ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS tells the story of the ill-fated Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII's second wife. I've seen this story so many times now, in everything from THE TUDORS to HENRY VII AND HIS SIX WIVES, that it would take a special kind of film to really get me interested in the story again.
Sadly, ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS isn't that film. Oh, it's a perfectly adequate costume drama to be sure, but it never feels like anything more than that. The film looks good but the script just lacks the kind of intrigue, excitement and drama that the material demands. It's also at least an hour too long, dragging the early stages of the marriage out far too long and to little reason.
The relationship between Anne and Henry is depicted in soap opera-ish ways and occasionally feels trite, despite the best efforts of both actors. It's always apparent that these two are acting the parts, rather than inhabiting the roles; there's something very mannered about both Burton and Bujold. A lack of really interesting supporting performers hurts it too.
Not a bomb, then, just a passable movie that I have no great desire to rewatch. Certainly no classic. Natalie Dormer's vixen-like turn as the scheming Anne in THE TUDORS is still my favourite portrayal of the doomed queen.
Sadly, ANNE OF THE THOUSAND DAYS isn't that film. Oh, it's a perfectly adequate costume drama to be sure, but it never feels like anything more than that. The film looks good but the script just lacks the kind of intrigue, excitement and drama that the material demands. It's also at least an hour too long, dragging the early stages of the marriage out far too long and to little reason.
The relationship between Anne and Henry is depicted in soap opera-ish ways and occasionally feels trite, despite the best efforts of both actors. It's always apparent that these two are acting the parts, rather than inhabiting the roles; there's something very mannered about both Burton and Bujold. A lack of really interesting supporting performers hurts it too.
Not a bomb, then, just a passable movie that I have no great desire to rewatch. Certainly no classic. Natalie Dormer's vixen-like turn as the scheming Anne in THE TUDORS is still my favourite portrayal of the doomed queen.