The Other Boleyn Girl Thread

[Nola]

i guess we could start a thread of the film posting news and reviews and ,hopefully soon, new pics of the film

here is a report, containing spoilers, of the film and some natalie portman quotes:

Portman sticks her neck out for 'Boleyn'

This winter, Natalie Portman loses her head as England's infamous queen in The Other Boleyn Girl.

The role is rife with historical drama. But the actress, who earned an Oscar nomination for 2004's Closer, had a hard time keeping a straight face when bickering with her co-star Scarlett Johansson, who plays Anne's slatternly sister Mary in the movie of Philippa Gregory's best-selling novel.

"It was hard not to laugh sometimes, when the lines get so nasty and extreme," Portman says. "The characters are so mean to each other, so there was a great, great need for the opposite."

To Portman, Anne is more of a victim than a plotter who schemed her way into Henry VIII's heart. Boleyn "sees herself as … a commodity. That obviously didn't end well for her. But it got her really far."

Mary, Portman says, could have been played as "this nice, sweet girl. But the fact that Scarlett played that role made it a much more interesting, complicated thing. She's super bright, and she imbued it with the fact that Mary had ambitions, too." —Donna Freydkin

[Bill5461]

I have not read the story, Natalie gets her head chopped off....that's nasty

[Nola]

Someone posted his/her thoughts from a test screening of 'The Other Boleyn Girl'. Sounds mildly positive:


I just attended a preview screening of The Other Boleyn Girl, the period drama being positioned for Oscar season this year. It's not released until December, so the version I saw was a rough cut, with a temporary score. The audience filled out surveys after the film, so we'll see how the film looks when it's complete, but it was polished enough to get a good sense of it. Here are some of my thoughts.

- Natalie Portman and Scarlet Johansson give strong performance and are about as good as you could ask them to be, but they always seemed somewhat miscast to me: both a little bit young, especially Portman, who later in the film should convey a regal command and authority, but she always seems girlish and slight. Worse, their English accents are so-so, passable but not polished or comfortable, distracting -- they always sound like American girls affecting accents. I have admiration especially for Portman, though, who gives a grade-A performance wedged into a role that doesn't quite fit her. I'll split the difference and give her a B+.

- Portman and Johansson's roles have more-or-less equal importance, but I suspect we'll see Portman campaigned in the lead category and Johansson in supporting, since Portman has the showier role (Anne Boleyn -- harlot, vixen, tragic queen).

- The first half of the film is pure soap opera, effective but a bit thin. The second half gets darker, more complex, and more satisfying, but it feels rushed, like it's hitting its marks and moving on. The second half had an energy and intrigue that started to remind me of director Justin Chadwick's marvelous "Bleak House" or Shekhar Kapur's "Elizabeth," and I wished there had been more of it. (Chadwick is the director of this film.)

- Good supporting cast, but not exceptional. Henry VIII isn't as challenging a role as you'd think as written by Peter Morgan ("The Queen," "The Last King of Scotland";) ; Eric Bana does good work -- gets angry, gets horny, bellows from time to time, but the role doesn't have the showcase qualities of regal characterizations like Elizabeth I (Blanchett's and Mirren's). Kristin Scott Thomas and Mark Rylance are solid in minor roles as the Boleyn parents. Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch are very good in limited roles as love interests for Johansson. Ana Torrent is a standout as Catherine of Aragon. David Morrissey can't do much to elevate the character of Anne and Mary's uncle, who is a flat villain.

Right now, I'll give the film a B+, and I might decide to see it again to see how the finished product looks. It has considerable potential.

----------
Anne is sent to France over the course of the story (off screen), but no, not a trace of French in her accent upon her return.
-----------
I think there is slightly more focus on Anne, but there are portions of the film where Anne is off-screen (in France for instance) that focus on Mary. And yes, they share many scenes together.
----------
To answer babypook, I think Natalie gives the stronger performance, partly because her accent is a little more up to snuff.


im really dyiiiiiiiiiiiing to see this film!

[Bill5461]

I did not think they'd be this far along already. I thought Scarlett's english accent in the prestige was good. I'd never thought about who would get top billing. Should be interesting...thanks eme

[aloha]

thanks for them eme!

[BlackWolf]

Thanks for the scoop Eme.

[KeiraLover]

I have the book and I should read it soon. It would have been interesting to see Keira cast in Scarlett's role (since she was considered for it) only because her and Natalie really do look like sisters. Keira's natural British accent would have helped her I'm sure. Scarlett has gotten so much better at acting since her old days, I'm proud of her.

[Bill5461]

Now a Kiera-Scarlett movie would be great...

[KeiraLover]

NO! It would be too hard to pick who to focus on more. I would get such a head ache trying to look at two places at once.

[MSFixR]

There was a (UK) TV version in 2003 starring Natascha McElhone and Jodhi May http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357392/ after the book of the same name by Philippa Gregory http://search.barnesandnoble.com/boo...43227445&itm=1
Quoted from the book publisher:

When Mary Boleyn comes to court as an innocent girl of fourteen, she catches the eye of Henry VIII. Dazzled by the king, Mary falls in love with both her golden prince and her growing role as unofficial queen. However, she soon realizes just how much she is a pawn in her family?s ambitious plots as the king?s interest begins to wane and she is forced to step aside for her best friend and rival: her sister, Anne. Then Mary knows that she must defy her family and her king, and take her fate into her own hands.

A rich and compelling tale of love, sex, ambition, and intrigue, The Other Boleyn Girl introduces a woman of extraordinary determination and desire who lived at the heart of the most exciting and glamorous court in Europe and survived by following her own heart.

If I get some time (doubtful), I may get a copy and read it before the movie comes out. I couldn't find a copy of the (2003) film on Amazon.

[aloha]

thanks for that!

[Bill5461]

Very interesting MSFixR. I'll work on getting you that free time...Well, after I get some first.

[andrew r]

Thanks for the info. I do hope the accents are okay. Well Scarlet did a good one in the Prestige, and I'm sure Natalie's done one before too. I need a little help over her.

[MSFixR]

"She's fainting!" George cried out, it was beautifully done. I fell into the king's arms as Anne, fast as a snake, unpinned my mask, and - brilliantly - pulled off my headdress so that my golden hair tumbled down like a stream over the king's arm. . . . I opened my eyes, his face was very close. I could smell the perfume on his hair, his breath was on my cheek, I watched his lips, he was close enough to kiss me."

Mary Boleyn, from The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory

[Nola]

damn i want SO badly to see this one!

[Bill5461]

Thank you for that MSFixR..it should really be a good movie, well as long as the actors do their part

[Ophelia]

This book is a great read. I loved it and reccommend it all the time. Can't wait to see the movie. I think this is a great role for Scarlett.

[andrew r]

Any idea on a release date yet?

[Bill5461]

I'm pretty sure it's this December, just before Christmas

[Nola]

release dates:

USA 21 December 2007
France 30 January 2008
UK 1 February 2008
Spain 15 February 2008
Germany 21 February 2008
Netherlands 21 February 2008
Belgium 12 March 2008