THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL is a period piece that aims to be so much more than it actually is. Don’t get me wrong, it’s actually a movie worth catching if you have the time to spare and you’re able to dedicate your full attention. However, it is eventually a movie that always promises to kick it up a notch… but never really does so. Hence, its inclusion in the IN-BETWEEN category.
Confused? Don’t be. IN-BETWEEN simply means that I want to like that particular movie but can’t really, with a straight face, say that I outright do because of certain things. So, there you go. Anyways, this is like *my* blog. So, *my* rules. Nyah nyah. Be glad that I’m doing something that will, in ten years’ time, be considered as revolutionary and cool.
… Okay, maybe not. Shut up.
ANYWAYS. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL is a sensual mix of intrigue, romance, and betrayal set against the backdrop of a monumental moment in the history of England. Two sisters, Anne and Mary Boleyn, are coerced by their overly ambitious uncle to advance the family’s power and status by courting the affections of the King of England. This is because the King is fearful of the fact that his Queen isn’t able to bear a male heir, which means he has no direct successor to the throne. Leaving behind the simplicity of country life, the Boleyn girls are thrust into the dangerous and thrilling world of court life. What began as a bid to help their family develops into a ruthless rivalry between Anne and Mary for the love of the King.
Mary initially wins King Henry’s favor and becomes his mistress after Anne — who is at first chosen by her uncle to get close to King Henry — accidentally causes the King to be injured. Anne is of course furious at Mary seemingly betraying her and for her petulance, is exiled to France. However, while Mary is in the midst of her pregnancy, Anne comes back into the picture. Clever, conniving, fearless and vindictive Anne drives the King crazy with her refusal of his renewed advances in her. And right when Mary delivers the baby boy the King so desperately wants, Anne manages to secure the King’s utmost loyalty to her and only her… leading her to become the Queen of England. Of course, with both Boleyn girls having different forces behind their ambitions and their affections for the King, England itself faces the fact that it is being torn apart.
That’s the general idea behind the story. In fact, the movie is an adaptation of a novel of the same name, penned by Philippa Gregory. Now, with this kind of movie, it is easy for people to pick apart the historical inaccuracies and whatnot. All of that doesn’t really matter to me, because this is an adaptation. However, where THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL loses me is the fact that the pacing is just too slow while at the same time, the bit about this being set against the backdrop of a monumental moment in the history of England was simply not explored enough. I know, it is a complete oxymoron. But this is due to the fact that THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL tries too hard to be a combination of a powerful historical drama and an edgy soap opera. Those two simply don’t mesh, and that is precisely why THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL loses a bit of its shine to me.
Of course, the story is much more complicated than what I’ve described… but I’m fairly certain that if I elaborate any further, it would be spoiling. So, there you go. THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL exceeds brilliantly in setting the right mood and is visually very engrossing. You’ll feel like you’re completely immersed and part of the action. And also, the acting by both Natalie Portman and Scarlett Jo — while not without faults — deserve to be lauded. Unfortunately, what prevents it from being a movie that I will give my seal of approval to its the fact that the source material is already something that many people will find hard to pay attention to, and thus the lack of a distinctive focus in the forwarding of the plot really sticks out.
Still, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL ranks as one of the better movies in my IN-BETWEEN category. It’s not underwhelming in any sense of the word, so you should still catch it if you can or if you’re fans of any of the actors involved. Or an enthusiast of history. Got it? Good!
