The Other Boleyn Girl
Columbia Pictures | Release Date: February 29, 2008
6.3
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 101 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
53
Mixed:
32
Negative:
16
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
4
MartinF.Mar 1, 2008
Poor casting, unbearably muted photography and terrible script make for a ploddingly dull time at the movies. Scarlett Johanssen is miscast as Mary a role which fails to allow her a chance at expressing her full range.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
ChadS.Mar 1, 2008
Mary Boelyn(Scarlett Johansson) is the other Boelyn girl; as in the other Boelyn girl deserves to...not Anne(Natalie Portman). The ornamental "B" that Anne wears stands for her namesake, obviously; or "bitch", because she schemes with Mary Boelyn(Scarlett Johansson) is the other Boelyn girl; as in the other Boelyn girl deserves to...not Anne(Natalie Portman). The ornamental "B" that Anne wears stands for her namesake, obviously; or "bitch", because she schemes with belligerence, but on an intertextual level, Anne's alphabetical bling-bling makes reference to the "A" that Hester Prynne is burdened with in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlett Letter". In the final scene, when the "B" reappears after its retirement during Anne's reign as queen, we realize that Mary's indiscretion is the greater offense. Anne might be a "whore"(Katherine of Aragon said it; not me), but Mary is Hester Prynne. Don't let Mary's woe-is-me countenance fool you; in her own passive-aggressive manner, she matches her sister blow-for-blow, every step of the way, as both sisters try to bed King "I'm-too-sexy-for-this-court" Henry(Eric Bana plays the randy Tudor like he's Hugh Hefner with a sceptre). Both sisters learn too late, to their misfortune, that the court of England is a man's world. Since "The Other Boelyn Girl" presents a larger-than-life set of circumstances and payoffs, they should've let Johansson have some overheated fun, too, and allowed her to go vis-a-vis with Anne more honestly. I think Mary is coy. Her simple way is a country girl act. Substitute Mary's tears with a smile the last time she sees Anne would've made "The Other Boelyn Girl" a guilty pleasure.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
BillyS.Mar 17, 2008
As The Monarchy Turns, The Days Of Our Royal Lives, The Young and The Priveledged... ...ya see where i'm going here?
0 of 0 users found this helpful
6
JayHJun 5, 2008
Too much melodrama and not enough on the interesting aspects of the characters. It sure is pretty with great sets and costumes, but it bored me. Natalie Portman is always worth watching and the production is magnificent.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
4
EllenS.Feb 29, 2008
I f you love looking at period costumes and authentic 16th century sets, The Other Boleyn Girl just might work for you. But, if you like a believable story line that is at least a little respectful of the history it claims to represent, this ain
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
TokyochuchuJan 4, 2015
the Other Boleyn Girl is a fine costume drama. The sumptuous period detailing and respectable performances are definitely pluses. Historical inaccuracy (history buffs will know that Anne unwisely goaded the king and boasted about herthe Other Boleyn Girl is a fine costume drama. The sumptuous period detailing and respectable performances are definitely pluses. Historical inaccuracy (history buffs will know that Anne unwisely goaded the king and boasted about her infidelity in certain circles) and a general lack of depth are it's minuses. Over all The Other Boleyn Girl is an entertaining yet forgettable watch. On a minor side note, this film could be enjoyed as a direct prequel to the Elizabeth movie series, if one were so inclined.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
HalfwelshmanJan 12, 2012
The Other Boleyn girl is a real mixed bag of a film when looking at just about every facet of its creation. It's got loads of talent behind it - director Justin Chadwick has experience with period dramas from working on Bleak House, PeterThe Other Boleyn girl is a real mixed bag of a film when looking at just about every facet of its creation. It's got loads of talent behind it - director Justin Chadwick has experience with period dramas from working on Bleak House, Peter Morgan has written some great screenplays in the past for The Queen, Frost/Nixon and The Damned United, and Sandy Powell has proven her talent as a costume designer for Shakespeare in Love and Gangs of New York. The three leads Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana certainly look and sound the part as Anne and Mary Boleyn and Henry VIII respectively (and it's nice to see Portman maintaining her accent throughout the film, as she was unable to do in V for Vendetta). The real star of the show (as she should be, being the beating heart of the story) is Scarlett Johansson, who imbues Mary with genuine emotion, and understandable motivations - she just wants to be left alone to a lead a quiet life, and you really feel for her as she is used and abused by the king, court and her own family. Eric Bana's take on a young, virile Henry VIII is entertaining, as is Kristin Scott Thomas who plays Ma Boleyn as a bodice-burning feminist. Disappointingly, the main weak link in the cast is Natalie Portman. Her performance isn't bad as such, but as a character, Anne remains as an enigma for the whole film - we never understand her, or why she does what she does, and consequently she just comes across like an evil step-sister. The film has some good dramatic moments, and the authentic-looking costumes and locations are shot beautifully. That said, the majority of the film feels a little disconnected - some scenes don't appear to lead on from the previous ones, and huge amounts of time pass by in the blink of an eye for little or no explanation. One moment Anne has been banished to the French court, and the next scene she's back, and her character hasn't developed in any noticeable way. It has glimmers of brilliance, but The Other Boleyn girl just isn't consistent enough to be a noteworthy piece of film entertainment. It was a stroke of genius to cast two of the most beautiful and charismatic actresses in the world as one of the most infamous and powerful pairs of sisters in English history, and Scarlett Johansson gives a great performance, but Natalie Portman disappoints, and the film as a whole doesn't quite deliver as a historical drama, or even as a semi-historical romp. It's just a bit dull at times, and I think I'd take Showtime's high-camp series The Tudors over The Other Boleyn Girl any day, simply because it's a lot more fun.… Expand
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5
moviegrabbagJun 13, 2011
The simple fact of the matter is you can not take a 350 page book and make it into a 1 and a half hour movie without it feeling rushed. This movie falls victim to this very thing. The first half of the movie tries to cover way to much groundThe simple fact of the matter is you can not take a 350 page book and make it into a 1 and a half hour movie without it feeling rushed. This movie falls victim to this very thing. The first half of the movie tries to cover way to much ground in to little time. The other problem is this story is very sex laced. But in an effort to be open to a wider audience they made this movie a PG13 when it should have been R. Over all not a horrible movie, the acting was good and the settings were great but they jumped over important parts and the continuity was confusing and rushed. It's sad that such a good book fell short on the big screen.… Expand
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5
CineAutoctonoDec 22, 2017
"The Other Boleyn Girl" was a somewhat regular movie, the performances were half-hearted, although the performances of Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson did not leave much to be desired. The history neither of here, nor of there, but the"The Other Boleyn Girl" was a somewhat regular movie, the performances were half-hearted, although the performances of Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson did not leave much to be desired. The history neither of here, nor of there, but the photography is good. I think that the history of the British kingdom that has to do with couples is something frivolous.… Expand
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5
hamidgoodarziApr 21, 2023
The subject of the film and Henry VIII's marriage has been the subject of many films and series. This movie is smooth in telling the story and it does it well. Natalie Portman's performance in the role of "Anne" is remarkable. The film is aThe subject of the film and Henry VIII's marriage has been the subject of many films and series. This movie is smooth in telling the story and it does it well. Natalie Portman's performance in the role of "Anne" is remarkable. The film is a narrative of human inner being, how aggression and power-seeking can affect them. In other words, it shows the destruction of man and humanity at the center of power seeking. In general, the movie is acceptable and it is enjoyable to watch and you can easily follow the whole movie without getting tired.… Expand
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