The Other Boleyn Girl

Starring: Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristen Scott Thomas
Written by:Peter Morgan (Screenplay), Phillipa Gregory (book)
Directed by:Justin Chadwick


Natalie Portman stars as Anne Boleyn, the ill-fated second wife of Henry VIII. The story begins with her conniving father (Jim Sturgess)turning down a marriage match with a merchants son for her, a child of approximately six, because 'she can do much better'. This sets the tone for the whole of the film, the slyness and ambition of primarily the father and the repurcussions that his children have to bear as a result of his actions.
Fast forward some years and Henry VIII (Eric Bana) and his queen Catherine (Ana Torent), have just lost another infant, born stillborn. The marriage is strained, and Anne's uncle,Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey), being a close friend of the king, realises that he may look for solace elsewhere. He visits Anne's father,Thomas, discussing the need for a Howard girl to be placed in prime position. Thomas suggests Anne. Anne is approached, and after initial horror at the proposition agrees with the proposal.
Anne's mother (Kirsten Scott Thomas) is disgusted by this and makes her feelings well known, particularly when Anne's attempts fail, and her newly married sister Mary (Scarlett Johanssen), is drafted in instead. The King is smitten by Mary and the whole family is summoned to court as a result. Mary falls for Henry and seemingly he for her, and she quickly becomes pregnant. Everything is going swimmingly for the Boleyns, until Mary suffers a scare in her pregnancy and has to become bed bound. The family know he will soon want another mistress and Anne is called out of exile in France, where she was sent after marrying a noble without permission, to try and entice the King once more.
Anne sees Mary's actions as the ultimate betrayal, and conspires to ruin her happiness. She comes back from France a changed woman, leading the King on, but outwardly seeming to reject him, in honour of her sister, which he can't stand and falls for. She conspires to become Queen and persuades him to break with Rome and divorce his wife and marry her instead.
She gets what she wants, but its a slippery downhill slope towards a beheading. She doesnt provide the son she promised Henry and is hated by the public, and court alike.
Natalie Portman performs well in the role, as the conniving, conspiring, ambitious Anne and while one should have no sympathy for her, given that she betrays her sister more than once and anyone else who stands in her way, somehow one still does, particularly when she seems to be losing her mind upon becoming Queen. One can see the influence of her equally conniving father and uncle, who use her as they need her, then banish her to France when she fails to get them what they want.
Scarlett Johanssen is in a much smaller, less challenging role, the antidote to Anne's badness is Mary's goodness, although one wishes she would get some back bone! But this is the character rather then the actresses failing.
Eric Bana plays the weak willed, easily led King Henry with ease. The role required quite a bit of storming around and smouldering looks, which he manages with aplomb!
The film is well shot with plenty of historical accuracy, magnifecent sets and costumes, and while it drags slightly towards the end it is an entertaining watch and not a bad way to spend a rainy sunday night!