I'm going to play a little word game with you here. I say a theme in a movie and you tell yourself whether you would pay to see it in a movie...

Lust
Revenge
Greed
Jealousy
Debauchery
Rebels
Heads getting chopped off
Natalie Portman/Scarlett Johannson
pissed off Kings
Saying "Holy crap/Oh no she didn't" after a scene

The Other Boleyn Girl has all of these and a few more I couldn't think of. It's rare I get so into a movie I didn't really care about in the first place. I really just went to see this because it had a couple hot girls and a seriously messed up love triangle. Or pentagon. Or octagon. Whatever. Some film critics want to go on and complain about accents not being perfect or the historical facts aren't exactly right. Although I doubt there was any misinformation considering the BBC practically made this movie. Those Brits know how to make some drama. Funny thing is, it always seems to be true. Maybe it's because here in America we don't chop off heads and look for male heirs to our throne. Misogynist much?

The intensity of the story is what really drove it to my tasteful liking. Look past the fact that anybody should want to spend money to see Scarlett Johansson in bed or Natalie Portman playing hard to get (mmmm, Closer). Never have I smirked with an evil grin so much during one movie. One of the most memorable scenes in which I couldn't help but smile at one's misery showed up a little over half way through. You'll know when you see it. Natalie Portman really plays a conniving bitch to perfection here. At the same time, Johansson portrays an obedient, please everybody girl as well as anybody. Something tells me a bunch of people are going to talk down this movie because of historical data or moments where it does drag. But those moments are truly short and don't really come in until later. The only reason it seems to drag for that brief instant is because of the amount of tricks being pulled for the first hour.

There is just so much to enjoy about The Other Boleyn Girl. It's not just some tale of a couple of sisters running around a palace pouting because the king doesn't like them the most. It's a back stabbing fest. It's about making decisions. Ones that no matter the benefit, the cost is just as great. One of the most memorable scenes I've witnessed in a while happens in this movie. I know I said There Will Be Blood's final bowling pin scene was unforgettable. And it was. The Other Boleyn Girl isn't a movie that I'm going to see 4 times in theaters and buy the moment it comes out, but I loved it from start to finish. Every 10 minutes somebody is pushed to the edge of a terrible decision and unlike some stories, nobody ever backs down from making the tough one. I could only imagine what Christopher Nolan (The Prestige, Batman Begins) could do with this film.

I should add my enjoyment of the soundtrack. It was similar to the Godfather's sound and for that I think the movie was even better. It's an epic story. I can admit I knew nothing of it until today. I didn't even care. The sign of a truly good movie is one that can give an audience member who knows nothing of the plot a reason to enjoy themselves. I bet you didn't know much about William Wallace before Braveheart. What about the Battle of Thermopylae before 300? You're lying if you say yes, unless you watch the History Channel all day (which I find myself doing sometimes).

Trust me, this movie is worth your time whether you are a direct descendant of English royalty or just some cut-off t-shirt wearing, Natty Light drinking, sports loving guy. And if you can't enjoy a movie this dark and slightly sadistic (to some extent) then maybe you should stop reading my website. I won't hate you for it, but I won't complain either.

P.S.- Eric Bana is a badass

  out of 5 trophies