An Education

Release Year: 2009

Director: Lone Scherfig

Review: 'An Education' is a smart, brisk and poignant coming of age story.  It is refreshing to see a simple concept executed so well, as so many times the story gets swallowed up by melodrama in similar movies.  Taking place in London in the 1960s, a school girl is faced with the choice of either continuing to pursue her dream of going to Oxford, or abandoning it for a free and fun filled life with an older man.  It wonderfully captures the ignorance of youth without being condescending to its character.

The temptation of living a care free life, full of interesting people and places is too much for Jenny(Carey Mulligan).  She is sucked into a world she is not yet ready for.  Despite her intelligence and perceived maturity, she is still a child.  She is a repressed, studious girl, always looking toward the future, having most fun stifled away so that she is not distracted from her education.  When she is exposed to all the pleasures of life, it is no surprise she is willing to give up everything she once thought was important, to sacrifice her values and morals, all in pursuit of a more interesting life.  This is something that lives in all of us.  A part that is always looking to trade in a perceived boring life for one with adventure.

The acting in this is very good.  Carey Mulligan breaks out in a big way with her performance.  She commands the scenes she is in.  Managing to pull off something which is difficult for a young actress, she seamless transfers between playing a young schoolgirl gossiping with her classmates to holding her own and letting her maturity show when she is conversing with adults.  With her performance it is completely plausible that she is whisked away by an older man.  She conveys a maturity well beyond her years, something which is essential for the premise to work.

'An Education' is pleasant movie. It is solid throughout, with a tight premise and smooth execution.  It is almost too smooth, though.  There are scenes which are overly standard and expected.  This mostly happened while building the relationship between Mulligan and Saarsgaard,  Instead of striving for something new, they played it safe.  Its this which makes me feel like it will not be memorable.  There are few scenes that stand out, and too be a great film there needs to be something that sticks with you long after viewing it.  It is a very good film, that is executed well, but there is nothing that makes it special.  Despite this, what does work is the character evolution and it a very well done coming of age story which raises interesting life questions.
Rating: 3.5/5

Award Consideration: 'An Education' was near the top of a lot of critics year end top 10 lists.  It's a good movie, but not good enough to earn the same praise from me.  It certainly has a shot at making the nomination list for best picture, but little to no chance of winning.

The big buzz coming from 'An Education' is the break out performance of Carey Mulligan.  She makes the movie, and has opened up her career in a big way.  I'm hesitant to believe she could take down bigger stars, but I'm rooting for her.  In any case she will be back in awards talk in years to come.