Based on the best selling novel (what isn't these days - yet, we are still to see a big screen adaption of BFG...) by Philippa Gregory, The Other Boleyn Girl is essentially a non-related prequel to Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (and one can only imagine, the way things are going, the prequel/sequel to Elizabeth IV: Tokyo Drift).
Engrossing as it is downright trashy, Boleyn comes as somewhat of a surprisingly watchable piece of history. Much like the multi-award winning Atonement, Boleyn
gets started rather stereotypically (you know the score: bad English
accents, cheesy romance, well groomed folk who wouldn't have the
resources to be so clean) but quickly takes off on it's own path which makes Jerry Springer seem like Hi-5.
The
flick follows the sisters Boleyn, Anne and Mary played by the sexy duo
of Natalie Portman (queen of cute) & Scarlett Johansson (she
of enormous lips), who are driven by their ambitious (if not slightly
feeble) father and corrupt power-hungry uncle to advance the family's
power and status by courting the affections of the King of England.
Easy task...
However,
things soon go pear shaped after the King's (Australia's Eric Bana) eye
wanders to the "ugly" sister and throws Uncle Boleyn's plans into
disarray. What remains is a good ol' fashioned sisterly Melrose Place
style scrag match for the love of a King (one driven by ambition, the
other by true affection) until England is literally torn apart. Let's
face it - they were the Brad & Angelina's of that era, so it seems
only right that we pry into their sordid personal affairs.
The
performances aren't likely to win anyone any statues of merit any time
soon (and as proud as I am of Bana being an Aussie and making a name
for himself, I'm yet to see him in a performance that shows any of the
skills which warrants such success) but everyone gives enough to keep
things moving. The real winner here is the truly sordid (and, sadly,
true) tales of our past.
And, honestly, we all really have to
wonder why the hell we put faith in our leaders - when they all have
more skeletons in their closets than Hannibal Lector.
Not as bad or boring as it could have been, The Other Boleyn Girl turns out to be something of a guilty pleasure. EXTRAS
The
copy we recieved lacked any extras on it. But expect, if anything, a
few featurrettes and other material which you are likely to watch once.
Although, it might have been nice to have some kind of documentary
included which looked at the real life events the film is exploring.
We can only hope!
Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 60%
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