Aiming for mediocrity is worse than failing totally

Rating: 5/10 (29 April 2008)

I haven't read the book or studied the history surrounding the events in any detail, so I'm not really concerned with those aspects (which seem to have been the major gripe with the movie judging from the comments). The problem I found with this "bodice ripper" is it's just a bit dull. Although the costumes are quite pretty, the only way the film maker seems to convey excitement is by cutting to scenes of people riding horses... hard... with dramatic music. There are no set pieces in the movie. It's just a soap opera really. I started to feel like the castle had four or five rooms in it.
I'm usually fond of Natalie Portman. She was terrible in this movie, incapable of extracting sympathy or condemnation from the audience. Totally miscast and out of her depth. I was quite surprised anyone bothered casting Eric Bana in the movie - they could have got by with a much cheaper option since his role is very small. Scarlet wasn't bad. Kristin Scott Thomas actually stole the show.
The script was odd. I kept getting that sense of anachronism - like when Anne says "You'll have to show me how you did that sometime". This is acceptable if you're making a movie set during a historical period with a different slant (see A Knight's Tale or Marie Antoinette). It's a bit jarring if you're playing it straight.
It's quite a short movie, and that's a good thing. If it hadn't been, it would have been far more ponderous with its curious lack of passion. What a strangely wasted opportunity. Oh well. I guess I've seen worse. Although some of the worst movies I've seen have at least been memorable.