The Other Boleyn Girl

4:39pm Thursday 6th March 2008

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The Other Boleyn Girl (12A) *** - Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristin Scott Thomas, David Morrissey and Mark Rylance.

WITH its knockout cast and ambitious scope, The Other Boleyn Girl just fails to pull it off but has enough quality and enjoyment to be a recommended film.

Based on Philippa Gregory's best-seller its a sexy and sensuous affair in which the two Boleyn sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) enter the court of King Henry VIII (Eric Bana) with the express aim of wooing him.

Thrust into bizarre romantic game, an unusual sibling rivalry unfolds as a fight for the king's affections gets under way.

Although director Justin Chadwick does an admirable job in evoking the spirit and feel of the time, the film is greatly let down by a serious lack of depth by the fact that things are kept simple.

The truth is, it is too simple.

The performances of Portman and Johansson are excellent as is the ever reliable Kristin Scott-Thomas.

Bana does a fine job as Henry although he doesn't appear as much as one would expect.

It is sumptuous designed and shot in what is a flawed but fun film.