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AN EDUCATION
A luminous performance by the leading lady that earned her a Best Actress nomination is the centerpiece of 2009's An Education, an edgy but endearing melodrama that disguises the inappropriateness of certain story elements with proper British accents and lovely scenery.
It is London in the 1960's where we are introduced to Jenny Mellor (Carey Mulligan), a 16 year old, straight A student at an all girls school whose life has been mapped out for her, including college at Oxford. Her plans get derailed when she meets a handsome and charming con man named David (Peter Sarsgaard) who is almost twice her age.
Nick Hornby's Oscar nominated screenplay is based on Lynn Barber's memoir, who I assume is the inspiration for Jenny. .The story that takes us on a journey that if it had been in American film, probably wouldn't have gone as far as it does here because the English accents and the breathtaking London and Paris scenery distract to the point that we almost don't notice how inappropriate this relationship is.
Of course, having Peter Sarsgaard playing David greatly aided in suspending disbelief. Sarsgaard's David is sophisticated and very very sexy. He also has uncanny people skills that allow him to say exactly what anyone he encounters wants or needs to hear at the right time. The viewer is totally blindsided as David so completely charms Jenny's parents that they seem to have no problem with their daughter dating a much older man. If this had been a John Hughes film and Molly Ringwald was playing Jenny, David would have been shown the door during the first act.
The real attraction here is the absolutely enchanting performance by Carey Mulligan in the starring role. Her Jenny is extremely smart and funny, but never comes off as anything more than a smart and love struck teenager who knows exactly what she wants. I love when David persuades her to go away for the weekend with him and she insists that she is a virgin and plans on staying that way and, to my amazement, David not only honors her wishes, but still treats her like a queen.
Mulligan and Sarsgaard create a viable chemistry that almost makes the viewer forget how truly inappropriate the relationship is. They receive solid support from Alfred Molina as Jenny's father, Rosamund Pike as a jet setting pal of David's, and Oscar winner Emma Thompson in a stylish cameo as the uptight headmistress of Jenny's school. Bouquets as well to John de Borman's cinematography and Paul Englishby's lush musical score. A special cinematic journey for the discriminating film goer.
A luminous performance by the leading lady that earned her a Best Actress nomination is the centerpiece of 2009's An Education, an edgy but endearing melodrama that disguises the inappropriateness of certain story elements with proper British accents and lovely scenery.
It is London in the 1960's where we are introduced to Jenny Mellor (Carey Mulligan), a 16 year old, straight A student at an all girls school whose life has been mapped out for her, including college at Oxford. Her plans get derailed when she meets a handsome and charming con man named David (Peter Sarsgaard) who is almost twice her age.
Nick Hornby's Oscar nominated screenplay is based on Lynn Barber's memoir, who I assume is the inspiration for Jenny. .The story that takes us on a journey that if it had been in American film, probably wouldn't have gone as far as it does here because the English accents and the breathtaking London and Paris scenery distract to the point that we almost don't notice how inappropriate this relationship is.
Of course, having Peter Sarsgaard playing David greatly aided in suspending disbelief. Sarsgaard's David is sophisticated and very very sexy. He also has uncanny people skills that allow him to say exactly what anyone he encounters wants or needs to hear at the right time. The viewer is totally blindsided as David so completely charms Jenny's parents that they seem to have no problem with their daughter dating a much older man. If this had been a John Hughes film and Molly Ringwald was playing Jenny, David would have been shown the door during the first act.
The real attraction here is the absolutely enchanting performance by Carey Mulligan in the starring role. Her Jenny is extremely smart and funny, but never comes off as anything more than a smart and love struck teenager who knows exactly what she wants. I love when David persuades her to go away for the weekend with him and she insists that she is a virgin and plans on staying that way and, to my amazement, David not only honors her wishes, but still treats her like a queen.
Mulligan and Sarsgaard create a viable chemistry that almost makes the viewer forget how truly inappropriate the relationship is. They receive solid support from Alfred Molina as Jenny's father, Rosamund Pike as a jet setting pal of David's, and Oscar winner Emma Thompson in a stylish cameo as the uptight headmistress of Jenny's school. Bouquets as well to John de Borman's cinematography and Paul Englishby's lush musical score. A special cinematic journey for the discriminating film goer.