The Other Boleyn Girl: The Movie

So I’m not a historian. And as such I don’t really notice the historical inaccuracies in this movie or in the book its based off of. That being said, I did notice how much they changed the movie from the book, which was rather irritating.

The Boleyn family has long been favorites at court. So when little Mary Boleyn, newly married, attracts the eye of the King, she is forced to play his mistress but falls in love while doing so. But he is easily distracted and while she lays in childbed, her sister Anne becomes his new favorite. But Anne isn’t content to merely be a mistress, she wants to be Queen. She’ll push King Henry to the limit for his desires and plays a dangerous game while doing so. Mary, and her brother George, are also caught up in Anne’s plan as these three Boleyns seek ambition far above them.

Characters:
Natalie Portman: Anne Boleyn
Scarlett Johannson: Mary Boleyn
Eric Bana: Henry VIII
Jim Sturgess: George Boleyn

I think that most of the characters were well cast in this film. Portman and Johannson were great as the Boleyn sisters and even did the sibling rivalry thing quite well. I’m used to Johannson in tougher roles so to see her a bit meeker in this role as Mary was unusual for me. But she still played it well. Their brother George, while a big part in the book, had a smaller role in the movie, but I thought Jim Sturgess did a good job of making him the light hearted sibling. The only character I really have a complaint about is Eric Bana as Henry. His acting was ok, but Henry was always described as a Golden King and Prince. Eric Bana is dark haired and not very jovial. In other words, he wasn’t King Henry VIII.

As stated before the movie only partially followed the book. They left out quite a few important details and I don’t think it did them any favors. I do realize that the passage of time that happens in the book couldn’t happen in the movie, but that also kind of ruined things for me too since the timeline was too rushed. The actual movie was shot well and the scenery was very nice. I was impressed by the settings of the castles and inside the castles as it seemed very authentic. The music was ok, but nothing that really made you stand up and take notice which is just as well since this is more of a drama than any other type of movie.

I do have to make mention of a few scenes in this book because those viewers with a weaker constitution may not find them appropriate. While no naughty bits are actually shown, there are a couple of sex scenes and a rape scene within this movie. Consider yourself warned if you can’t stand such things.

It wasn’t a bad movie but it could have been much improved on. If they make another one of Gregory’s books into a movie I just may check it out.

Review by M. Reynard 2011


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