An Education had its screening last night and it was clear to see why there is so much early "Oscar" talk about the star of the film. Carey Mulligan plays a 16-year old prep-school girl, Jenny, opposite Peter Sarsgaard (Elegy) as the 30-something seducer, David, who lures her with his sports car, lavish lifestyle and air of excitement.Mulligan is a fresh new face on the film scene who made her debut alongside Keira Knightley in Pride and Prejudice. The 24-year old British actress was the darling of the Sundance Film Festival and has been compared to Ellen Page and Audrey Hepburn. She makes me think of Katie Holmes and even Sally Field in her youth.
You may have seen Mulligan in smaller roles, earlier this year, with Johnny Depp in Public Enemies and Jake Gyllenhaal in Brothers. Truly, she belongs in the limelight. Regardless, Carey Mulligan is about to become a household name. This is her breakout role. Her charm and allure carry the film, which was based on a memoir written by Lynn Barber, adapted for the screen by Nick Hornby (About A Boy).
The movie is light-hearted fare that should be required viewing for families with teenage daughters as the plot resonates with the glamorized life youth are sold today in popular culture of getting it all without earning it - but at what price?
This a coming of age story set in London, 1961, which - on the surface - looks like Guess Who's Coming To Dinner - the debut film for Katharine Hepburn's niece, Katharine Houghton (1967) which never materialized into a movie career for the stage actress. However, An Education is more like The Grifters (1990) - perhaps with a bit of Mona Lisa Smile (2003) thrown in for perspective.
(Diane Bennett is covering Events, Headliners & Music On Film)
