Review: The Other Boleyn Girl

The plot thickens

The most interesting contrast is that of King Henry himself (played by Eric Bana), from the young man who can be forgiven to wanting to sow his wild oats, to the slightly older, more desperate man torn between conscience and lust, and pursued by women who seem unable to provide him with the royal heir he truly needs, a man whose love is soured by manipulation, a man whose ruthlessness drives a woman to consider incest as a means to beget a child in the belief it will save her own pretty neck. Despite being fair of face, Henry VIII in this film certainly demonstrates why he managed to get through six wives, and reinforces why Mary wanted to stay in the countryside.

Deserving of a mention is Catherine of Aragon (Ana Torrent), whose straight back and wonderfully controlled emotions are enough to instil respect. While her speech made to Anne does have reminiscences of a Russell Crowe-style ‘husband-of-a-murdered-wife’ tirade, her righteous defence is a brilliant clash of two women, over the highest possible stakes, which is utterly watchable.

Overall, this film is a real feast for the visual senses and the emotional palette, whatever mood you happen to be in when you sit down to watch it. You’ll find yourself at the end of the film without having been aware of the time. Considering the world in which you are thrust is far removed from ours, where honour, reputation and marriage are absolutely key, the humanity of the acting and the very identifiable roles involved, that traverse centuries, can make all of us pay attention.

The most telling line is spoken by Lady Boleyn (Kristen Scott Thomas), that stays with you after the final credits and you’ve picked your way through the fallen popcorn: ‘since when did ambition become a virtue?’

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External Links

Official movie website

The Other Boleyn Girl on IMDB