Opinion » Movie Reviews

High hopes for ‘Boleyn' went the other way

Print this story | Email this story

As I sit here, at my computer, I do not know about which poor or mediocre movie to write. I'd like to say something positive and promote a great film, but alas, I cannot. So what to do? I had particularly high hopes for “The Other Boleyn Girl,” starring Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman and Eric Bana. I appreciate the quality of the cast, the beauty of the cinematography and the semi-historical storyline, but long dull moments and glitches in the story make it fall into the middle-of-the-road category for me.

Based on the novel by Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl chronicles not only the life of the infamous Anne (Natalie), but of her sister Mary (Johansson) too. Both the book and the film attempt a look at a slice of 16th century history through the eyes of the two Boleyn sisters. My young screening guest, my best friend's daughter Riley Bird who read the novel, tells me Gregory's version presents a far more rigid portrayal of Anne and lends more time and energy to the fairer, sweeter Mary, than does Peter Morgan's screenplay - the book is better than the film.

In Morgan's version, we meet the sisters and their brother when they are children as their parents watch them frolic in a field, negotiating the girls' future - futures which could make or break the family financially. It seems arranged marriages take place years in advance. But when King Henry the VIII's (Bana) first wife Katherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent - yet another dark-haired Spanish version of the fair-haired queen) fails to deliver a male heir, Mary and Anne's ruthless, money- and power-hungry uncle arranges for the king to meet the headstrong Anne. After an unfortunate hunting accident caused by Anne, the now-married Mary is sent to care for the injured king, who becomes instantly smitten and thus begins a seething sibling rivalry between the sisters (at least from Anne's perspective) and a downward spiral for the Boleyn family. It matters not that Mary has a husband. He is dispensed with quite quickly and the first of the Boleyn “whores” takes up residence in the king's castle.

With “The Other Boleyn Girl,” director Justin Chadwick turns a bit of fascinating British history into a dark chick-flick. Visually - with its brilliant costumes and the striking looks of its stars - the film most certainly is a beauty to behold. Scenes shimmer seductively and glow luminously in candlelit chambers and demonstrate the monumental scope of the English countryside, manors and castles. The rich colors of the costumes (although the color schemes and fabric combinations nearly drove me to distraction) light up the darkness of the chambers and hallways of Henry's kingdom. There is a true sense of multi-color-dimension when these ladies enter a room, capturing the eye and creating the moment. Chadwick utilizes drapes, shadows and filters, giving each scene a feel of mystery and intrigue.

Each member of the cast, known and unknown, takes his or her character with utmost seriousness, save one. The ladies in particular deliver sophisticated performances in what at times is little more than a daytime soap. Johansson plays the sweeter, more timid sister whose only desire is to live a quiet life in the country with her husband - not as a concubine to a selfish king. Portman enjoys the truly passionate part as the ambitious, obstinate Anne. She gets to verbally spar with the king and she does so with particular zest and zeal, but besting this particular Henry is not difficult. Bana's portrayal bored me and Morgan and Chadwick truly waste his character. As I understand it, Henry was both big in stature and in personality. Bana's Henry says little and he delivers his meager lines listlessly at best. Bana did not seem to be into his role. All in all, however, Chadwick gets the absolute best from his cast, which includes Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey and Jim Sturgess.

For me, the most impressive aspect of PG-13-rated “The Other Boleyn Girl” lies with the two young American actresses. Johansson and Portman, whose recent roles have been less than fascinating or passionate, make this film interesting enough to look past many of its foibles. Their interactions and those when Anne is showing her true and passionate colors kept me connected to a sometimes lackluster film. I am placing a C+ in my gradebook. I'd like to give it more and most assuredly my young friend Riley would, but alas, I cannot.

Reader Comments