Review of The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) by Lysann B — 04 Feb 2011

With a compelling story, based on a historical character fictionised in a book, an A-list cast and a well-stocked budget bag not much can go wrong, can't it?

Natalie Portman as Anne Boleyn is outstanding, Eric Bana as Henry VIII. brings a bit of sex appeal into the palace and Scarlett Johansson as Mary Boleyn struggles to keep up with her two co-stars.

It is, of course, a highly eye soothing piece to watch - and even if the film probably hasn't the aim to be exceptional profound, it still is a bit shocking with it's view on Royals under pressure. The power of destruction caused by over-ambitious parents, the intolerance to a female heir to the throne, the desperation of a pressured queen after an inapprehensible amount of miscarriages and the ignorance of a king driven by his colossal ego all this is something we can't relate to anymore, but we strangely enough enjoy watching or reading it.

The film suggests in a way, that Anne Boleyn has sole responsibility for her headless destiny. True, Henry VIII. broke with Rome to be able to marry Anne and maybe the power he gained from this point on, made him able to cut his wives head off later on. But was it Anne's influence to the king or was it the King's lust what caused the decision? That's something not even Philippa Gregory can know.