Even though the show Shardlake is purely a work of fiction, a few of the real-life historical events it’s based on make it more intriguing. The Reformation in England under King Henry VIII remains an important part of the history of England, and one of the key players in executing the reformation was Lord Cromwell. Serving as the principal advisor to King Henry, Cromwell shut monasteries down all over the country. In this article, we’re going to look into the depths of this ruthless and inhumane historical figure, portrayed by the wonderful Sean Bean.
Spoilers Ahead
Why did Cromwell conspire to execute Anne Boleyn?
Historically speaking, it was Anne herself who promoted Thomas Cromwell to be the King’s advisor. Anne supported King Henry’s religious and political beliefs, and she was an active part of the earlier stages of Reformation. After Elizabeth I’s birth, Anne suffered...
Spoilers Ahead
Why did Cromwell conspire to execute Anne Boleyn?
Historically speaking, it was Anne herself who promoted Thomas Cromwell to be the King’s advisor. Anne supported King Henry’s religious and political beliefs, and she was an active part of the earlier stages of Reformation. After Elizabeth I’s birth, Anne suffered...
- 5/2/2024
- by Aniket Mukherjee
- Film Fugitives
CBS Studios and the BBC’s period drama series “King & Conqueror” has revealed additional cast members, including “The Crown’s” Luther Ford and “Game of Thrones” actor Joseph Mawle, as it begins production in Iceland.
According to its official plot description, “King & Conqueror” is “the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.”
Additional cast members include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Jean-Marc Barr, Geoff Bell, Elliot Cowan,...
According to its official plot description, “King & Conqueror” is “the story of a clash that defined the future of a country – and a continent – for a thousand years, the roots of which stretch back decades and extend out through a pair of interconnected family dynasties, struggling for power across two countries and a raging sea. Harold of Wessex and William of Normandy were two men destined to meet at the Battle of Hastings in 1066; two allies with no design on the British throne, who found themselves forced by circumstance and personal obsession into a war for possession of its crown.”
Additional cast members include Eddie Marsan, Juliet Stevenson, Jean-Marc Barr, Geoff Bell, Elliot Cowan,...
- 3/18/2024
- by Ellise Shafer and K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Timothée Chalamet is by far one of the most promising young actors working in Hollywood today, after his standout performances in films like Call Me By Your Name, Little Women, and Dune. The actor has become one of the biggest stars in the film industry and after his recent performance as Duke Paul Atreides in Dune: Part Two, he is sure to become a household name worldwide. So, if you love Chalamet’s performances here are the best movies Chalamet has appeared in and just to warn you, we didn’t include Interstellar in this list because Chalamet’s role in Christopher Nolan was not that big or significant.
10. Wonka (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Warner Bros.
Chalamet takes on the challenging role of the iconic Willy Wonka. Directed by Paul King, Wonka is a musical fantasy film and it follows a young Wonka before he was running the chocolate factory.
10. Wonka (Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Warner Bros.
Chalamet takes on the challenging role of the iconic Willy Wonka. Directed by Paul King, Wonka is a musical fantasy film and it follows a young Wonka before he was running the chocolate factory.
- 3/2/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
The 57th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival opened Friday with a spirited musical performance from Russell Crowe, and the energy remained high Saturday evening with actor Ewan McGregor in town to receive the fest’s honorary President’s Award.
McGregor accepted the honor during an overflowing ceremony in the festival’s Grand Hall, where he was joined by his daughter Clara McGregor; his mother; and partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
“Thank you so much for being here tonight. It means the world to me,” he said as he picked up the award. “I believe so much in what we do as actors. I’m so fortunate to do what I love and I love what I do.”
The crowd inside the room was lively. Czech audiences are notoriously welcoming to the stars they receive here in Karlovy Vary and McGregor played to the crowd.
“I was gonna say something in Czech...
McGregor accepted the honor during an overflowing ceremony in the festival’s Grand Hall, where he was joined by his daughter Clara McGregor; his mother; and partner Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
“Thank you so much for being here tonight. It means the world to me,” he said as he picked up the award. “I believe so much in what we do as actors. I’m so fortunate to do what I love and I love what I do.”
The crowd inside the room was lively. Czech audiences are notoriously welcoming to the stars they receive here in Karlovy Vary and McGregor played to the crowd.
“I was gonna say something in Czech...
- 7/1/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
As tensions rise in Hollywood over an imminent update on SAG-AFTRA’s negotiations with the studios, thousands of miles east, the Czech spa town of Karlovy Vary is gearing up for its annual influx of industry insiders, curious film fans, and stars.
Clocking its 57th annual edition, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) opens this evening. The prominent Central European event is one of the world’s oldest film festivals. It was founded in July 1946, a month before Locarno launched its first festival and a few months before the Cannes Film Festival unveiled its first edition in September of that same year.
This year’s edition opens with the Cannes Competition title Firebrand, starring Jude Law and Alicia Vikander. The pic is the fictionalized story of Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of the tyrannical English King Henry VIII. Vikander plays Parr in the piece alongside an unrecognizable Jude Law,...
Clocking its 57th annual edition, the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (Kviff) opens this evening. The prominent Central European event is one of the world’s oldest film festivals. It was founded in July 1946, a month before Locarno launched its first festival and a few months before the Cannes Film Festival unveiled its first edition in September of that same year.
This year’s edition opens with the Cannes Competition title Firebrand, starring Jude Law and Alicia Vikander. The pic is the fictionalized story of Katherine Parr, the sixth and final wife of the tyrannical English King Henry VIII. Vikander plays Parr in the piece alongside an unrecognizable Jude Law,...
- 6/30/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Like most English actors, Albert Finney began his career in theater before transitioning to television and film. Finney was noted as one of the most successful English actors, with his impeccable versatility in stage, film, and television. In theater, he debuted playing the titular character King Henry in Henry V (1956) at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. Finney had a reputation for playing titular characters in most of his plays. Some include Coriolanus in Coriolanus (1959), Martin Luther in Martin Luther, Prince Hamlet in Hamlet (1976), and Tamburlaine in Tamburlaine (1976). Finney’s final role on television was portraying Winston...
- 6/29/2023
- by Onyinye Izundu
- TVovermind.com
Ewan McGregor and Alicia Vikander will be the featured guests during the first weekend of this year’s Karlovy Vary Film Festival, where they will both receive the fest’s honorary President’s Award.
Alongside the celebrations, both actors will also present their most recent works. Vikander will bring her Cannes Competition title Firebrand, which will open the festival on June 30, while McGregor will host a screening of You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder.
Vikander began her artistic career training as a ballet dancer at the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm and appeared in several stage productions and Swedish TV series before being cast in her breakthrough debut film role in Lisa Lansgeth’s feature Pure (2010). Since then, she has been best known for performances in pic such as Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina, Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina,...
Alongside the celebrations, both actors will also present their most recent works. Vikander will bring her Cannes Competition title Firebrand, which will open the festival on June 30, while McGregor will host a screening of You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder.
Vikander began her artistic career training as a ballet dancer at the Royal Swedish Ballet in Stockholm and appeared in several stage productions and Swedish TV series before being cast in her breakthrough debut film role in Lisa Lansgeth’s feature Pure (2010). Since then, she has been best known for performances in pic such as Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina, Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E, and Alex Garland’s Ex Machina,...
- 6/13/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Zendaya and Tom Holland just had a royally adorable date.
The A-list couple was recently snapped taking a sweet stroll along King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace in London.
Historian Tracy Borman led the actors throughout the iconic setting. Zendaya dressed warmly for the occasion in a light brown trenchcoat and snug scarf, while Holland kept his look classically minimal in a blue jacket and white T-shirt paired with denim jeans.
Read More: Zendaya Flashes Gold Ring With Boyfriend Tom Holland’s Initials
I’ve had some special moments at @HRP_palaces but this has to count as one of the best ever: exploring Hampton Court after hours with @TomHolland1996 @Zendaya Huge thanks to my wonderful colleagues James, Paulo & @Nicola_J_A pic.twitter.com/OIYbS1W1nQ
— Tracy Borman (@TracyBorman) April 7, 2023
Borman shared photos of the couples exploring the environment on Twitter and a cute retelling of the interaction.
The A-list couple was recently snapped taking a sweet stroll along King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace in London.
Historian Tracy Borman led the actors throughout the iconic setting. Zendaya dressed warmly for the occasion in a light brown trenchcoat and snug scarf, while Holland kept his look classically minimal in a blue jacket and white T-shirt paired with denim jeans.
Read More: Zendaya Flashes Gold Ring With Boyfriend Tom Holland’s Initials
I’ve had some special moments at @HRP_palaces but this has to count as one of the best ever: exploring Hampton Court after hours with @TomHolland1996 @Zendaya Huge thanks to my wonderful colleagues James, Paulo & @Nicola_J_A pic.twitter.com/OIYbS1W1nQ
— Tracy Borman (@TracyBorman) April 7, 2023
Borman shared photos of the couples exploring the environment on Twitter and a cute retelling of the interaction.
- 4/8/2023
- by Emerson Pearson
- ET Canada
Sanditon is back for its third and final season on PBS. The romantic period drama’s last outing kicks off on Sunday, March 19 and will wrap up the story of Charlotte Heywood, played by Rose Williams.
Fans will soon have to say goodbye to Williams as Charlotte. However, they can still check out some of her other work, which includes roles in shows and movies such as Reign, That Dirty Black Bag, and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.
Rose Williams played Princess Claude in ‘Reign’ Rose Williams | Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
One of Williams’ first major roles was on the CW series Reign. She played Princess Claude, the daughter of King Henry and Queen Catherine and the younger sister of Prince Henry, in the historical drama that was loosely inspired by the life of a young Mary Queen of Scots.
“It was the best,” Williams said of landing the gig...
Fans will soon have to say goodbye to Williams as Charlotte. However, they can still check out some of her other work, which includes roles in shows and movies such as Reign, That Dirty Black Bag, and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.
Rose Williams played Princess Claude in ‘Reign’ Rose Williams | Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
One of Williams’ first major roles was on the CW series Reign. She played Princess Claude, the daughter of King Henry and Queen Catherine and the younger sister of Prince Henry, in the historical drama that was loosely inspired by the life of a young Mary Queen of Scots.
“It was the best,” Williams said of landing the gig...
- 3/19/2023
- by Megan Elliott
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
The untold story of Queen Elizabeth I’s early life is set to be explored in the upcoming series Becoming Elizabeth, premiering Sunday, June 12, on Starz. Created by the award-winning writer Anya Reiss (The Acid Test), Becoming Elizabeth stars Alicia von Rittberg (Fury) as the young Elizabeth Tudor long before her ascension to the throne. The trailer (watch above) for the period drama promises plenty of political machinations, secret romances, and violent battles for supremacy. The series takes place after the death of King Henry VIII, which sees his 9-year-old son Edward (Oliver Zetterström) take the throne and sets into motion a dangerous scramble for power. Elizabeth, Edward, and their sister Mary (Romola Garai) soon find themselves pawns in a game between the great families of England and the forces of Europe who vie for control of the country. Other key figures appearing in the series include King Henry’s widow,...
- 4/21/2022
- TV Insider
While securing a prominent place in government is often considered to be a successful win, the rise to power can also come at a great personal cost, including severing ties with former allies. That was certainly the case for English lawyer and chief minister to King Henry, Thomas Cromwell, in the early 1500s. Cromwell’s rise […]
The post Thomas Cromwell is Accused of Betrayal by Anne Boleyn on Wolf Hall appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Thomas Cromwell is Accused of Betrayal by Anne Boleyn on Wolf Hall appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 11/29/2020
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
Meghan Trainor will release her third album, Treat Myself, on January 31, 2020 via Epic. The singer, who recently dropped a single called “Waves,” has previewed the album with a new song, “Workin’ on It.” The encouraging, optimistic track features Lennon Stella and Sasha Sloan, and was produced by King Henry.
“I’m so excited that I got to announce the release date of my album, Treat Myself, on Ellen today,” Trainor said in a statement. “I’ve never worked harder on an album or been more proud of the music, I...
“I’m so excited that I got to announce the release date of my album, Treat Myself, on Ellen today,” Trainor said in a statement. “I’ve never worked harder on an album or been more proud of the music, I...
- 11/7/2019
- by Emily Zemler
- Rollingstone.com
Jethro Tull will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their 1979 LP Stormwatch with a massive reissue featuring unreleased songs, a recording of a 1980 concert and a new remix of the original album.
The 4Cd/2 DVD Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition, due out October 18th via Rhino, kicks off with a Steven Wilson remix of Stormwatch, while the second disc collecting “associated recordings” from the album’s sessions, including unreleased tracks and other unearthed songs that didn’t fit within Stormwatch‘s maritime theme.
Discs three and four contain an unreleased recording...
The 4Cd/2 DVD Stormwatch: 40th Anniversary Force 10 Edition, due out October 18th via Rhino, kicks off with a Steven Wilson remix of Stormwatch, while the second disc collecting “associated recordings” from the album’s sessions, including unreleased tracks and other unearthed songs that didn’t fit within Stormwatch‘s maritime theme.
Discs three and four contain an unreleased recording...
- 7/19/2019
- by Daniel Kreps
- Rollingstone.com
Delve into the world of Henry VIII’s first wife in trailer for limited series ‘The Spanish Princess’
Starzplay has today announced the air date and trailer for there latest offering delving into Philippa Gregory’s Tudor history ‘The Spanish Princess’.
Based on two of Gregory’s novels, The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse, the original series follow’s on from the Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-nominated ‘The White Queen’.
The limited series returns to the world of Tudor royal court intrigue, it is a vivid and captivating story told uniquely from the point of view of the women, which also sheds light on a previously untold corner of history: the lives of people of colour, living and working in 16th century London.
Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) is the strong-willed young Princess of Spain, who has been promised the English throne since she was a child. She arrives in a grey, rain-lashed England with her glorious and diverse court including her ladies-in-waiting Lina (Stephanie Levi-John...
Based on two of Gregory’s novels, The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse, the original series follow’s on from the Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award-nominated ‘The White Queen’.
The limited series returns to the world of Tudor royal court intrigue, it is a vivid and captivating story told uniquely from the point of view of the women, which also sheds light on a previously untold corner of history: the lives of people of colour, living and working in 16th century London.
Catherine of Aragon (Charlotte Hope) is the strong-willed young Princess of Spain, who has been promised the English throne since she was a child. She arrives in a grey, rain-lashed England with her glorious and diverse court including her ladies-in-waiting Lina (Stephanie Levi-John...
- 3/8/2019
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Starz has released the official trailer for The Spanish Princess, the third series drawn from Philippa Gregory’s bestselling novels, following The White Queen and The White Princess. The original limited series will premiere Sunday, May 5, at 8 Pm on Starz in the U.S. and on the StarzPlay platform in the UK and Germany.
Produced by Playground and All3 Media’s New Pictures, the third installment is drawn from Gregory’s best-selling novels, The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse.
Returning to the world of Tudor royal court intrigue, The Spanish Princess is told from the point of view of the women, which also sheds light on a previously untold corner of history: the lives of people of color, living and working in 16th century London.
“Catherine of Aragon has generally been depicted negatively, as an unwanted and burdensome wife, so this story of her early years as a strong,...
Produced by Playground and All3 Media’s New Pictures, the third installment is drawn from Gregory’s best-selling novels, The Constant Princess and The King’s Curse.
Returning to the world of Tudor royal court intrigue, The Spanish Princess is told from the point of view of the women, which also sheds light on a previously untold corner of history: the lives of people of color, living and working in 16th century London.
“Catherine of Aragon has generally been depicted negatively, as an unwanted and burdensome wife, so this story of her early years as a strong,...
- 3/7/2019
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
For the average theatergoer, going to a production of a William Shakespeare play can either be an enlightening night of poetic culture or it can feel like homework. The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles’ production of Henry IV, helmed by Tony Award-winning Daniel Sullivan, lands somewhere in the middle of that spectrum, but leans towards enlightening and fun, thanks to its impressive cast of star power that is fronted by Academy Award-winning Tom Hanks, Scandal‘s Joe Morton, and Legion actor Hamish Linklater.
Henry IV, Shakespeare’s two-part play that makes for a three hour-plus theater experience at the Japanese Garden on the V.A. campus, can be considered a frenemy bromance between Linklater’s Hal and Hanks’ Falstaff, the latter being a character that appears multiple times in the Shakespeare-iverse. Hal is the son of the titular king, played with an appropriate patriarchial authority by Morton.
The King is in a crisis,...
Henry IV, Shakespeare’s two-part play that makes for a three hour-plus theater experience at the Japanese Garden on the V.A. campus, can be considered a frenemy bromance between Linklater’s Hal and Hanks’ Falstaff, the latter being a character that appears multiple times in the Shakespeare-iverse. Hal is the son of the titular king, played with an appropriate patriarchial authority by Morton.
The King is in a crisis,...
- 6/16/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
“Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more” is perhaps the most mimicked line from Shakespeare’s Henry V—many of King Henry’s speeches in the same play have been cribbed in the pre-battle speeches of sci-fi melodrama like Independence Day and Starship Troopers. Forgotten, usually, is the second line of the “once more” rally, in which King Henry suggests that his men “close up the wall with our English dead.” This couplet is oddly fitting as I consider Into the Breach, the sophomore outing from Subset Games, creators of the acclaimed space simulation roguelike Ftl. As was the case with Into the Breach‘s predecessor, the game does something novel with well-worn sci-fi tropes. Also, you will die—a lot.
But Into the Breach, like Ftl before it, builds on death. Each failed run teaches you how to react to the uncertainty of the next, allowing you to progress a bit further.
But Into the Breach, like Ftl before it, builds on death. Each failed run teaches you how to react to the uncertainty of the next, allowing you to progress a bit further.
- 2/26/2018
- by Andrew Donovan
- We Got This Covered
Michelle Fairley is returning to premium cable in a regal, heralded role that’s part of an adaptation of a popular book and… yeah, sorry, it’s not Lady Stoneheart.
The Game of Thrones alum has joined the cast of Starz’s The White Princess, based on Philippa Gregory’s best-selling novel, the network announced Tuesday. Fairley will play Margaret Beaufort, the obstinate mother of King Henry VII, who clashes with her new daughter-in-law Princess “Lizzie” Elizabeth of York (My Mad Fat Diary‘s Jodie Comer).
RelatedAmerican Gods: Ian McShane Cast as Mr. Wednesday in Starz Adaptation
The eight-episode White...
The Game of Thrones alum has joined the cast of Starz’s The White Princess, based on Philippa Gregory’s best-selling novel, the network announced Tuesday. Fairley will play Margaret Beaufort, the obstinate mother of King Henry VII, who clashes with her new daughter-in-law Princess “Lizzie” Elizabeth of York (My Mad Fat Diary‘s Jodie Comer).
RelatedAmerican Gods: Ian McShane Cast as Mr. Wednesday in Starz Adaptation
The eight-episode White...
- 5/10/2016
- TVLine.com
Orlando Bloom's romance with Miranda Kerr continues to blossom. The actor and his model girlfriend made an appearance together Saturday at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation Gala fundraiser in London – and were practically inseparable. "Life is great at the moment," Bloom, 31, told People. "I've just finished a play in the West End, which I really enjoyed, and am about to start filming a new movie. It really couldn't be any better." The sense of occasion wasn't lost on the Pirates of the Caribbean star, either. "It is amazing to come and support something associated with Mikhail Gorbachev because of what he did,...
- 6/9/2008
- by Phil Boucher
- PEOPLE.com
Showtime has given The Tudors a third-season pickup, just a few weeks after the drama series' sophomore bow.
Production will begin June 16 in Dublin, Ireland, with series star Jonathan Rhys Meyers set to return as King Henry VIII. The number of episodes has yet to be determined for Season 3, which will follow the king as he weds third queen Jane Seymour (Anita Briem) and then Anne of Cleves (still to be cast).
The announcement comes after Showtime recently reiterated its commitment to original programming. Following the news that the network wouldn't be renewing its output deals with Viacom-owned Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM -- which now will be launching a new TV channel and VOD service in fall 2009 -- Showtime is expected to invest some of the money earmarked for output deals into more original series. Along with Tudors, Showtime originals include Dexter and Weeds.
" 'The Tudors' is now a fixture for us at Showtime, and we're on our way to completing the entire saga of all six wives of Henry VIII," Showtime president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said.
Production will begin June 16 in Dublin, Ireland, with series star Jonathan Rhys Meyers set to return as King Henry VIII. The number of episodes has yet to be determined for Season 3, which will follow the king as he weds third queen Jane Seymour (Anita Briem) and then Anne of Cleves (still to be cast).
The announcement comes after Showtime recently reiterated its commitment to original programming. Following the news that the network wouldn't be renewing its output deals with Viacom-owned Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM -- which now will be launching a new TV channel and VOD service in fall 2009 -- Showtime is expected to invest some of the money earmarked for output deals into more original series. Along with Tudors, Showtime originals include Dexter and Weeds.
" 'The Tudors' is now a fixture for us at Showtime, and we're on our way to completing the entire saga of all six wives of Henry VIII," Showtime president of entertainment Robert Greenblatt said.
- 4/22/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Not every historical drama has to be as deep and serious as HBO’s “John Adams,” which is admirable and engaging but not exactly escapist viewing.
Sometimes you just want to escape into the world of frock coats and palaces and corsets, and there’s a great tradition of costume dramas that seek to entertain more than they educate.
“Sense and Sensibility,” a two-part Pbs remake of the classic Jane Austen novel (9 p.m. Sunday, Wttw-Ch. 11 ) does a credible job of telling the tale of the Dashwood sisters, despite some unnecessary melodramatic flourishes and an inconsistent tone. Yet by focusing on the characters within those Regency costumes, it manages to find the emotional truths that have kept Austen’s books in print for 200 years.
“The Tudors,” which returns for its second season Sunday (8 p.m., Showtime), gets the pomp-and-circumstance part right, but is consistently disappointing in several other areas. Chief...
Sometimes you just want to escape into the world of frock coats and palaces and corsets, and there’s a great tradition of costume dramas that seek to entertain more than they educate.
“Sense and Sensibility,” a two-part Pbs remake of the classic Jane Austen novel (9 p.m. Sunday, Wttw-Ch. 11 ) does a credible job of telling the tale of the Dashwood sisters, despite some unnecessary melodramatic flourishes and an inconsistent tone. Yet by focusing on the characters within those Regency costumes, it manages to find the emotional truths that have kept Austen’s books in print for 200 years.
“The Tudors,” which returns for its second season Sunday (8 p.m., Showtime), gets the pomp-and-circumstance part right, but is consistently disappointing in several other areas. Chief...
- 3/28/2008
- by Tempo
- The Watcher
This review was written for the festival screening of "The Other Boleyn Girl".
BERLIN -- Anne Boleyn was the one who managed to stay alive while married to England's King Henry VIII for 1,000 days, but her sister Mary in "The Other Boleyn Girl" would have been his queen if only she had been better at making babies.
That, of course, was always the problem. The Tudor line's grip on the throne was invariably threatened by the lack of a son, even though it would be daughter Elizabeth who reigned in the nation's golden age.
In Justin Chadwick's handsome but glum film, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory, the focus is on Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) as their father, Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance), and uncle, the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey), conspire for one of them to win the king's fancy while their mother Kristin Scott Thomas) looks on in disgust.
Shot in high definition and filmed at many historic locations, the film somehow still lacks the splendor of an epic, and its urgency to get on with the next plot point leaves much unexplained while context goes out the window. Good performances by the female leads and all the appurtenances and costumes of the time might attract fans of period movies, but there's not enough flash and fire to grab the attention of a wider audience.
Already given screen treatment in a 2003 BBC TV film, "Boleyn Girl" here gets a bigger budget, big-name stars and a script by Peter Morgan ("The Queen", "The Last King of Scotland").
Morgan already had a go at this particular monarch for Granada Television in 2003 with "Henry VIII", starring Ray Winstone, and he's back presumably attracted by the opportunity to write for two dynamic actresses playing competing sisters.
His script lacks punch, however. Portman and Johansson are more than equal to the demands, but with a tougher-minded script they might have soared. Portman comes to grips with the sharpest lines, but she could have done so much more. Johansson's character grows the most in the film and once again the star dazzles with her versatility.
Eric Bana as the king offers little help. Such is his lack of screen presence that the Australian film star virtually disappears whenever Portman, Johansson or Scott Thomas makes an appearance.
History is smoothed out for the story -- Mary was actually 12 when she married her first husband, who was 24 -- and some key figures are omitted, including Cardinal Wolsey and Sir Thomas More.
The Duke of Norfolk becomes the main villain of the piece, ruthlessly determined to place one or the other of his brother-in-law's pretty daughters into the king's bed in order to enrich the family. Scott Thomas' mother registers her disdain for the proceedings more with her powerful gaze than any pungency in the lines of dialogue. Ana Torrent makes a strong impression too as the dismayed and discarded Queen Katharine of Aragon.
Although the various homes and castles are lovely to see, the story feels rushed, a feeling made worse by the director cutting every couple of scenes to somebody on horseback riding furiously through woods or water. Like the film, it's not always clear why.
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
Focus Features, Columbia Pictures
BBC Films, Ruby Films, Scott Rudin Prods., Relativity Media
Credits:
Director Justin Chadwick
Writer: Peter Morgan
Producer: Alison Owen
Executive producers: Scott Rudin, David M. Thompson
Director of photography: Kieran McGuigan
Production designer: John-Paul Kelly
Music: Paul Cantelon
Costume designer: Sandy Powell
Co-producer: Mark Cooper
Editors: Paul Knight, Carol Littleton
Cast:
Anne Boleyn: Natalie Portman
Mary Boleyn: Scarlett Johansson
King Henry VIII: Eric Bana
Duke of Norfolk: David Morrissey
Lady Elizabeth Boleyn: Kristin Scott Thomas
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Mark Rylance
George Boyleyn: Jim Sturgess
Katharine of Aragon: Ana Torrent
William Stafford: Eddie Redmayne
William Carey: Benedict Cumberbatch
Henry Percy: Oliver Coleman
Jane Parker: Juno Temple
Running time -- 115 minutes
No MPAA rating...
BERLIN -- Anne Boleyn was the one who managed to stay alive while married to England's King Henry VIII for 1,000 days, but her sister Mary in "The Other Boleyn Girl" would have been his queen if only she had been better at making babies.
That, of course, was always the problem. The Tudor line's grip on the throne was invariably threatened by the lack of a son, even though it would be daughter Elizabeth who reigned in the nation's golden age.
In Justin Chadwick's handsome but glum film, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory, the focus is on Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) as their father, Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance), and uncle, the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey), conspire for one of them to win the king's fancy while their mother Kristin Scott Thomas) looks on in disgust.
Shot in high definition and filmed at many historic locations, the film somehow still lacks the splendor of an epic, and its urgency to get on with the next plot point leaves much unexplained while context goes out the window. Good performances by the female leads and all the appurtenances and costumes of the time might attract fans of period movies, but there's not enough flash and fire to grab the attention of a wider audience.
Already given screen treatment in a 2003 BBC TV film, "Boleyn Girl" here gets a bigger budget, big-name stars and a script by Peter Morgan ("The Queen", "The Last King of Scotland").
Morgan already had a go at this particular monarch for Granada Television in 2003 with "Henry VIII", starring Ray Winstone, and he's back presumably attracted by the opportunity to write for two dynamic actresses playing competing sisters.
His script lacks punch, however. Portman and Johansson are more than equal to the demands, but with a tougher-minded script they might have soared. Portman comes to grips with the sharpest lines, but she could have done so much more. Johansson's character grows the most in the film and once again the star dazzles with her versatility.
Eric Bana as the king offers little help. Such is his lack of screen presence that the Australian film star virtually disappears whenever Portman, Johansson or Scott Thomas makes an appearance.
History is smoothed out for the story -- Mary was actually 12 when she married her first husband, who was 24 -- and some key figures are omitted, including Cardinal Wolsey and Sir Thomas More.
The Duke of Norfolk becomes the main villain of the piece, ruthlessly determined to place one or the other of his brother-in-law's pretty daughters into the king's bed in order to enrich the family. Scott Thomas' mother registers her disdain for the proceedings more with her powerful gaze than any pungency in the lines of dialogue. Ana Torrent makes a strong impression too as the dismayed and discarded Queen Katharine of Aragon.
Although the various homes and castles are lovely to see, the story feels rushed, a feeling made worse by the director cutting every couple of scenes to somebody on horseback riding furiously through woods or water. Like the film, it's not always clear why.
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
Focus Features, Columbia Pictures
BBC Films, Ruby Films, Scott Rudin Prods., Relativity Media
Credits:
Director Justin Chadwick
Writer: Peter Morgan
Producer: Alison Owen
Executive producers: Scott Rudin, David M. Thompson
Director of photography: Kieran McGuigan
Production designer: John-Paul Kelly
Music: Paul Cantelon
Costume designer: Sandy Powell
Co-producer: Mark Cooper
Editors: Paul Knight, Carol Littleton
Cast:
Anne Boleyn: Natalie Portman
Mary Boleyn: Scarlett Johansson
King Henry VIII: Eric Bana
Duke of Norfolk: David Morrissey
Lady Elizabeth Boleyn: Kristin Scott Thomas
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Mark Rylance
George Boyleyn: Jim Sturgess
Katharine of Aragon: Ana Torrent
William Stafford: Eddie Redmayne
William Carey: Benedict Cumberbatch
Henry Percy: Oliver Coleman
Jane Parker: Juno Temple
Running time -- 115 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/19/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Out of Competition
BERLIN -- Anne Boleyn was the one who managed to stay alive while married to England's King Henry VIII for 1,000 days, but her sister Mary in The Other Boleyn Girl would have been his queen if only she had been better at making babies.
That, of course, was always the problem. The Tudor line's grip on the throne was invariably threatened by the lack of a son, even though it would be daughter Elizabeth who reigned in the nation's golden age.
In Justin Chadwick's handsome but glum film, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory, the focus is on Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) as their father, Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance), and uncle, the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey), conspire for one of them to win the king's fancy while their mother Kristin Scott Thomas) looks on in disgust.
Shot in high definition and filmed at many historic locations, the film somehow still lacks the splendor of an epic, and its urgency to get on with the next plot point leaves much unexplained while context goes out the window. Good performances by the female leads and all the appurtenances and costumes of the time might attract fans of period movies, but there's not enough flash and fire to grab the attention of a wider audience.
Already given screen treatment in a 2003 BBC TV film, Boleyn Girl here gets a bigger budget, big-name stars and a script by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland).
Morgan already had a go at this particular monarch for Granada Television in 2003 with Henry VIII, starring Ray Winstone, and he's back presumably attracted by the opportunity to write for two dynamic actresses playing competing sisters.
His script lacks punch, however. Portman and Johansson are more than equal to the demands, but with a tougher-minded script they might have soared. Portman comes to grips with the sharpest lines, but she could have done so much more. Johansson's character grows the most in the film and once again the star dazzles with her versatility.
Eric Bana as the king offers little help. Such is his lack of screen presence that the Australian film star virtually disappears whenever Portman, Johansson or Scott Thomas makes an appearance.
History is smoothed out for the story -- Mary was actually 12 when she married her first husband, who was 24 -- and some key figures are omitted, including Cardinal Wolsey and Sir Thomas More.
The Duke of Norfolk becomes the main villain of the piece, ruthlessly determined to place one or the other of his brother-in-law's pretty daughters into the king's bed in order to enrich the family. Scott Thomas' mother registers her disdain for the proceedings more with her powerful gaze than any pungency in the lines of dialogue. Ana Torrent makes a strong impression too as the dismayed and discarded Queen Katharine of Aragon.
Although the various homes and castles are lovely to see, the story feels rushed, a feeling made worse by the director cutting every couple of scenes to somebody on horseback riding furiously through woods or water. Like the film, it's not always clear why.
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
Focus Features, Columbia Pictures
BBC Films, Ruby Films, Scott Rudin Prods., Relativity Media
Credits:
Director Justin Chadwick
Writer: Peter Morgan
Producer: Alison Owen
Executive producers: Scott Rudin, David M. Thompson
Director of photography: Kieran McGuigan
Production designer: John-Paul Kelly
Music: Paul Cantelon
Costume designer: Sandy Powell
Co-producer: Mark Cooper
Editors: Paul Knight, Carol Littleton
Cast:
Anne Boleyn: Natalie Portman
Mary Boleyn: Scarlett Johansson
King Henry VIII: Eric Bana
Duke of Norfolk: David Morrissey
Lady Elizabeth Boleyn: Kristin Scott Thomas
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Mark Rylance
George Boyleyn: Jim Sturgess
Katharine of Aragon: Ana Torrent
William Stafford: Eddie Redmayne
William Carey: Benedict Cumberbatch
Henry Percy: Oliver Coleman
Jane Parker: Juno Temple
Running time -- 115 minutes
No MPAA rating...
BERLIN -- Anne Boleyn was the one who managed to stay alive while married to England's King Henry VIII for 1,000 days, but her sister Mary in The Other Boleyn Girl would have been his queen if only she had been better at making babies.
That, of course, was always the problem. The Tudor line's grip on the throne was invariably threatened by the lack of a son, even though it would be daughter Elizabeth who reigned in the nation's golden age.
In Justin Chadwick's handsome but glum film, based on the novel by Philippa Gregory, the focus is on Anne (Natalie Portman) and Mary (Scarlett Johansson) as their father, Thomas Boleyn (Mark Rylance), and uncle, the Duke of Norfolk (David Morrissey), conspire for one of them to win the king's fancy while their mother Kristin Scott Thomas) looks on in disgust.
Shot in high definition and filmed at many historic locations, the film somehow still lacks the splendor of an epic, and its urgency to get on with the next plot point leaves much unexplained while context goes out the window. Good performances by the female leads and all the appurtenances and costumes of the time might attract fans of period movies, but there's not enough flash and fire to grab the attention of a wider audience.
Already given screen treatment in a 2003 BBC TV film, Boleyn Girl here gets a bigger budget, big-name stars and a script by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland).
Morgan already had a go at this particular monarch for Granada Television in 2003 with Henry VIII, starring Ray Winstone, and he's back presumably attracted by the opportunity to write for two dynamic actresses playing competing sisters.
His script lacks punch, however. Portman and Johansson are more than equal to the demands, but with a tougher-minded script they might have soared. Portman comes to grips with the sharpest lines, but she could have done so much more. Johansson's character grows the most in the film and once again the star dazzles with her versatility.
Eric Bana as the king offers little help. Such is his lack of screen presence that the Australian film star virtually disappears whenever Portman, Johansson or Scott Thomas makes an appearance.
History is smoothed out for the story -- Mary was actually 12 when she married her first husband, who was 24 -- and some key figures are omitted, including Cardinal Wolsey and Sir Thomas More.
The Duke of Norfolk becomes the main villain of the piece, ruthlessly determined to place one or the other of his brother-in-law's pretty daughters into the king's bed in order to enrich the family. Scott Thomas' mother registers her disdain for the proceedings more with her powerful gaze than any pungency in the lines of dialogue. Ana Torrent makes a strong impression too as the dismayed and discarded Queen Katharine of Aragon.
Although the various homes and castles are lovely to see, the story feels rushed, a feeling made worse by the director cutting every couple of scenes to somebody on horseback riding furiously through woods or water. Like the film, it's not always clear why.
THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL
Focus Features, Columbia Pictures
BBC Films, Ruby Films, Scott Rudin Prods., Relativity Media
Credits:
Director Justin Chadwick
Writer: Peter Morgan
Producer: Alison Owen
Executive producers: Scott Rudin, David M. Thompson
Director of photography: Kieran McGuigan
Production designer: John-Paul Kelly
Music: Paul Cantelon
Costume designer: Sandy Powell
Co-producer: Mark Cooper
Editors: Paul Knight, Carol Littleton
Cast:
Anne Boleyn: Natalie Portman
Mary Boleyn: Scarlett Johansson
King Henry VIII: Eric Bana
Duke of Norfolk: David Morrissey
Lady Elizabeth Boleyn: Kristin Scott Thomas
Sir Thomas Boleyn: Mark Rylance
George Boyleyn: Jim Sturgess
Katharine of Aragon: Ana Torrent
William Stafford: Eddie Redmayne
William Carey: Benedict Cumberbatch
Henry Percy: Oliver Coleman
Jane Parker: Juno Temple
Running time -- 115 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 2/19/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Tudors reigned supreme at the fifth annual Irish Film & Television Awards in Dublin on Sunday night, walking away with seven IFTAs, the most any single TV or film title has gained in the award's five-year history.
The Showtime series about the life of King Henry VIII, won the best drama series/soap award, while actors Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Nick Dunning also won IFTA statues.
"Tudors" costume designer Joan Bergin, production designer Tom Conroy and hair and makeup team Jennifer Hegarty and Dee Corcoran also were winners on the night.
On the feature film side, a strongly contested race saw "Kings" and "Garage" emerge as the top winners, with five and four awards, respectively.
Irish-language drama "Kings" dominated the craft categories, taking nods for original score, sound and editing, among others, while "Garage" picked up the IFTAs for best film, director (Lenny Abrahamson), script (Mark O'Halloran) and actor in a lead role (Pat Shortt).
Writer/director team O'Halloran and Abrahamson also earned the top writing and directing kudos on the TV side for their urban drama series "Prosperity". Irish-language series "The Running Mate" took the best single drama award.
Mel Gibson was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema Award and received a standing ovation.
The Showtime series about the life of King Henry VIII, won the best drama series/soap award, while actors Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Maria Doyle Kennedy and Nick Dunning also won IFTA statues.
"Tudors" costume designer Joan Bergin, production designer Tom Conroy and hair and makeup team Jennifer Hegarty and Dee Corcoran also were winners on the night.
On the feature film side, a strongly contested race saw "Kings" and "Garage" emerge as the top winners, with five and four awards, respectively.
Irish-language drama "Kings" dominated the craft categories, taking nods for original score, sound and editing, among others, while "Garage" picked up the IFTAs for best film, director (Lenny Abrahamson), script (Mark O'Halloran) and actor in a lead role (Pat Shortt).
Writer/director team O'Halloran and Abrahamson also earned the top writing and directing kudos on the TV side for their urban drama series "Prosperity". Irish-language series "The Running Mate" took the best single drama award.
Mel Gibson was presented with the Outstanding Contribution to World Cinema Award and received a standing ovation.
- 2/19/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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