The (somewhat) true account of two women rooted in history

Rating: 7/10 (16 February 2016)

Let's face it. There are two main reasons why people went to see this movie when it came out. Nobody was expecting wonderful British wit (from two Americans and an Australian), people were not expecting to see a thought provoking look at a significant period in British history. Nope. People either wanted to see a pretty looking period piece, or two of the most beautiful women in the world trying desperately to get a man in bed for two hours. Don't get me wrong, I think this movie does provide more than that, but admit it: that's why you came.
It's a time of upheaval in England as King Henry VIII gets increasingly stroppy with his french wife's infuriating inability to give birth to a male (on a serious note the queen was pregnant several times with boys, but for various reasons, none survived to reach primary age). It would be catastrophic for England to have a weak female heir, so in comes the sleazy Duke of Norfolk (David Morrisey who would play Gordon Brown later in his career) who colludes with his brother in law Thomas Boleyn, to use his hot daughter Anne (Natalie Portman-solid) to seduce the king, become his mistress, produce a male, and help them climb the social ladder. Unfortunately, the king is more interested in that Other Boleyn Girl, Mary (Scarlet Johannson), who is married to Sherlock Holmes. Long story short, Sherlock dies while working overseas and ends up falling for the King, much to the chagrin of her sister Anne.
So Henry knocks up Mary and an unimpressed Anne marries an Earl without the King's consent. Anne tells her brother George, who tells Mary, who has Anne exiled to France so as to not bring trouble down on the family. Mary nearly miscarriages so they call back her sister, who talks herself into the King's bed, forcing him to forsake Mary. Mary has her child, but the King has already turned his back on her, as any red blooded male would when Natalie Portman is the Other Woman. Anne won't sleep with Henry until they are properly married, so Henry establishes the church of England (along with various other significant structural changes) so he can get a divorce and marry Anne. From there we have rape, incest and an execution as Anne proves herself a woMan For All Seasons (and degradations).
This is a pretty film to look at and features strong performances from Bana and Portman and Johannson does well enough to be more than a third wheel. If you want to look at this time in history more closely you should probably do some reading (Simon Sohama would be a good start), because what we see here barely scratches the surface.
But I'm going to give this movie a pass, not only does it give you what's promised on the label but it does this with good acting, great costume and set design, and a story that genuinely engages. I was outraged, angered, amused and yeah occasionally turned on. C'mon guys, you don't have to be that teenager telling your mother you only picked up that Playboy issue she found in your bedroom to read the articles your whole life. It is OK to find one of the most beautiful women in the world playing a seductress arousing.
Ultimately, the Other Boleyn Girl is more than the sum of its parts and does more than is promised on the DVD cover. This is not an accurate look at history, but it is a well made, well acted production with a decent story, which is probably helped by its narrow focus. It's above average, but far from essential. Let's leave it at that.