2008 Woodie Awards
Lost between history lesson and soap opera
'The Other Boleyn Girl' reviewed
by Liz Seasholtz
Issue date: 3/4/08 Section: Mosaic
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Columbia Pictures
Rating: 2 stars (out of 4)
Viewing "The Other Boleyn Girl" is like watching one of history's great train wrecks in slow motion - you know things aren't going to end peacefully, but it's just too spectacularly gripping to look away.
Based on Philippa Gregory's novel, "The Other Boleyn Girl" showcases ambition, greed and lust gone awry in the 16th-century court of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana). The story is told through the interactions of the Boleyn sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson).
Directed by Justin Chadwick, the movie is divided into two sections. The first is a dramatic but lighthearted depiction of the sibling rivalry between Anne and Mary over who will "bed" King Henry. By the end of the first half, the plot doesn't have a decisive direction and audiences are left wondering where the movie is headed.
However, the section gains momentum and intensity as the soap opera of Tudor England erupts into the seriousness of adultery, incest, rape and execution. After Henry initially falls in love with Mary, he begins to lust after Anne, who expertly twists him around her dainty finger. Ultimately, what determines any woman's staying power with Henry is her ability to produce sons, which makes the last hour of the movie a frightening reality check of King Henry's twisted and unforgiving reign.
Despite all the warped plot developments, the acting is impressive. Bana and Johansson are satisfactory, with Bana adequately fulfilling the role of misogynistic womanizer and Johansson playing the doe-eyed, well-intentioned sister. However, it is Portman who shines with her extraordinary performance. She perfectly portrays Anne's evolution from youthful confidence to greedy malevolence to absolute shrieking panic.
The historical accuracy of the film is intriguing. While Mary Boleyn did exist, her interactions with King Henry are questionable, and she was also a mistress to the King of France. Most likely, she was not as innocent as portrayed and had more in common with her scheming sister than the film suggests.
Viewers' appreciation of "The Other Boleyn Girl" is dependent on preconceived expectations. Despite its association with BBC Films, its genre is more a glossy drama than historical epic - look elsewhere for an accurate chronicle of English history, because Chadwick's film isn't intellectually satisfying.
Furthermore, while the "The Other Boleyn Girl" is an English Tudor soap opera, it's also not a chick flick. Girls should expect to close their eyes at gruesome scenes, and guys will be unexpectedly satisfied at the action and intensity.
Regardless, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is compelling and entertaining - just don't expect to walk away feeling refreshed. Throughout the film heads will roll, and one will leave feeling more disturbed than enlightened.
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