Entertaining despite the historical inaccuracy

Rating: 7/10 (8 December 2009)

Many criticize this film for its lack of historical accuracy but to judge this film on that fact alone is to do in an injustice. The Other Boleyn Girl is first and foremost based on a novel by Philippa Gregory and that novel is specifically stated as historical fiction.
I thought this was an aesthetically pleasing film and was well acted throughout. The dynamic between Natalie Portman and Scarlet Johansson is captivating throughout. Many films focus only on the life of Anne and leave Mary in the shadows. Well this film did no such thing. The interesting approach to the sibling rivalry gave the film a much more intense vibe. The sibling rivalry being the main focus of the film prevented it from becoming an overdone telling of the life of Henry VIII. Eric Bana does a passable job as Henry. Bana may be aesthetically pleasing which the real Henry lacked but that does not make up for the lack of character development withing the character. The lack of character development is in no way due to a lack of acting. Better writing would have helped the character. But this film focuses on the Boleyn girls not the king.
The costumes, set, and props all were true to that of Tudor England and therefore added to the draw of this film. Although it may lack historical accuracy in the true sense the costumes and set do not.
The main draw to this film is its ability to please the mass audience. If you are looking for a film filled with historical fact and period language this is not the film for you. This film is intended to introduce the common audience to parts of world history they may not be aware of while still entertaining them at the same time.
Overall this was a pleasing film and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a pleasant night of entertainment. Will I recommend this film to fellow historians as an accurate film I think not, but I wouldn't condemn it to the back shelves of rental stores throughout the country either.