Spring Break
'Boleyn' Only Mediocre
Movie Review
Alyssa Carroll
Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: Focus
In Justin Chadwick's new film "The Other Boleyn Girl," actresses Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman play sisters competing against each other, while used as pawns for their family's social and financial advancement. The film begins with the three Boleyn children, Anne Boleyn (Portman), and Mary Boleyn (Johansson), running in golden fields of wheat with their brother, played by Jim Sturgess. They quickly grow up - Mary the fair, golden, and kind sister, and Anne the darker, more ambitious sister who will do anything for power. The sisters' sinister uncle, played by David Morrissey, a duke and frequenter of the royal court, sees an opportunity in the crumbling marriage between King Henry Tudor of England, played by Eric Bana, and his wife who fails to produce an heir to the throne. Anne is convinced by her uncle and father to tempt the King into taking her as a mistress, but fails when her gentler sister Mary beguiles him. The King desires Mary to be closer to him, and summons the Boleyn family to court, doting upon them and giving them positions within the court.
The King and Mary soon have a love affair, and the sisterly bond of the Boleyn girls is broken, when their father exiles Anne to the courts of France, after Anne elopes with a man who she may not legally be with. When Mary becomes pregnant with the King's child, Anne is brought back to keep the King's attention away from other women. However, the family is torn apart as Anne betrays her sister, motivated by revenge, and steals the King's affections, leaving Mary alone and heartbroken.
The acting and plot in the film was good, though not great, with some inconsistencies in accents, and some lack of character development. Portman is a very believable Boleyn, and stands out in the film giving a great performance as the woman whose love began and religion, and changed the face of England forever. Johansson, though out-acted by Portman, also does a fair job. Jim Sturgess, who played Jude in "Across the Universe," gives a performance that matches Portman's, but in a smaller role. Bana gives a mediocre performance as King Henry, and his striking looks seem to out shadow his acting. Two of the most well acted roles were the smaller ones of Lady Boleyn, the mother portrayed by Kristen Scott Thomas, and Queen Catherine of Aragon, played by Ana Torrent. Both stood out as strong, independent women creating a dichotomy with the more male-dependant Boleyn sisters.
The King and Mary soon have a love affair, and the sisterly bond of the Boleyn girls is broken, when their father exiles Anne to the courts of France, after Anne elopes with a man who she may not legally be with. When Mary becomes pregnant with the King's child, Anne is brought back to keep the King's attention away from other women. However, the family is torn apart as Anne betrays her sister, motivated by revenge, and steals the King's affections, leaving Mary alone and heartbroken.
The acting and plot in the film was good, though not great, with some inconsistencies in accents, and some lack of character development. Portman is a very believable Boleyn, and stands out in the film giving a great performance as the woman whose love began and religion, and changed the face of England forever. Johansson, though out-acted by Portman, also does a fair job. Jim Sturgess, who played Jude in "Across the Universe," gives a performance that matches Portman's, but in a smaller role. Bana gives a mediocre performance as King Henry, and his striking looks seem to out shadow his acting. Two of the most well acted roles were the smaller ones of Lady Boleyn, the mother portrayed by Kristen Scott Thomas, and Queen Catherine of Aragon, played by Ana Torrent. Both stood out as strong, independent women creating a dichotomy with the more male-dependant Boleyn sisters.
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