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 | King Henry VIII | Ambition | Betrayal | Intrigue

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) | New Zealand:M | Australia:M | USA:PG-13 (certificate #43291) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | 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

Filming Locations:

Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

The film never reveals that George Boleyn is a homosexual. In interviews, Jim Sturgess says that George is more like a girl because he is rather catty, and the idea of sleeping with a woman repulsed him. That explains why he was so afraid of sleeping with Anne (besides treachery and incest).

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: Details of some historical characters and events have been changed to fit the dramatic narrative.

Quotes:

King Henry VIII: May God have mercy on Anne's soul.

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Saturday Night Live: Ellen Page/Wilco (#33.6)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Westron Wynde

Eh... Nice costumes and sets

If you want a good movie about Henry VIII and Anne Bolyen, rent Anne of the Thousand Days. That was a film that used history to tell a story about real people who had a love to change a nation.

In this version of the eponymous Phillipa Gregory novel, historical inaccuracies abound. Approximately fifteen years are compressed into two hours with no indication time has gone by except for various babies. None of the characters ever change or grow any older. The characters in this movie are completely one-sided. Anne is ambitious. Henry is a womanizer. Mary is simple. No one has any complexities. The sisterly rivalry plays out like an underdeveloped soap opera.

On the other hand, the film is engaging and the costumes lovely. Same with the gorgeous palace settings.

Eye candy it is. Truthful or realistic it isn't.