  An EducationMPAA Rating:
 for mature thematic material involving sexual content, and for smoking._____
Moviemaking Quality:
Primary Audience:
Adults
Genre:
Drama
Length:
1 hr. 35 min.
Year of Release:
2009
USA Release:
October 9, 2009 (exclusive—4 theaters) October 16, 2009 (limited—CA/NY/MA)
October 23, 2009 (expanded)   
Relevant Issues
Lust in the Bible Should I save sex for marriage? Answer How can I deal with temptations? Answer How far is too far? What are the guidelines for dating relationships? Answer What are the consequences of sexual immorality? Answer What is true love and how do you know when you have found it? Answer
Producer’s Synopsis: “‘An Education’ is the story of a teenage girl's coming-of-age set in 1961 London, a city caught between the drab, post-war 1950s and the glamorous, more liberated decade to come. Based on a memoir by Lynn Barber, which appeared in literary magazine Granta.”
Volunteer reviewer needed for this movie—Request this assignment See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.   Positive
none Neutral
Neutral - I thought I was going to have to write a scathingly negative comment about this movie, which focuses on a completely inappropriate relationship between a teenager and an older man who sweeps her away with his money and generosity, plus the pathetic way in which the parents enable this unseemly relationship, instead of fostering the much more normal relationship between Jennie and a lovely boy in her school. Fortunately, Jennie and her parents recognize their errors, and the movie ends on a note of humility and contrition. Does this ending make up for the immoral story that is 95% of the film? And what about such a sudden about-face? I am not sure this is good movie making. The performances, however, were all good. Negative
none Movie Critics
…“An Education” serves up hard truths… In short order, young Jenny finds out important truths about identity, glamour and how adults really think and live.… …romantic and wonderfully entertaining.… Carey Mulligan… makes the role luminous when it could have been sad or awkward. She has such lightness and grace, you're pretty sure this is the birth of a star.… [4/4] …Some conservative viewers will likely be put off by the film's unwillingness to be reflexively critical of the sexual relationship between the two principals—she is sixteen when they meet, and there is plenty of smoking and drinking. So the content and several of the situations are “R” rated by nature, even if the presentation of them is more PG-13.… …This starlet’s performance is the best reason to see an otherwise jumbled adaptation of Lynn Barber’s memoir… Most insulting, though, is the way in which the climactic passages miraculously tidy up every frayed edge of Jenny’s life.…[2/5] …teaches a vivid lesson in life, love… An Education does it right, sidestepping the clichés. Through stellar performances, clever writing and exquisite cinematography, the story is fresh and thoroughly captivating.…[3½/4] …emotionally pulsing, culturally observant picture simply bursts with life… Mulligan, 22 when the picture was shot, is completely convincing as 16 going on 17.… |
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