SPOILER ALERT! If you have not seen this movie and would still like to, do not keep reading.
It was over a year ago that "An Education" premiered and began receiving rave reviews, including Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Lead Actress (Carey Mulligan), and Adapted Screenplay (Nick Hornby of "About a Boy" and "High Fidelity"). Despite my annual goal of seeing all the nominated Best Picture films before the Oscars, I'm only now seeing "An Education."
In the film Carey Mulligan stars as Jenny, a sixteen year old girl seduced by a charming older man, David (played by Peter Sarsgaard). From the start you can tell something is off with David, but Jenny is so enamored that she looks past the warning signs. David exposes her to fine dining, live music, high priced art and international travel. While the rest of her school friends are studying Latin, Jenny is skipping school and seeing the world.
It all comes crashing down when Jenny discovers that David, now her fiance, is married! I have to admit, I didn't see that coming. Sure, I got the creep vibe from the moment he appeared on screen, but I thought she might be part of a calculated business move or a play thing for David and his business partner, Danny. I was even more shocked when Jenny goes to visit David's wife and she openly shares that he has had dozens of girlfriends and that at least she isn't one of the pregnant ones! Is your skin crawling?
Carey Mulligan is brilliant in this film. She starts out as the obedient daughter of parents with Oxford dreams and transforms into a confident woman. As her adult world comes crashing down she finds the balance between age appropriate behavior and looking forward to exploring the world. I think we can all remember that "ah ha" moment when we learned things are not always as they seem or that not all people are genuinely good. This movie is that sinking feeling personified.
In addition to the fantastic lead actors and the beautifully written central story line, this film has one of the most impressive supporting casts I have seen in a long time. Dominic Cooper and Rosamund Pike are superb as David's business partner and his half wit girlfriend.
Alfred Molina is incredible as Jenny's father. He plays the cold disciplinarian softened by David's charisma, only to be left just as heart broken as his daughter.
Jenny's English teacher, Miss Stubbs (played by Olivia Williams), has a small, but pivotal role in bringing Jenny back to life. I also adored Matthew Beard who plays Graham, Jenny's school boy crush. He portrayed the innocent high school admirer perfectly.
"An Education" is also a visually stunning movie. The 1960s costumes are dead on and there is a Paris, France montage that is breathtaking. There is no dialogue during the Paris scenes, just gorgeous shot after gorgeous shot.
If you couldn't tell by my lengthy ode, "An Education" is a must see film. Its only 90 minutes (my favorite length for a movie) and really draws you in, chews you up and spits you back out.
