I thought it one of the best films of 2009...

Posted by Harmonia (A) on March 24, 2010 at 15:44:39

In Reply to: Okay film, nothing to go wild about. nt posted by tinear on March 20, 2010 at 16:47:52:

..especially for Nick Hornby's wonderfully humane and witty script, the way he takes characters whose outlines could easily be too broad and fills them in with shades of light and dark, drama and humor. They all have so much energy and texture, even the minor roles, that you (or at least I couldn't) help but find them compelling.

The story is hardly a new one, but through director Lone Scherfig's skill and the actors' beautifully observed performances we see the world through the protagonist's (Jenny's) young eyes. We are charmed by Sarsgaard's David and the allure of a more glamorous life right along with Jenny, even though we know he's far too good to be true. We are fascinated as David manipulates Jenny and her well meaning but unsophisticated parents. And we understand Jenny's frustrations and fierce longings - some of us no doubt felt those same longings for excitement and adventure ourselves at a similar age. But what exactly does David's smooth charm hide and how hard will be Jenny's fall?

The filmmakers evoke a wonderful sense of time and place, a rather grey and staid post-war London: before the sexual revolution, before swinging London, before the youth quake, when snagging a husband was one of the main goals of higher education, not just earning a degree (in the US as well as UK BTW). They also deftly capture the hopes and insecurities of Jenny's parents which render them so vulnerable to manipulation by the likes of David. And most importantly, while eventually shown to be no better than we feared him to be, they succeed in making David a flawed human being and not merely a cardboard villain.

The movie steers carefully away from cliche. And what is at stake is enormous. It's not a tale of a silly schoolgirl but of a vibrant young woman's search for identity. Jenny finds out there are no shortcuts in life and blythe choices can have emotionally devastating consequences - surely that's the story of us all. Carey Mulligan's star-making turn captures a time in a most memorable young woman's life in such indelible fashion you are completely captivated.

It's easy for those who are not especially observant to dismiss this movie. But An Education is about so much more than a young girl trying to get a place at university.

I am not surprised that our resident French cinophile got it.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - An excellent picture.Excellent is just another word for understatement. - patrickU 12:03:48 03/20/10 (28)

Okay film, nothing to go wild about. nt - tinear 16:47:52 03/20/10 (21)

I thought it one of the best films of 2009... - Harmonia 15:44:39 03/24/10 (2)

RE: PS: - patrickU 04:22:29 03/26/10 (0)

RE: I thought it one of the best films of 2009...Oh yes! nt - patrickU 04:05:20 03/26/10 (0)

RE: The natural child of Withnail and I---More than ok, excellent. nt - patrickU 03:11:05 03/21/10 (17)

Ummmm...I'm struggling with this connection. - Harmonia 15:08:24 03/24/10 (1)

RE: Well you are not the only one! - patrickU 04:25:27 03/25/10 (0)

Withnail and I is total garbage. nt - Victor Khomenko 15:59:52 03/21/10 (0)

Withnail and I is a longtime favorite, I will probably never watch An Education again, - tunenut 15:57:20 03/21/10 (8)

Strongly agree. I've seen it more times than I can count and immensely have enjoyed each one. nt - tinear 13:46:54 03/24/10 (0)

RE: Withnail and I is not a comedy. - patrickU 04:49:02 03/22/10 (6)

the phrase used in many of the reviews is "black comedy" - tunenut 10:06:26 03/22/10 (5)

RE: PPS: - patrickU 10:38:45 03/22/10 (0)

RE: PS: I am also not the type for belly laughs...Nor did I felt the urge in that one. - patrickU 10:35:10 03/22/10 (0)

RE: Big laugh in/on this one? Impossible. Tin what are you saying. - patrickU 10:32:17 03/22/10 (2)

Peut etre un comedie. D'accord. (NT) - tunenut 15:36:42 03/22/10 (1)

RE: Peut etre un comedie. D'accord. (NT) - patrickU 04:20:19 03/23/10 (0)

Now there's a stretch. "Education" is slow, predictable. W & I is a Jaguar. nt - tinear 09:03:24 03/21/10 (4)

I just picked up W&I on Blu-Ray. Can't believe my most bestest favouritest flick of all time is on BR! (nt) - Doug Flynn 12:34:14 03/21/10 (3)

What is your second bestest one? - Victor Khomenko 16:02:47 03/21/10 (2)

Dude, do you actually like *any* movies at all? You are a seriously grumpy old geezer! (nt) - Doug Flynn 23:57:06 03/21/10 (1)

Dude, you can actually read at all? - Victor Khomenko 05:14:23 03/22/10 (0)

Excellent show....she was up for an Oscar, you know. * - mr grits 14:22:12 03/20/10 (5)

RE: Excellent show....she was up for an Oscar, you know. * - patrickU 14:27:13 03/20/10 (4)

Oui, that's why I said 'excellent'. I wonder why they chose Sarsgaard to play . . . - mr grits 22:12:07 03/20/10 (3)

RE: Oui, that's why I said 'excellent'. I wonder why they chose Sarsgaard to play . . . - patrickU 03:11:58 03/21/10 (2)

Peter Sarsgaard was outstanding in a very tricky part. - Harmonia 13:19:01 03/24/10 (1)

RE: Peter Sarsgaard was outstanding in a very tricky part. - patrickU 13:57:43 03/24/10 (0)

Follow Ups

I thought it one of the best films of 2009... - Harmonia 15:44:39 03/24/10 (2)

RE: PS: - patrickU 04:22:29 03/26/10 (0)

RE: I thought it one of the best films of 2009...Oh yes! nt - patrickU 04:05:20 03/26/10 (0)

I thought it one of the best films of 2009...

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