The Other Boleyn Girl - B-

In theaters. Rated R, 109 minutes. Trailer.

This film had lots going for it: Eric Bana (as King Henry), Scarlett Johannson (as Mary Boleyn), Natalie Portman (Anne Boleyn), and Peter Morgan (The Queen) as the screenwriter. Throw in a decent trailer, and I decided to lift my period piece policy. The film ended up being a mixed bag. Click below for the rest of "Boleyn Girl"

The first act is pedestrian, setting up the circumstances for the King's need for extra-marital help from the Boleyn girls producing a male heir. From the dialogue and acting, it was quickly clear that this was a film that wasn't aiming very high. The second act, as the Boleyn's move into the King's court and Anne becomes scorned and more central to the plot, is very enjoyable, even an A-. Portman is a commanding presence, and she is perfectly cast as the strong-willed and conniving Anne Boleyn. The third act crashes and burns, with a 20 minute pocket that is so boring it nearly ruined the movie. The final few minutes are pretty good, as the story gets wrapped up dramatically.

The movie did succeed in making the whole Boleyn/King Henry scenario very interesting. Her impact on England's separation from the Roman Catholic church and the course of history was significant, and its clear now my history teachers did their best to make it as boring as they could. Johannson is good as the simpler (and fairer) of the two girls, but her character was one-dimensional and uninteresting. The supporting cast were also all one-dimensional and every scene they are in seemed the exact same. The father in particular had the exact same look on his face the entire movie (dismayed and feeble). A disappointment.

Bonus: SNL had a very funny sketch called "The Other, Other Boleyn Girl". Worth your time.