The Other Boleyn Girl
Reviewer: Tim Isaac
Issue 106 August 2008
(No Ratings Yet)
click on the stars to submit your rating
Loading …
Well, no, it’s actually the Boleyn girl we thought it was.
The Lowdown: In Tudor England, the family of Mary Boleyn concocts a plan to make young Mary the king’s mistress, and get all the royal favours that come with such a position. However a rivalry develops between Mary and her sister Anne, which could see the latter usurping her sibling’s place in the king’s bed.
Review: Although Philippa Gregory’s novel was adapted by the BBC as a TV movie in 2003, it obviously wasn’t enough for Auntie Beeb, as they’ve now co-produced this feature film version full of Hollywood stars. While big name talent often find themselves ill at ease in the rather British confines of the period drama, it has to be said that Eric Bana, Scarlet Johansson and Natalie Portman are the best thing about The Other Boleyn Girl. The accents may occasionally wander, but overall they do a great job, and any emotion the movie wrings comes from their performances.
It’s a good job they all give fine performances, as the rest of the film is more problematic. It’s partly down to the structure, which doesn’t seem sure what to take time on and what to rush through, so some of the early romance goes on interminably, while the end is flashes past at ridiculous speed. You get the feeling this is a really long movie that’s been cut down to 110 minutes. Whether it is or not, there’s little doubt that, performances aside, The Other Boleyn Girl isn’t everything it could have been. That’s not least because despite being called The Other Boleyn Girl, it actually spends more time on the infamous story of Anne, than it does on her lesser-known sister, Mary.
FILM: 5
EXTRAS: 1
DVD Info:
Certificate: 12
Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristin Scott Thomas
Directed By: Justin Chadwick, 2008
Distributor:
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1
Visuals: 1.85:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
Running Time: 110 mins
Price: £19.99
Film supplied by: MarketME
Special Features:
Scene Selection
