An Education (2009)
November 17th 2009 08:09
Directed by:- Lone Scherfig.
Starring:- Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams.
Based on the memoirs of make up artist Lynne Barber, An Education follows the life of a young girl growing up in London in the 1960's. Rather than remaining relatively unknown, this quaint little English tale was revived and adapted to the big screen by writer Nick Hornby and Italian for Beginners director Lone Scherfig.
Set in Ealing, An Education focuses on the life of Jenny, a 16 year old school girl studying to get into Oxford University. Life appears to be coasting nicely for this gifted middle class girl, until one day an older self confessed music lover decides to rescue her and her cello from the pouring rain. With a beguiling manner, David glides into the world of Jenny and her parents with apparent ease, offering her more than she has ever had. Classical concerts, dinner parties, Paris, Jenny's world becomes intoxicating, with her old life appearing a bore. And it is while turning her back on her books, that Jenny begins to realise her education is just beginning.
The film holds a stellar cast, seeing a whole heap of English big names gather for the show. The lead, Carey Mulligan, puts in an outstanding performance, and it is good to see her here again working with the lovely Rosamund Pike after their stint on Pride and Prejudice (the book is also discussed in the film). Pike is entertaining as the benighted dame, and Mulligan appears completely natural as the clever and precocious 17 year old discovering life, who also handles some difficult scenes well. Peter Sarsgaard, being American, puts in a credible performance as the Ealing man of town, and Alfred Molina and Olivia Williams put in better than average performances. Emma Thompson also plays a good if only small part as the resolute headmistress.
An Education is well shot, with the locations suiting the story nicely. I also enjoyed the dialogue, which containing enough wit and sincerity without getting too carried away with itself (which was helped by the acting). The story, however, is one significant aspect of the film which lets this one down. It began nicely, was lifted by the acting, and then appeared to fizzle into predictability in the last quarter. I would have liked to have seen a little more zing, or a slight twist at the film's end. Instead, despite all the film's positives, I was left feeling a little disappointed, like the chocolate had just fallen off my ice-cream.
Worth watching for the fine performances.
Three civilised bananas out of five.
Starring:- Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Olivia Williams.
Based on the memoirs of make up artist Lynne Barber, An Education follows the life of a young girl growing up in London in the 1960's. Rather than remaining relatively unknown, this quaint little English tale was revived and adapted to the big screen by writer Nick Hornby and Italian for Beginners director Lone Scherfig.
Set in Ealing, An Education focuses on the life of Jenny, a 16 year old school girl studying to get into Oxford University. Life appears to be coasting nicely for this gifted middle class girl, until one day an older self confessed music lover decides to rescue her and her cello from the pouring rain. With a beguiling manner, David glides into the world of Jenny and her parents with apparent ease, offering her more than she has ever had. Classical concerts, dinner parties, Paris, Jenny's world becomes intoxicating, with her old life appearing a bore. And it is while turning her back on her books, that Jenny begins to realise her education is just beginning.
The film holds a stellar cast, seeing a whole heap of English big names gather for the show. The lead, Carey Mulligan, puts in an outstanding performance, and it is good to see her here again working with the lovely Rosamund Pike after their stint on Pride and Prejudice (the book is also discussed in the film). Pike is entertaining as the benighted dame, and Mulligan appears completely natural as the clever and precocious 17 year old discovering life, who also handles some difficult scenes well. Peter Sarsgaard, being American, puts in a credible performance as the Ealing man of town, and Alfred Molina and Olivia Williams put in better than average performances. Emma Thompson also plays a good if only small part as the resolute headmistress.
An Education is well shot, with the locations suiting the story nicely. I also enjoyed the dialogue, which containing enough wit and sincerity without getting too carried away with itself (which was helped by the acting). The story, however, is one significant aspect of the film which lets this one down. It began nicely, was lifted by the acting, and then appeared to fizzle into predictability in the last quarter. I would have liked to have seen a little more zing, or a slight twist at the film's end. Instead, despite all the film's positives, I was left feeling a little disappointed, like the chocolate had just fallen off my ice-cream.
Worth watching for the fine performances.
Three civilised bananas out of five.
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Comment by Quin Goot
on Just what ARE the MOST DISTURBING MOVIES ever made?
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