Tudor girls gone wild

Films about former kings seem to never get old. Just when you think every story has been told from the 16th century, yet another movie is released showing the contrary. There must be a quota in the industry that at least one historical film has to be released every six months. 2008 is no different, as “The Other Boleyn Girl” continues the trend.
“The Other Boleyn Girl” tells the tale of the Boleyn sisters, Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson), and their rise through the court of King Henry (Eric Bana). The Boleyn family uses their daughters’ sexual appeal to seduce the king in his attempt to produce a male heir. Henry ends up having relations with both daughters, tearing the Boleyn family and England apart in the process.  
As one of the aforementioned historical stories, “The Other Boleyn Girl” throws a bit of a wrench in the narrative, focusing more on the intricate moves of the two women than the wartime victories of the king. The story includes twists every 15 minutes that feel like melodramatic cliffhangers used right before a commercial break during a made-for-TV movie.
There are times when the film expects the viewer to accept inconceivably dumb moves on the characters’ part or lapses in reality. Henry is painted as someone who chases around young women and does stupid things to get their attention. It’s hard to believe he’d throw away an important relationship with the Church over one woman, especially as the women are presented in the film. Characters leave the court for faraway places only to return three minutes later and get pregnant almost as quickly; there is really no idea of a continuous time line.
The performances by the three leads are as good as can be, but the material they’re working with is too melodramatic and over-the-top, and they play it exactly that way. Portman at least looks to be having fun playing a conniving slut, while Johansson seems bored and blank as usual.
“The Other Boleyn Girl” has a somewhat intriguing story and spectacular period costume design, but the melodramatics are too much to handle. While fans of the genre will enjoy it, tales of incest and stillbirths aren’t for everyone.