Entertaining, buoyant, 'An Education' is based on a Nick Hornby
novel, probably his most literary. The film isn't really benefitted a great deal by the age-old, coming-of-age plot that involves a young girl's infatuation with an older man. The only redeeming plot device and probably one that truly differentiates this film from others like it is that the young girl, played brilliantly by Carey Mulligan, seems to 'get' what she is doing. She seems to know that nothing good can come out of her choice but at the same time she cannot help but enjoy the good life she is promised and presented. Peter Sarsgaard is miscast as the aforementioned playboy. He is fine but lacks the twinkle in his eye.
novel, probably his most literary. The film isn't really benefitted a great deal by the age-old, coming-of-age plot that involves a young girl's infatuation with an older man. The only redeeming plot device and probably one that truly differentiates this film from others like it is that the young girl, played brilliantly by Carey Mulligan, seems to 'get' what she is doing. She seems to know that nothing good can come out of her choice but at the same time she cannot help but enjoy the good life she is promised and presented. Peter Sarsgaard is miscast as the aforementioned playboy. He is fine but lacks the twinkle in his eye. Of course, it wouldn't really be an English tale without a moral parable. It all comes crashing down as you probably can anticipate. But not before an amazing dialogue between Jenny (Carey) and her headmistress (a brilliant cameo by Emma Thompson) about the goal and gains, or lack thereof, of education in the modern world especially in relation to hedonism. That interaction is one of the finest I've seen in recent times.
The film is charming in many ways and a bit drawn out in others. While it is not much of an education, it still is entertainment, and there is nothing wrong with that!