review: An Education
November 17th 2009 04:55
An Education (Scherfig, 2009)
Written November 16, 2009
There’s a scene in An Education where Jenny’s, played by Carey Mulligan, long hair is pinned up and her plain Jane clothes are swapped for an elegant short black dress. In this moment, Carey Mulligan’s comparison to Audrey Hepburn cannot be denied. But it’s more than the look. The term ‘a star is born’ is not thrown around lightly, especially not these days. Everything about Carey Mulligan is breathtaking. Everything about this performance cannot help put a smile on your face, even when you shouldn’t be smiling.
Jenny is bright-eyed and carefree. In 1961 London, her main concentrations are studying, the cello, and Oxford. She loves Paris and French music. She has a semi-boyfriend; they share shy waves and smiles during music class. Then Jenny meets David, a sophisticated older man whom detracts her from her set course of events. David introduces Jenny to fine food and high end jazz clubs. He takes her to art auctions and classical concerts. During these adventures, Jenny’s face is a state of perpetual wonderment. This leads us back to Carey Mulligan and this larger than life yet utterly subtle performance. Her smile is incandescent. In scenes with the veteran Peter Sarsgaard she makes him look like an amateur. Carey embodies every aspect of Jenny; it’s as if she has really lived this life.
Jenny may very well be in love with David (although these words are never uttered) but she is absolutely in love with the world in which David and his friends live. At 16 going on 17, Jenny is naïve and a virgin. She travels to Oxford and then Paris. She learns David is not who he seems yet turns a blind eye. Jenny now believes in living; Paris is life. Oxford and an education is death.
Do not be mistaken, this film is not a romance. To the contrary, it is less about him and her and all about her. One knows from the very start these two are not meant to be. David is a smooth-talking bullshit con artist. He charms Jenny’s parents perhaps more than Jenny herself. Jenny’s father, played to perfection by Alfred Molina, is a stern man. In his first scene, he informs Jenny that she shouldn’t spend so much time playing the cello at home since it’s an interest and a hobby, but nevertheless she must attend her cello practices as that is part of education and thus necessary. Jenny’s parents are obsessed with her preparation for an Oxford acceptance until David comes into their lives and makes even them realize maybe an education isn’t necessary.
Every person is Jenny’s life (including Jenny herself) is led astray by charm, intrigue, and quit frankly, a free pass to an easy life. Everyone, that is, except her teacher Miss Stubbs (played perfectly by Olivia Williams). Jenny feels Miss Stubbs is dead. She’s too young to realize that her teacher has most likely made all the same mistakes and is wiser for the wear. More importantly, Miss Stubbs is content.
Everyone in the cast is marvelous. Sally Hawkins is sadly underused in one scene yet it’s wonderful to see her. She needs to be cast in everything starting now. The revelations concerning David feel self-conscious in nature and the film’s third act pushes the limits of melodrama. However, it does deliver a perfect line: “He wasn’t who he said he was. He wasn’t who you said he was either.” Jenny’s pain could have easily been avoided. Although young and naïve, she has no one to blame by herself. Yet at 17, with the opportunity to see Paris, to experience sexual awakening, to live your life to the fullest… most would have done the same.
The film’s last scene is its weakest. Jenny’s brief lines of voice-over are awkward, abrupt and add nothing to the film. These sentences appear to be paraphrased from Lynn Barber’s (aka the real Jenny) autobiographical essay, yet here they are misplaced. The film should have ended with the scene prior. The shot upon which the director could have gone to black would have been perfection.
Aside from these minor quibbles, An Education proves to be a satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable film. After leaving the theater, you may find yourself visualizing the shiny face of the film’s star. In fact, you may not be able to erase her from your memory. Then you’ll realize there’s no need to as she will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Carey Mulligan is a treasure to behold. And soon, the entire world will discover the same.
(Aside note: Wikipedia mentions an alternate ending to the film. This ending is possibly worse. Also, Rosamund Pike has a very large head. I'm just throwing that out there.)
Written November 16, 2009
There’s a scene in An Education where Jenny’s, played by Carey Mulligan, long hair is pinned up and her plain Jane clothes are swapped for an elegant short black dress. In this moment, Carey Mulligan’s comparison to Audrey Hepburn cannot be denied. But it’s more than the look. The term ‘a star is born’ is not thrown around lightly, especially not these days. Everything about Carey Mulligan is breathtaking. Everything about this performance cannot help put a smile on your face, even when you shouldn’t be smiling.
Jenny is bright-eyed and carefree. In 1961 London, her main concentrations are studying, the cello, and Oxford. She loves Paris and French music. She has a semi-boyfriend; they share shy waves and smiles during music class. Then Jenny meets David, a sophisticated older man whom detracts her from her set course of events. David introduces Jenny to fine food and high end jazz clubs. He takes her to art auctions and classical concerts. During these adventures, Jenny’s face is a state of perpetual wonderment. This leads us back to Carey Mulligan and this larger than life yet utterly subtle performance. Her smile is incandescent. In scenes with the veteran Peter Sarsgaard she makes him look like an amateur. Carey embodies every aspect of Jenny; it’s as if she has really lived this life.
Jenny may very well be in love with David (although these words are never uttered) but she is absolutely in love with the world in which David and his friends live. At 16 going on 17, Jenny is naïve and a virgin. She travels to Oxford and then Paris. She learns David is not who he seems yet turns a blind eye. Jenny now believes in living; Paris is life. Oxford and an education is death.
Do not be mistaken, this film is not a romance. To the contrary, it is less about him and her and all about her. One knows from the very start these two are not meant to be. David is a smooth-talking bullshit con artist. He charms Jenny’s parents perhaps more than Jenny herself. Jenny’s father, played to perfection by Alfred Molina, is a stern man. In his first scene, he informs Jenny that she shouldn’t spend so much time playing the cello at home since it’s an interest and a hobby, but nevertheless she must attend her cello practices as that is part of education and thus necessary. Jenny’s parents are obsessed with her preparation for an Oxford acceptance until David comes into their lives and makes even them realize maybe an education isn’t necessary.
Every person is Jenny’s life (including Jenny herself) is led astray by charm, intrigue, and quit frankly, a free pass to an easy life. Everyone, that is, except her teacher Miss Stubbs (played perfectly by Olivia Williams). Jenny feels Miss Stubbs is dead. She’s too young to realize that her teacher has most likely made all the same mistakes and is wiser for the wear. More importantly, Miss Stubbs is content.
Everyone in the cast is marvelous. Sally Hawkins is sadly underused in one scene yet it’s wonderful to see her. She needs to be cast in everything starting now. The revelations concerning David feel self-conscious in nature and the film’s third act pushes the limits of melodrama. However, it does deliver a perfect line: “He wasn’t who he said he was. He wasn’t who you said he was either.” Jenny’s pain could have easily been avoided. Although young and naïve, she has no one to blame by herself. Yet at 17, with the opportunity to see Paris, to experience sexual awakening, to live your life to the fullest… most would have done the same.
The film’s last scene is its weakest. Jenny’s brief lines of voice-over are awkward, abrupt and add nothing to the film. These sentences appear to be paraphrased from Lynn Barber’s (aka the real Jenny) autobiographical essay, yet here they are misplaced. The film should have ended with the scene prior. The shot upon which the director could have gone to black would have been perfection.
Aside from these minor quibbles, An Education proves to be a satisfying and thoroughly enjoyable film. After leaving the theater, you may find yourself visualizing the shiny face of the film’s star. In fact, you may not be able to erase her from your memory. Then you’ll realize there’s no need to as she will not be going anywhere anytime soon. Carey Mulligan is a treasure to behold. And soon, the entire world will discover the same.
(Aside note: Wikipedia mentions an alternate ending to the film. This ending is possibly worse. Also, Rosamund Pike has a very large head. I'm just throwing that out there.)
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Comment by Catherine Stebbins
Cinema Enthusiast
Thoughts from a Cinephile
Thoughts from a TV Watcher
"Also, Rosamund Pike has a very large head. I'm just throwing that out there."
Ahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah ahahahahahahahahahahaha. I've never noticed that about her but whenever I get to see this I will be sure to keep a look out. I was drinking something when I read that and I almost choked. ahahahahahaha.
Comment by Cinema is Truth