Review of An Education (2009) by Luiz A — 29 Dec 2010

An Education is a slow burner, but one of the highest quality. Carey Mulligan's star-making performance, Nick Hornby's simple yet thought-provoking screenplay, and the aesthetics that perfectly capture 1960s England all combine to make this movie is an exercise in first-rate filmmaking.

Coming of age tales have been a regular part of Hollywood for decades, so the challenge for those today is to bring something new to the rather exhausted genre. An Education does this in the simplest of ways: by taking things back to basics. Relying on Hornby's uncomplicated storytelling coupled with a host of fine performances, director Lone Scherfig has created something that feels very fresh upon viewing, even if you do realise it's actually been seen a hundred times before.

The unrivalled highlight of the film is Carey Mulligan, who carries her movie better than any other actress did in 2009 (including Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock). Her performance is engaging, full of wit, playful and so skillfully delivered that it sets the tone for the entire film. It comes as no surprise to see that she's now one of Hollywood's hottest young actresses, and is surely setting herself up to follow in the shoes of Kate Winslet as a British starlet with a long and rewarding career. Opposite her Peter Sarsgaard is the older man who captures the heart of Mulligan's Jenny. Despite being far too old to seduce a sixteen year old schoolgirl and clearly not the perfect gent he appears to be, Sarsgaard's natural charm overpowers any reservations over his character, and allows him to romance the audience just as easily as he does the characters on screen.

Meanwhile a number of supporting performances are worth noting. None more so than Alfred Molina as Jenny's father who is unwittingly hilarious in his portrayal of the bumbling lower-middle class Englishman, and more than worthy of the BAFTA nomination he received for this role. Similarly both the chronically underrated Olivia Williams and the ever-great Emma Thompson put in stellar efforts in small roles as Jenny's teacher and headmistress respectively, while perhaps most surprising of all is former Bond-girl Rosamund Pike who exhibits great comedic skill playing dimwitted Helen, and provides many of the film's most humourous moments in the process.

While no one can realistically fault the acting, there will undoubtedly be those who will be less fond of the film's conclusion. It seems the entire story pits two different lifestyles against each other: the romantic life of fine music, art and dining, versus the academic life of hard work, determination and self-respect. Naturally Jenny can only choose one of these paths, and depending on which you value higher, you may well find yourself mildly annoyed by Jenny's choice. Likewise the fact that Jenny finishes the film in a fairly similar position to how she began may also lead some to feel the whole thing was a rather pointless exercise. This is a sad mistake, for in order to reach her conclusion, Jenny had to undertake a difficult journey that offered a taste of the life she had always dreamed about, and provided moments that will help to define her future-self. As such An Education is a solid film that isn't likely to blow you away but instead gradually break through any resistances with its heartfelt story and brilliant performances.