For a film covering the circumstances of King Henry VIII, his desire for a male heir, a queen not able to deliver such, the social-climbing machinations put forth by the Duke of Norfolk, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Boleyn, in attempt to catch the King's eye and basically pimp out his daughter Anne in return for the King's favor and elevated social status, the film's screenplay moves swiftly from one plot point to the next, playing like a Jane Eyre tale at times, offering ironic humor from the situations driven by lofty ambitions.
While Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Eric Bana deliver good performances, there is a serious lack of heat and chemistry between Bana and either of the Boleyn girls to fully entertain the thought of what Henry VII does for love in this film. Plus, the direction of the film was simply average, providing the viewer with awkward angles and transistions that don't quite work for period piece (in the 16th century).
Overall, it's got this trashy soap-operish feel to it, and doesn't elevate the story into something grander or classy.
I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.
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