The Other Boleyn Girl

For those who are not aware, I attended an all-girls private school in the eighth grade. During that year, I developed an appreciatiation for Art, Art History, Architecture and the Renaissance period. Therefore, I was very excited for this movie to come out. Not only was fellow Australian, Eric Bana cast as Henry VIII, but it was a movie I could see during some much needed Mummy time.
The movie is loosely based on history, but mostly on the book of the same name. The movie starts out with the Boleyn family, watching the child versions of Mary, Anne and their brother, George during simpler times. The movie then jumps to the wedding of Mary, played by Scarlett Johansson, to the son of a merchant family. The newlyweds talk of living a simple life in the country, but are sorely mistaken for her father, Sir Thomas Boleyn and uncle, the Duke of Norfolk have something greater in mind to improve the family's standing.

As the story goes, Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon, has failed to produce a male heir. Therefore, Sir Thomas and the Duke plan for Anne to bewitch the King and become his mistress. However, the plan backfires and Henry falls for Mary instead.

The story begins to unveil a deeper love and tenderness between Mary and the King. History paints Mary solely as a mistress of the King, but as the movie continues, it is only Mary's judgement and opinions that the King trusts and cares for. Even as mary's sister, Anne, obtains the King's affections, Henry goes to Mary to seek the truth behind Anne's possible union with Henry Percy. Not long after, Henry leaves the Catholic church and his first wife, Catherine, to marry Anne. Anne soon gives birth to the future ruler of England, Elizabeth. However, Anne too is not able to produce a male heir. Her desperation is apparent, especially after seeing the King with his future wife, Jane Seymour. The movie shows the closeness between the Boleyn children, but shows the siblings do not commit incest, no matter how desperate they are. As Anne and her brother are soon beheaded on charges of adultery and incest, it is Mary that the King tries to protect and finally acknowledges his son in the end.

To be honest, I was really disappointed with this movie. The producers try to fit too much into this movie to put it under two hours, that I feel as though they took a lot away from the story. I thought the casting was great, but they don't utilize the cast that they have. Henry is seen as vulnerable and weak before Anne. Yes, he is a man in love, but he is also the King of England and a man known for his temper. The story is supposed to be more about Mary, but I feel as though the movie failed that. It should have been called "The Boleyn Family," because we see all sides of them - their beginning, their middle and their end. The screenwriters did the actors no justice with the words they gave them. Perhaps I have found a future calling?

Wait for the DVD.