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The film is easy on the eye

The Other Boleyn Girl (English)

Cast: Eric Bana, Scarlett Johansson, Natalie Portman

Director: Justin Chadwick

Michael Hirst, who wrote the scripts for Elizabeth and The Golden Age and who is currently writer and executive producer on the lavish television saga, The Tudors, has said the Tudor dynasty is a godsend for writers with two iconic leaders — Henry VIII and Elizabeth and cataclysmic events, including the break with the Catholic church.

Watching The Other Boleyn Girl, one gets a sense of how true this is. The film based on Phillippa Gregory’s best-selling novel, tells the story of Mary, Anne’s elder sister who was Henry’s mistress for a brief period.

The film is handsomely produced and with stunning looking actors, is extraordinarily easy on the eye. Historical events including the break with the church are given cursory treatment as the camera lingers on Anne and Mary’s too-tight bodices. Eric Bana makes for a charming Henry. With his toned body and five o’clock shadow, he is a sexy departure from the usual representation of Henry. Scarlett Johansson with her bee-stung lips (she is well on her way to overtaking Angelina Jolie in the pout sweepstakes) is glorious as the softly-sensuous Mary while the lovely Natalie Portman (why don’t we see more of her?) is all warmth and fire as Anne. The Other Boleyn Girl does not offer any great insights into the battle between church and state or the dichotomy of private and public. However, if you want to spend two hours looking at gorgeously-dressed men and women in a snappily-paced family drama, then look no further.

M.A.C.

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