Barnes & Noble
The Other Boleyn Girl stars Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Eric Bana in a romantic period drama based on the Philippa Gregory novel about two sisters who are both trying to attract King Henry VIII. Paul Cantelon (Everything Is Illuminated, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly) provides the dramatic score.
All Music Guide
Despite The Other Boleyn Girl's 16th century milieu, composer Paul Cantelon's score bolsters its traditional chamber arrangements with subtle but ultra-contemporary electronic elements. Its seemingly anachronistic contradictions notwithstanding, the music succeeds by championing timeless virtues like drama, romance, and tragedy. Paired with the Czech Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Cantelon achieves an effective balance between classical tradition and cinematic necessity, weaving a rich tapestry of themes and motifs that articulate in full the film's narrative complexity. Also noteworthy is the music's uncommon subtlety: time and again, Cantelon resists cheap theatrics, guaranteeing maximum impact when the emotional climax finally does arrive. Jason Ankeny