03.29.08
Page to Screen: The Other Boleyn Girl
We all know about the Nu Metro movie club with film previews presented by Barry Ronge that I still enjoy going to, and I always knew it was a matter of time before Ster Kinekor did something similar. Well now they have and it is called “Page to Screen,” a film club that focuses on the interaction of books and film. Okay, so who shall present this new club? Barry Ronge as well. It seems like he is South Africa’s only credible film critic and everyone wants a piece of him. I am okay with that because he is great at what he does.
The first film that will be dissecting is “The Other Boleyn Girl,” an adaptation of Philipa Gregory’s best selling novel. The film version has opened in the US to less than favourable reviews, and I cannot say that I am surprised. The film stars Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Eric Bana, Kristin Scott Thomas and Jim Sturgess, among others. Great cast, but we all know there is more to a good film than its cast.
Gregory’s book focused on Mary Boleyn. She was the elder sister of the ill-fated Anne and she was also the mistress of Henry VIII. She bore him children and she was, for a while, the most powerful woman in England. Eric Bana plays Henry VIII, Scarlett Johansson is Mary and Natalie Portman plays her ambitious younger sister, Anne. I suspect melodrama, and diluted history, but only time will tell. How much of the rich history of the novel will have translated as more than gorgeous melodrama?
Join me in finding out on April 10th at Cinema Nouveau at Cedar Square at 8PM.
Booking is essential:
Ster Kinekor Website
Ticketline: 082 16789
~ My Question: Is the adaptation any good? For those who have seen it of course ~
Craig Kennedy said,
March 29, 2008 at 2:55 pm
I’ll be there! Oh wait, no I won’t. I think the drive is too far. And my car doesn’t float.
Matthew Lucas said,
March 29, 2008 at 4:13 pm
“I suspect melodrama, and diluted history, but only time will tell.”
You suspect correctly.
J.D. said,
March 29, 2008 at 8:19 pm
It’s like insanely melodramatic, and fairly creepy by the climax. But Scarlett and Natalie are quite good, not their best, but that’s to be expected. Still, creepy. *shudders*
Interesting note: I saw this only hours after I watched The 400 Blows, dude. Weird, right?
Daniel said,
March 29, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Good for you, SA. This would probably be the only event that would result in me seeing the movie. I’ll look forward to the other ones that come up in this series. I mean, I’ll look forward to you telling me about the other ones that come up in this series.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 7:54 am
Craig, I could see how that would be a problem, I am sure you would come if you could, or maybe not, I don’t know.
That is why I hated The Golden Age Matt, so that sucks.
J.D. melodramatics can get on my nerves a little, so I hope I can sit through the film. Too much of anything is hardly ever good. I doubt I would have any interest in the film if it were not for Portman and Johansson. Anything would seem crappy after The 400 Blows
Danny, same here, I only hope the films get better as time goes by, by the end of the year when all the good stuff reaches SA’s shores I am sure the club will be awesome. For now, I will just have to take the bad.
Matthew Lucas said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:17 am
I actually liked “The Golden Age,” but “The Other Boleyn Girl” is just flat. Even “Golden Age’s” detractors wouldn’t call it that I don’t think.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:19 am
I loved Blanchett’s performance and Morton’s but not much else. I preferred the first “Elizabeth.”
I hate flat. What is the damn point of flat?
J.D. said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:35 am
I loved The Golden Age, but compared to Elizabeth, it’s like a D+. Same goes for Blanchett’s performances, except it’s more like an F-.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:37 am
I totally agree. I was really disappointed, I didn’t even bother to write a review!
Matthew Lucas said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:44 am
Yeah I never wrote a review of it either, and I agree it’s nowhere near as good as the original “Elizabeth,” but I still thought it was a pretty enjoyable historical soap opera.
Much better than “The Other Boleyn Girl,” anyway.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:48 am
It did not deserve a review, right?!
I was bored throughout, and something has to go horribly wrong for me to be bored. That may just mean that The Other Boleyn Girl” may be awful, but not entirely boring. Oh fuck, I am just rambling for no reason.
Matthew Lucas said,
March 30, 2008 at 8:51 am
Oh Nicky you never ramble…you pontificate with purpose!
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 9:15 am
You just wait and see! I can be quite the rambler.
That word “pontificate” always makes me laugh, always makes me think of “fornicate.” The childish kid in me always breaks through.
“Oh Nicky you never ramble…you fornicate with purpose!”
Matthew Lucas said,
March 30, 2008 at 9:20 am
It’s ok, all the funny words end with ‘ate’
Paul said,
March 30, 2008 at 9:38 am
Not sure I can be bothered with this one, even if I were handed a copy of the DVD for gratis.
Anyway, just to change the subject for a moment, I must retract my earlier criticism of The Absolutely Fabulous Video Store in Rivonia. Having popped by there earlier this morning, for the first time in several months, it became immediately apparent that their latest selection of imported titles isn’t nearly as lacking as I thought. I suppose that seeing all of the boxes stacked together on the shelves, as apposed to browsing through them one-by-one on their website, just seemed more impressive. (And the website is missing a few of them, to boot!) The new name is still somewhat problematic, but it could be called The Donkey’s Inn for all I care; it’s still the best video store in all of Johannesburg. Check it out.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 10:35 am
Heya Paul, if it weren’t for the cast I doubt I would give a sh*t about the film either.
I will try check it out, it sure sounds good. These video rental stores all have pathetic websites!
petersonion said,
March 30, 2008 at 12:22 pm
The only book-to-screen adaptations I have ever been satisfied with are Pier Paolo Pasolini’s, and that is because instead of trying to stay faithful to the book he stays faithful to the spirit and creates a whole new work of art.
I was disappointed with The Other Boleyn Girl.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Sad to say, but I am not familiar with Pier Paolo Pasolini’s work. I would imagine that I would admire it because I think that adaptations that are not faithful to the book can be great, but only if the unfaithful adaptation is intentional. The essence and spirit of a book are, to me, often more important than the little details. Not always, but a lot of the time.
A lot of people seem to be disappointed with this particular film, I am sad to say that I might feel the same. Being an unpredictable creature myself, there is no telling how I may react to a film.
Mike M said,
March 30, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Yay, another movie club to go to although, not that i’ll be able to make it most of the time…
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Unless it switched between Cedar and Rosebank, I doubt I will go often, I might not even go to the screening of The Other Boleyn Girl if it is as bad as people are saying.
Matthew Lucas said,
March 30, 2008 at 7:04 pm
It’s not bad…it’s just not that good. I gave it 2 1/2 stars out of 4. If you have other options I would go for them instead.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Well it is quite a drive you see. I made the drive only twice. For a festival where I saw Juno, Atonement, The Savages, La Vie En Rose and Across The Universe and once to see In The Valley of Elah but that is it. It is waaaaaaaaaaay out in the middle of almost nowhere.
Matthew Lucas said,
March 30, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Yeah you might want to save your gas for this one…it’s not really worth the drive.
Nick Plowman said,
March 30, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I think it opens on April 18, not that long of a wait anyway
Douglas Racso said,
March 31, 2008 at 11:02 pm
ugh hated this one
Nick Plowman said,
March 31, 2008 at 11:13 pm
I lot of people felt that way!
Which is sad, but I have not seen it, so I am reserving all judgement.
Caitlin said,
April 1, 2008 at 3:16 pm
The reviews have been bad enough that I’ll just wait to rent it, and even then, I’ll probably tread with caution.
Nick Plowman said,
April 1, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I agree. It is sad, I do not think I am even to this club thing anymore anyway, not if the film is not good.
Nick Plowman said,
April 27, 2008 at 8:26 am
Yeah, now that I have seen this film, and it was not as awful as Golden Age in my opinion, and from what I have heard it is not a bad adaptation, just not that faithful.