I have to face the fact that I enjoy some movies, even when they’re not very well made. And that goes for the melodramatic historical drama, The Other Boleyn Girl, directed by Justin Chadwick and released a whole year ago.
There’s a certain lightless quality about the whole film; a certain lack of finesse and subtlety, that makes the film a bit like “dry cabbage” as one reviewer put it. Everyone’s very good looking and acts well and I’ll bet Henry the VIIIth was never as yummy as Eric Bana and Natalie has a pretty neck. But something’s not quite there. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and was quite absorbed.
The other Boleyn Girl is Mary, Anne’s older sister. Although it was Anne who was supposed to seduce King Henry, on being encouraged by her father, he ended up apparently falling in love with Mary. There are apparently refrences to an affair in historical records. Otherwise, I’m not sure how close to true events this was. People have said that it’s grossly oversimplified. That, I can imagine.
I love this film…although it deviates a bit from the book…its definitely my type of film
Oh hey, it’s my type of film too! I love these King and Queen films and intrigue and pretty women from long ago and the whole period feel etc. The film’s got lots of flak for how it’s not been made elegantly at all and how it’s like a soap opera – but I like it even if it’s rottenly made. It’s probably more of a woman’s film. I also like going and reading up stuff after I’ve seen it. And following up on little details that caught my eye. Like… did Henry the VIIIth compose the song Greensleeves? I once remember reading that it was for Anne Boleyn….
I love this period in history…and especially films like this.
A better one to see is “Anne of the Thousand days”.
Hmmm the film does come across as very “dark” and there is such a feeling of back-stabbing and tension the whole way through. I think once The Tudors started showing (lots of inacuracies in that) they tried to give the public lots more Tudor like things. The book is better, and it makes more sense to read the other ones in Phillipa Gregory’s series. I do like the film, for the costumes if nothing else.
Yes have heard that apparently Henry VIII wrote it for Anne Boelyn…or at least thats what we were taught at school.