Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
Despite her sheltered upbringing, Jenny is a teen with a bright future; she's smart, pretty, and has aspirations of attending Oxford University. When David, a charming but much older suitor, motors into her life in a shiny automobile, Jenny gets a taste of adult life that she won't soon forget.
An Education is elevated chiefly by Carey Mulligan's remarkable breakout performance, which earned her an Oscar nomination and remains the film's defining asset. The supporting cast — Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Emma Thompson — is equally strong. The plot follows a fairly familiar coming-of-age arc, though Hornby's script gives it wit and intelligence. Cinematography is competent and period-appropriate without being particularly distinctive. The ending is honest and bittersweet but somewhat tidy in its resolution, wrapping up the cautionary tale a little too neatly. Novelty is moderate — the film handles the predatory older man dynamic with unusual nuance and sympathy for the girl's genuine agency, but the template itself is well-trodden territory.