The Other Boleyn Girl (2008)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Justin Chadwick

Writers:

Peter Morgan (screenplay)
Philippa Gregory (novel)

Release Date:

29 February 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | Romance

Tagline:

The only thing that could come between these sisters... is a kingdom.

Plot:

Two sisters contend for the affection of King Henry VIII.

Plot Keywords:

King Henry VIII | King | Love | Intrigue | Betrayal

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Natalie Portman	...	Anne Boleyn
Scarlett Johansson	...	Mary Boleyn
Eric Bana	...	Henry Tudor
Jim Sturgess	...	George Boleyn
Mark Rylance	...	Sir Thomas Boleyn
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Lady Elizabeth Boleyn
David Morrissey	...	Thomas Howard - Duke of Norfolk
Benedict Cumberbatch	...	William Carey
Oliver Coleman	...	Henry Percy
Ana Torrent	...	Katherine of Aragon
Eddie Redmayne	...	William Stafford
Tom Cox	...	Rider
Michael Smiley	...	Physician
Montserrat Roig de Puig	...	Lady in Waiting
Juno Temple	...	Jane Parker

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content and some violent images.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:15A | Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:15 | Netherlands:12 | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Québec) | Australia:M | New Zealand:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43291) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-7 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Hong Kong:IIA | Brazil:14 | Taiwan:PG-12 | UK:12A | France:U | Argentina:16 | Malaysia:U | Sweden:7 | Peru:14 | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

The love letter than Mary reads to herself says, "My heart and I surrender themselves into your hands." This is an actual quote from the real letter, but the letter was for Anne, not Mary.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Anne makes her speech on the execution block, a painted metal drainpipe, with metal bands fixing it to the wall, is clearly visible behind her.

Quotes:

Anne Boleyn: [on Mary's wedding night] You afraid?
Mary Boleyn: A little.
Anne Boleyn: I should be able to tell you how it will be tonight; give you advice on what to do. I failed you as an elder sister.
Mary Boleyn: No one could wish for a better sister.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-03-01)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Westron Wynde

Not a history lesson, it's a movie, a good one at that

When I first saw the trailer for The Other Boleyn Girl, I have to admit, it looked good, but like it wasn't accurate. I am a huge history buff, especially in the time of England's dark ages, I am fairly familiar with the Boleyn sisters and their affections for King Henry, Anne being the second wife to be executed for committing adultery and not birthing a son heir to the thrown, her life was absolutely horrific if you think about how hard it was to be a woman in this era. I was a little scared that they wouldn't portray her well in this film, but my mom and I saw The Other Boleyn Girl today and even though I'm not fully satisfied with the portrayal of Anne, the movie is still very good. The story has a Hollywood layer to give the story a little more "oomph" sort of speak, like most other pictures, but The Other Boleyn Girl is still a very decent movie.

The Boleyn has quite a family, a mother, father, a son, and two daughters. After failing at several attempts for Queen Catherine to have a son heir to King Henry's thrown, he wishes for a mistress. Sir Thomas Boleyn offers his daughter, Anne, but when King Henry sees Thomas's other daughter, Mary, he is smitten with her and wants her as his mistress. She gives birth to a son, but they are not married and she is looked down upon. Anne is given a second chance to come back after a marriage that was not granted and then annulled, but King Henry then falls for her and wishes her to give herself to him, but she puts up a fight and tells him not until she assumes the crown and to be his wife. But she fails to give him a son, her life depends on it as well sadly.

The true story of Anne Boleyn is very sad, but extremely interesting, I wouldn't recommend the book, just go for a regular history book when it comes to this story. But for the movie, The Other Boleyn Girl, I liked it, it had good acting, beautiful costumes and sets, and a very good story. If you are looking for a history lesson, this is not the film for you, but if you are looking for a good movie, then watch it. Just like the film "Elizabeth", they make the story a little more juicy, it's for the sake of some audience members who don't understand why England has the system it does, but it still makes for good drama.

7/10