How to get a-head during the Tudor reign.

Rating: Null/10 (5 March 2008)

One of British history's most captivating female figures is examined in this fictionalized account, which sticks to some undisputed historical facts while weaving a story in between the cracks (and often tweaking the facts in the process as well.) Portman plays a young commoner from a family with designs on raising its station in the world. They attempt to place her in the arms of King Henry VIII (Bana), but she winds up being overshadowed by her younger, more demure sister Johansson. Bana moves Johansson into the palace (despite his marriage to Torrent), setting off a rivalry between Johansson and Portman that will forever change the face of England. Portman, after a brief exile in France, returns to claim Bana for herself and provide him with a male heir to the throne. However, that may not be as easy as she thinks it is. Portman gives an able portrayal of this complex character, though the script sometimes muddles her motivations. Her demeanor generally suits the time period. Johansson is often equally at home in the period and gives a nuanced and sincere performance. Little is known of her real-life counterpart and, thus, she is able to graft characteristics and qualities onto her without getting historical aficionados too far up in arms. Bana looks fetching in his many elaborate costumes and hats and is manly enough to carry them off, though he in almost no way resembles the legendary king. He is more of a supporting presence here and the script, as in the case of Portman, but even more so, doesn't allow him to display much, if any, reason for some of his actions. All three actors try hard and are superficially successful, but a more incisive script would have gone a long way in presenting a more resonant story. Morrissey is effective, if a bit one note in his role as the girls' relentlessly social-climbing uncle. Rylance, as their father, is appropriately weak and conflicted while Scott Thomas, as their mother, radiates knowing sensibility in every drop of her scant dialogue. Sturgess is appealing as the girls' sensitive and caring brother. Torrent manages to command the screen in her few scenes as the first wife who has been dealt a cruel hand of infertility and children who have died in infancy. It's all a very fascinating subject for a film and it's astonishing to think of the way kings could maneuver people at their will, regardless of the circumstances, and then, when up against a brick wall, change the rules altogether! The way women were treated and yet how they sometimes managed to work it to their advantage is an equally compelling topic. The (strangely claustrophobic) film is handsome and attractive to the eye and is mostly interesting, but suffers from a few issues. The script, as previously mentioned, just doesn't afford ample reasons and/or insight into what makes most of these people behave the way they do. Also, the film's pace is askew. The beginning is leisurely and deliberate, but the final third is practically break-neck, with things happening swiftly and with very little explanation for them or dwelling on them. That said, the film remains an arresting, if soapy, historical drama with charismatic acting, lovely music and beautifully appointed sets and clothing. History buffs and fans of the novel (which has only partly been adapted faithfully here) will give the film further demerits.