An Education
From acclaimed writer Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity) comes this inspired coming-of-age film Rolling Stone magazine calls "a miracle of a movie."
When Jenny (breakout star Carey Mulligan), a bright young school girl who longs for adulthood, meets David (Peter Sarsgaard), a dashing older man, he introduces her to his vibrant world of glamorous friends, chic jazz clubs and her own sexual awakening. Will she let this affair ruin her dreams of attending Oxford, as her headmistress (Emma Thompson) fears? This captivating film sparkles with wit, charm and style of 1960s Britain.
Member Reviews
Looks & Seems Great - KevinJaques
120204 - Well photographed, of people interesting and pleasant to see and hear, and exquisitely detailed about 1961 England. I did catch a glimpse of traffic rumble strips, which are probably an anachronism.
The dialogue and plot were mostly plausible, and our 16 year old heroine was especially intelligent. The father was a bit extreme, but I suppose fathers can sometimes be a bit extreme.
Ultimately, it was very easy to see how a smooth older man could corrupt her, and very easy to see why he would want her. There was some drama along the process, and some drama in the resolution.
There was some subtlety too. They showed how easy and attractive it could be, but kept reminding us how wrong and repellent too. For instance, just in the casting and makeup, our heroine was indeed lovely to look at, but they added some repellent elements of excessive youth too, like bony shoulder-blades and hints of skin blemishes. The villain was indeed handsome, but with repellent elements of age, like love handles, tired eyes.
I enjoyed watching it, and respect all the craftsmanship, but on reflection, can’t think how the process left me with anything of value.Life's Learning - cinecynic
Carey Mulligan's portrayal of the bored 16-yr-old student, Jenny Miller, is definitely worthy of her Academy nomination. As she discusses her future at Oxford with her father, we see that she is a hard-working and witty student, but she's also intelligent and questions exactly what she is working towards. Anyone can identify with her kind of quandary, so it's not difficult to watch this young woman for the duration of the film.
When she meets the older, gregarious and charming David, we can understand her attraction. He isn't so full of the charm that he seems completely false. When Jenny watches him seduce her parents immediately--a skill that she finds admirable and puts to her own use later--she's impressed. However, the audience begins to feel worry.
Yet the story goes deeper. The inexperienced Jenny is seduced by the older, worldly fellow; but he's equally seduced by her fresh viewpoint and zest for life, not to mention her artistic and linguistic skills. The seduction that's most disturbing to watch, though, is that of her less-worldly parents. They allow David to take Jenny on outings that are more and more questionable and hence, she falls further under his spell.
The climax of betrayal, although predictable, is a layered event. We see it affect Jenny, her family and teachers. Jenny is angry at her parents for allowing her to end up where she does; but she's also painfully aware of how her parents are equally confused and hurt by the betrayal.
Peter Saarsgard as David managed to convey a charming fellow who is also earnest though confused. He isn't as cunning as we might expect; he still seems to want to believe in the first love that Jenny believes in.
The supporting cast is equally very good. Everyone seems so natural that we almost could believe they are who they portry. Scriptwriter Nick Hornby has also sprinkled the dialogue with some richly humourous lines, which gives the story a light touch. The score is also good.The pleasure of an education - bigboss
Nick Hornby's screenplay is what really shines in this understated period piece. The storyline is engrossing from start to finish. Supported by Lone Scherfig's solid direction, the characters are fully crafted and the performances of all are believable. Carey Mulligan as 16-year old "Jenny" is clearly reminscent of Audrey Hepburn. And Peter Sarsgaard as Jenny's older urbane suitor is cast perfectly as a morally adrift, but likeable, charlatan.
At moments, Hornby's script draws out one's emotions such as when Miss Stubbs, Jenny's empathetic teacher, unsuccessfully attempts to point out to Jenny the errors in her ways. One can sense the deep desire of one individual trying to reach out to help another, even though it is without personal gain and at some emotional risk.
On a separate note, some reviewers have commented that the Jewish references in this film somehow link Jews to lying, stealing and so on. This seems to be a stretch since several of the movie's characters clearly engage in questionable conduct and not all of them are Jews. If such a link was intentionally or inadvertently attempted, it certainly did not appear that way to this reviewer.
All-in-all, for anyone who wants to be whisked off to a bygone era of romance and deceit, only to emerge with a feeling of time well spent, then this film should be on your list.
Member Reviews
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Looks & Seems Great - KevinJaques
120204 - Well photographed, of people interesting and pleasant to see and hear, and exquisitely detailed about 1961 England. I did catch a glimpse of traffic rumble strips, which are probably an anachronism.
The dialogue and plot were mostly plausible, ...Life's Learning - cinecynic
Carey Mulligan's portrayal of the bored 16-yr-old student, Jenny Miller, is definitely worthy of her Academy nomination. As she discusses her future at Oxford with her father, we see that she is a hard-working and witty student, but she's also intelligent ...The pleasure of an education - bigboss
Nick Hornby's screenplay is what really shines in this understated period piece. The storyline is engrossing from start to finish. Supported by Lone Scherfig's solid direction, the characters are fully crafted and the performances of all are believable. Carey ...