an education

'an education' was a film that came out of nowhere in a sense. sure it had a script penned by the always reliable nick hornby, but the main actress, carey mulligan, was largely unknown. fortunately, that is no longer the case. his oscar nominated worthy performance (she should have won), highlights this very well done coming of age story set in 1960's England.

all the acting is great in this film. peter sarsgaard does a great job as the almost sleazy yet charming male who is attracted to the much younger mulligan. he realistically woos here and surprisingly her family over as well, with his lies and likable charm/wit. alfred molina, who've i've become a big fan of as of late, does an excellent job as the stiff controlling father figure. despite the strong will he shows, i like how the film showcases his along with his wife's vulnerability and misjudgment.

the relationship between mulligan's character and sarsgaard's character is very well crafted. there are moments that are uncomfortable and slightly creepy due to the age discrepancy between the two, but everything seems realistic and plausible. mulligan's interaction with the other female friend is also documented in a way that highlights the often awkward moments that occur when people attempt to act older than they actually are.

this is one of my favorite films of the year. it is extremely well crafted with a smart script from hornby. the performances and direction are spot on, and i recommend it to anyone who is a fan of the often attempted, by rarely successful 'coming of age' drama.