AN EDUCATION (English/N/A)
Genre: Drama
Release Date: N/A
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Running Time: 95 mins.
Director: Lone Scherfig
Producers: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey, Douglas Hansen<>
Release Date: N/A
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics
Running Time: 95 mins.
Director: Lone Scherfig
Producers: Finola Dwyer, Amanda Posey, Douglas Hansen<>
Writer: Nick Hornby, Lynn Barber
Casts: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Emma Thompson, Dominic Cooper, Olivia Williams, Alfred Molina, Rosamund Pike
Plot: In the early 1960's, sixteen year old Jenny Mellor lives with her parents in the London suburb of Twickenham. On her father's wishes, everything that Jenny does is in the sole pursuit of being accepted into Oxford, as he wants her to have a better life than he. Jenny is bright, pretty, hard working but also naturally gifted. The only problems her father may perceive in her life is her issue with learning Latin, and her dating a boy named Graham, who is nice but socially awkward. Jenny's life changes after she meets David Goldman, a man over twice her age. David goes out of his way to show Jenny and her family that his interest in her is not improper and that he wants solely to expose her to cultural activities which she enjoys. Jenny quickly gets accustomed to the life to which David and his constant companions, Danny and Helen, have shown her, and Jenny and David's relationship does move into becoming a romantic one. However, Jenny slowly learns more about David, and by association Danny and Helen, and specifically how they make their money. Jenny has to decide if what she learns about them and leading such a life is worth forgoing her plans of higher eduction at Oxford
Plot: In the early 1960's, sixteen year old Jenny Mellor lives with her parents in the London suburb of Twickenham. On her father's wishes, everything that Jenny does is in the sole pursuit of being accepted into Oxford, as he wants her to have a better life than he. Jenny is bright, pretty, hard working but also naturally gifted. The only problems her father may perceive in her life is her issue with learning Latin, and her dating a boy named Graham, who is nice but socially awkward. Jenny's life changes after she meets David Goldman, a man over twice her age. David goes out of his way to show Jenny and her family that his interest in her is not improper and that he wants solely to expose her to cultural activities which she enjoys. Jenny quickly gets accustomed to the life to which David and his constant companions, Danny and Helen, have shown her, and Jenny and David's relationship does move into becoming a romantic one. However, Jenny slowly learns more about David, and by association Danny and Helen, and specifically how they make their money. Jenny has to decide if what she learns about them and leading such a life is worth forgoing her plans of higher eduction at Oxford
THE VERDICT
The movie follows Jenny Mellor's life changes in drastic after acquittance a man twice her age, David Goldman. The two strikes up in a romantic relationship and sooner Jenny was introduced to David's business partner, Danny and Helen. She suits into their lifestyle and later found out how David and his friends were making all the fortunes all these while. She is horrified but nevertheless accepted the new life at a cost for her further education at Oxford. Perhaps, I should also noted here that the movie is loosely based on Lynn Barner's autobiography, An Education: A Memoir.
The movie deals like what the title tells you - about education. Education is a learning process that knows no boundary of time, age and financial limit. The movie discusses the aspect in bold contemporary and distinguished fashionable scenes that sets parallel to the 60's mentality. The story is enchanting, romantic and of course very 60's while it is not a shabby plot to deal with. The mentality of a girl at the age of 16 in the 60's is so different than who they are today and you will be able to spot on the contrast.
The adaptation by Nick Hornby is smart and flowable. The smooth operation on how David caught on Jenny on one rainy day is exquisite and budding. The same goes to the point when David was introduced to Jenny's parents. But the true message is here is about an education that every young girl should embodied. The truth is both the book and movie screenplay are so inspiring that one can easily found themselves beyond the years of teenagers - mistakes were done but a lesson was learnt nevertheless. But the second part of the movie was obscure although still enjoyable, hardly digested and lost some of its charmed from the first 50 minutes.
In fact, Jenny's way of thought are way beyond ahead of those in the era and that makes David very interested and impressed by her. But I feel something very astonishing here. The movie relies strongly on Carey Mulligan's performance as Jenny. She is a star and she single-handedly control the emotion, the story and the luminous greatly. Jenny in most articles that I have read, is comparable to Audrey Hepburn - a legend born from such versatile, pretty and luminous. Not to forget, Alfred Molina, who plays Jenny's protective and naive father. I bet he was snubbed off the Supporting Actor award for the Oscar and the fact that he did very well in the movie, but alas, the Academy again!
The scenery of London may be a bit up skewed and inaccurate but once you don't notice them, it plays beautifully. Paris, the wildest imagination that Jenny has is stunning as well. The movie has a playable and educational story to follow. let the movie gives you some advices - like what Roger Ebert says, "When a man seems too good to be true, he probably isn't -- good, or true. We all make mistakes when we're growing up. Sometimes we learn from them. If we're lucky, we can even learn during them."
THE RATING:
Story – 3.5 stars
Casts – 4.0 stars
Cinematography – 3.5 stars
Effects – 3.0 stars
OVERALL – 3.5 stars
Story – 3.5 stars
Casts – 4.0 stars
Cinematography – 3.5 stars
Effects – 3.0 stars
OVERALL – 3.5 stars
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 14.3
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