Other Boleyn Girl, The Review

"The Other Boleyn Girl" reviews

DVD

The Other Boleyn Girl

Author

anonymous

Date reviewed

2008-06-27 16:50:24

Provider

MRIB

DVD Review

Based on the best selling novel by Philippa Gregory, this fictionalised story focusses on two Boleyn sisters vying for the affections of King Henry VIII.

Sharply scripted for the screen by Peter Morgan (The Queen) the story tells how ambitious Sir Thomas Boleyn - advised by his brother-in-law, the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey), puts his daughters in the frame to become the King's mistress after noticing his current wife, Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent), has failed to produce a male heir.

Anne (Natalie Portman) is the scheming, younger of the two and Mary (Scarlett Johansson), the innocent elder one whose beleaguered husband reluctantly goes along with the plan. It is initially Mary who the King falls for

which enrages Anne who elopes to France with a relative nobody (Oliver Coleman). Her jealousy is not cooled, however, and she returns to flirt outrageously with the King until he gives in to her charms.

With Portman and Johansson vying for his affections the old Mel Brooks History Of The World Part 1 line "it's good to be the king" springs to mind. They are both good actresses and alongside Aussie actor Eric Bana, their talent transfers quite well to the period drama while Kristin Scott Thomas, who plays the voice of reason against Sir Thomas, is more at home and typically captivating.

While the subject matter might suggest something more highbrow, The Other Boleyn Girl is delightfully trashy, sexy and engrossing.

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