some somewhat awkward leaps through time, especially near the end (when it begins to feel rushed, like the producers suddenly realized they had thirty minutes to wrap everything up and just start jumping around to finish in time). This does hurt the movie, but not greatly. I do wish the film's conclusion had been a little more powerful. I don't have great complaints with it, but I was expecting a little more.

The great performances of the cast really bring these characters to life. Instead of feeling like you are watching a period piece where you already know everything that happens, who lives and who dies (which I did), you're much more engaged in each of these characters, in the danger they find themselves in as they rise too far with ambition. This is a testament to the entire cast, but especially to Johansson and Portman.

The Other Boleyn Girl is a successful movie, making a terribly trying time also a very enjoyable one for audiences to watch. It is a flawed movie, but it does so much right that it'll be hard not to derive some enjoyment from it. I was entertained, and I definitely recommend seeing this.


Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Elizabeth, Elizabeth: The Golden Age