'The Other Boleyn Girl' lacks royal substance
By Julie Feinerman, Staff Writer
March 6, 2008 | 6 p.m.
Based on the best-selling novel by Philippa Gregory, "The Other Boleyn Girl" is a story of desire and betrayal during a pivotal time in history when power and passion destroy a beloved kingdom.
Justin Chadwick directs an A-list cast, including Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana (“Troy”). Portman plays the devious Anne Boleyn who retaliates against her innocent sister Mary Boleyn (Johansson) after she catches the king’s eye (Bana). As the result of her sister’s affair, Anne Boleyn is exiled to France, but she soon returns to England looking for vengeance.
In the film, Anne and Mary Boleyn start out with a bond so strong it seems unlikely that anyone could come between them, until the king decides to claim a new mistress to bear a male heir. Although the women dominate the screen, during this time period the men dominate the women, controlling every aspect of their lives.
“Allowing men to be in charge is the art of a woman,” Anne's mother tells her. The art of sacrifice also plays a major role in the film. It is the women who sacrifice themselves for the advancement of their family and future despite what they really want.
Examples of this include Anne Boleyn’s sacrificing of her reputation and hopes of a normal marriage in order to please her father by trying to become the king’s mistress. Mary Boleyn also sacrifices her happy marriage in order to satisfy her father and the king, who wishes her to become his mistress. There is also the king who sacrifices his country, his queen, Mary Boleyn and their son in order to win over Anne Boleyn’s affections.
The movie’s opening scene shows three young siblings, Anne, Mary and George Boleyn, happily playing in an open field while their mother and father discuss their futures. At such a young age, Mary Boleynhas already been promised to a boy, and her future is set, at least for the time being. Throughout the movie, viewers get a sense of Mary’s soft character. She is a very simple girl who asks for nothing but a loving husband and a life in the country. She is possibly the only likable and trustworthy character during the entire movie.
Tensions arise when the queen of England is no longer able to reproduce, and the king is pressured to provide a male heir. The search is on for the king’s mistress, and Anne Boleyn is given the task of seducing him by the will of her status-seeking father. Unfortunately for her, it is the newly married Mary Boleyn that grabs the king’s attention and soon becomes his new mistress. A rivalry between the two sisters begins and while Mary Boleyn is showered with the finest amenities, Anne Boleyn rebels in the background where a secret marriage between her and a promised man leads her to annulment and exile to France.
Months later Anne Boleyn is summoned to return to England while her sister is put on constant bed rest for the safety of her unborn baby. This is the turning point in the movie. The atmosphere becomes very dark and sinister, much like Anne Boleyn’s character. No longer does she just want the king, but she wants the ultimate title of queen. She becomes a power-hungry woman, tearing down all that comes between her and what she wants, ultimately leading to her destruction.
Portman and Johansson play a stunning pair of sisters, and the chemistry between these two actresses is intense, but unfortunately it cannot truly capture the essence of this historical time. Bana does a fantastic job playing the king of England, which was apparent when the audience started clapping during a scene where he stripped his shirt off. His sexiness proves to be his best asset.
In a time where women were sold to the highest bidder, “The Other Boleyn Girl” captures the heat of the moment but fails to produce the core meaning of a historical period of time.
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"The Other Boleyn Girl"
Speakeasy Rating: B-
Runtime: 114 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sexual content and violent images
Genre: Drama, Romance