“The Other Boleyn Girl” Movie Review
Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5 Stars)
“The Other Boleyn Girl” DVD cover.
“The Other Boleyn Girl” is artfully sophisticated and delicately intriguing. Its rich, colorful cinematography brings the tragic love story of Ann Boleyn to life with extraordinarily vibrant detail. Scarlett Johansson is alluring with ease, and Natalie Portman’s performance continues to become more and more enchanting throughout. Eric Bana excels in the role of King Henry, as he illustrates the truth that men become far less complex when they want something they cannot have.
Directed by Justin Chadwick, “The Other Boleyn Girl” is beautifully crafted to achieve a delicate balance of classic story-telling with contemporary style. Although many critics despise the historical inaccuracies of the film, it stands alone as a fictional piece of cinematic beauty and vivid storytelling.
“The Other Boleyn Girl” is a multi-dimensional tale of ambition, sibling rivalry, wanting, forgiveness, and the double-edged sword of power that both enriches and corrupts. In the end, we see that everyone has the heart of both hero and villain. At one point in the film, we begin to understand the complexities of being a woman in a far different time and place. As Ann Boleyn is forced to leave the Court of King Henry and is exiled to France, her mother suggests that she use the opportunity to learn from the Queen.
“Observe the ladies of the court.” She says, “See how they achieve what they want from their men, not by stamping their little feet, but by allowing the men to believe that they indeed are in charge. That is the art of being a woman.”
“The Other Boleyn Girl” is now available on DVD.
“The Other Boleyn Girl” Movie Review
Copyright © 2008 by Michael Aaron Gallagher
Photographs: Courtesy of Sony Pictures
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