Royal Soap
The Other Boleyn Girl
Review by Ross Anthony

Nowadays, in a film, whenever you see children running through wheat fields giggling, you know things aren't going to end well for them. That's how this picture opens, two sisters and a brother blissfully in love with life and their family. Despite a mother who claims a woman's job is to allow the man to think he's in charge, the father really is in charge. His decisions pit his heretofore pure innocent daughters against each other in their efforts to land themselves a king.

One of them stays sweet, the other mushrooms into a master manipulator. And thus the soap. Nearly every line of dialogue uttered in this film focuses only on how one character relates or hopes to relate to another. A game of love, lust, power, manipulation. I wanted more from the film. I want to know the characters aside from their rather single-minded aims toward one another. But the film has nothing at all to show us toward that goal. What kind of King was Henry? Was he a strong leader? Was he liked by the people? Did he get involved in politics? Was he a puppet? There is nothing at all about this king aside from his interest in a little action on the side and a male heir. Completely, nothing. And what about Anne and Mary? I was given very little reason to care about any of these paper-thin figures, despite the highly-respectable cast. And despite everyone saying how Anne had changed, I not only didn't see a marked change, the picture didn't show that change taking place. On the positive side…

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… the actress playing Queen Katherine (who's not listed in the production notes) gives a powerful emotive speech during the second half of the film. It's the rare moment when the film made me feel something, amidst the mild curiosity about how the gossipy details were to work out. The score's pretty good, the editing rather crisp, cinematography sweet and certain elements of the costuming elegant.

Other Boleyn Girl -- Book Contest --


  • Other Boleyn Girl. Copyright © 2008.
  • Starring Eric Bana, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson
  • Directed by Justin Chadwick.
  • Screenplay by Peter Morgan.
  • Produced by Alison Owen at Sony & Focus

Grade..........................B- (1/4)


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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186. Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow.


Last Modified: Thursday, 28-Feb-2008 11:06:19 PST