The Other Boleyn Girl

More of a demurely heavy-breathing soap opera than substantive history lesson, but if you like melodramatic intrigue gussied up with top-class production values, this delivers its share of the goods; the bitchy backs-and-forth between Johansson and Portman give this a flinty energy, while Bana does a fine job in creating a Henry who is more Mills & Boons hero, with a cold and cruel side. Second half feels a little skimpy and rushed, with time passing too quickly (“She’s giving birth! Ooh she’s pregnant again!”) which makes proceedings a little disorienting. A rich and fertile before-they-were-famous supporting cast are good fun to watch.