I didn’t really talk too much about Lone Sherfig’s “An Education” when I saw it a few months ago beyond starting the drum circle on Alfred Molina’s wonderfully warm, authentic performance. But I find the film on my mind more and more with an October 9 limited release right around the corner.
The film is sublime and in perhaps (for me) the best movie year of the decade, it continues to stand out as one of the 2009’s most refined films on nearly every level. The acting, of course, is impeccable. I couldn’t possibly write anything new about Carey Mulligan’s work, and Peter Sarsgaard, who will hopefully be in the awards conversation but could be unfortunately forgotten in the clutter, delivers his finest work since “Shattered Glass” (and probably ever). The entire cast, in fact (and as noted in this space) is likely to get a well-deserved SAG ensemble nod.
Back in June I wrote that “An Education” was an example of “that rare occasion when a filmmaker taps into profound truths with the help of a cast that gets it, the themes surging through every vein, a driven vehicle of purpose.” I don’t feel any different today.
And the film seems to be capturing the imagination of others on its march to release. Stephen Zeitchik, reporting from the film’s New York premiere, seems to think the question remains as to whether “An Education” can compete outside of the lead actress race, but I don’t think there will be a problem. Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor, it will certainly be in these conversations, and perhaps Sherfig will get some play as well.
Zeitchik also notes that the film plays well to multiple generations, a key ingredient to a runaway awards success.
However, first Dave Karger and then Sasha Stone have brought up a potentially troubling aspect of the film concerning Sarsgaard’s older man courting Mulligan’s younger woman. Karger, warning of a possible “ick” factor, gets reaction from Mulligan on the potential controversy, while Stone comes at things more analytically, drawing interesting parallels to the headlines of today (Polanski/Letterman). But as each pundit notes, the situation is handled delicately. I, for one, don’t think there is cause for too much concern, but if there are more stubborn takes such as David Edelstein’s, that could change.
Elsewhere Nick Hornby, as we’ve noted, is finally getting his day in the publicity sun for an expert adaptation. And Anne Thompson strikes back with her handy AnneCam with a Telluride interview with Sherfig and Mulligan, as well as passing commentary on how “An Education” fits into a year with an unusually pronounced Jewish bent.
The film really is a precise work that, hopefully, can go the distance and really compete this year. And Mulligan will have her work cut out for her as Meryl Streep burns through the season, but I think, even if she’s not the one left standing, she’ll certainly offer up a fierce fight.
Comments
51 responses to “‘Education’ on the march”
Let me be the first to make this exclamation: The best movie year of the decade?!
I obviously haven’t seen enough movies.
It will be interesting to see how they market it – they’ve done an outstanding job of creating the early buzz. I’ve been reading more and more about it lately. I wonder if it’s release date of October rather than December will help it or hurt it. It will now be coming out with no huge awards or nominations attached to it. If it came out limited in December it could have gone wide with some Golden Globe nominations and some critics awards.
Matthew: Yes, I believe this unequivocally now. But that opinion has formed in the last month.
Wow, best movie year of the decade. What have you been in love with? I only seem to recall Up in the Air, A Serious Man, and according to John at The Movie Blog, Zombieland.
Zombieland?
Best movie year of the decade, no way. First of all it’s only early October.
Second, remember this?
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood
Michael Clayton
Juno
Atonement
Bourne Ultimatum
Assassination of Jesse James
Into The Wild
La Vie En Rose
Diving Bell and The Butterfly
The Savages
Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead
Ratatouille
Persepolis
Gone Baby Gone
Zodiac
Sweeney Todd
The Orphanage
[Rec]
Once
I don’t think so.
Star Trek, Precious, The Last Station, Up, Julie & Julia, District 9, Public Enemies
Those are the raves I remember.
Remember, he’s seen way more than we have. But even it just being October, this has been a truly great year so far. I imagine by January of next year we’ll realize how extraordinary it really was.
Remember, he’s seen way more than we have. But even it just being October, this has been a truly great year so far. I imagine by January of next year we’ll realize how extraordinary it really was.
Wow. Sorry ’bout that!
Matt: Your “only October” and my “only October” are two completely different things.
2007 was a great year, though. As was 2006 (formally my favorite year of the decade). But, yeah, 2009, like 1999, finished out this 10-year span with a big bang for me.
I still don’t think this year will come close to 2007. Maybe we just have different tastes. I have seen a lot of movies this year and have only really liked Hurt Locker, A Serious Man and Up.
Everything else has been good or okay. Where as 2007 everything to me was excellent.
I have yet to see Basterds, Education, Up in the Air and Precious. But even if those are all great this year still needs a lot more to match 07.
Well, a statement about the overall year being the best of the decade definitely deserves an entire post. Maybe it wasn’t best to mention it in this article about a single film – see how everyone got sidetracked? I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Damn, can’t wait to see the films that make you feel that way, Kris.
I’ll agree at least that it was the best year of summer movies, I’ll have to wait and see for the year as a whole.
I can say that, from reading Kris’ reviews and reading most of his posts, his view of 2009 is far more advanced and skewed than what mine or anyone else’s is. For example,
Kris has loved:
“Bronson” (haven’t seen it)
“Up in the Air” (haven’t seen it)
“Precious” (haven’t seen it)
“A Serious Man” (haven’t seen it yet)
“Moon” (nice little movie/not bad)
“An Education” (haven’t seen it)
“District 9” (decent)
“Star Trek” (liked it, Kris worshiped it)
“The Hurt Locker” (agreed 100%)
“Public Enemies” (loved it)
It sounded crazy to me at first, but it’s not a huge stretch to say that 2009 could be that kind of year. Right now, for me, it’s hard to imagine it because I haven’t seen the stuff that Kris has, and the films that I have seen, I don’t necessarily hold to same degree of quality that he does…
I don’t know how it could match the sheer greatness of the my top 4 films from 2007: “There Will Be Blood”, “Zodiac”, “Assassination of Jesse James” and “No Country For Old Men”, but I’m willing to find out.
I saw Bronson, Tom Hardy is great but the film is not. District 9, Public Enemies and Star Trek are all overrated. Good, entertaining but not excellent. Certainly not movies I want to see multiple times.
Lance: This actually isn’t the first time I’ve said that so I didn’t think a passing comment would be such a profound issue of concern.
In any case, you can bet that when I write my best of the year column (and soon after, my best of the decade column), I’ll get into that more in-depth.
Has anyone here seen Nine, Avatar, Invictus, or Lovely Bones?
I’ve seen Nine. Only it was called Chicago.
Back to An Education…question about Sarsgaard: where will they campaign him, if he gets a push at all? I know that Molina is widely considered due, but could we see both Sarsgaard and Molina contend in what I think is all in all a pretty weak Male supporting category?
2009 the movie year of the decade? really dude? really? :(
Should we be expecting a “bang’ soon? Because nothing so far…or at least not much.
Yeah, dude. Really.
ha o guys, 2007 was great, but so was 2008 in my opinion but 2006 was extremely strong and so was 2002. Its been a good decade. Kris does Where the Wild things are support your claim of 2009 at all?
I can’t say this is the best movie year of the decade quite yet, if only because I haven’t seen some of the year-end product yet. But as of October 6th, I would say this IS probably the best first 10 months of any year all decade, and when it’s all said and done the year as whole could certainly end up amongst the handful of absolute best overall. For sake of comparison, some of my favorites this year include:
“Revanche”
“Goodbye Solo”
“The Girlfriend Experience”
“Antichrist”
“Still Walking”
“Moon”
“A Serious Man”
“Summer Hours”
“The Cove”
“Lorna’s Silence”
“Gommorah”
And there’s also “Adventureland”, “Public Enemies” and “Inglourious Basterds”, all of which I solidly admire. Just my opinion though.
Wow, like others I was shocked by the best year in the decade comment, especially when I remember the start of the year and everyone saying what were we all going to get.
There have been some great movies this year for sure, and of course Kris has seen more than most of us, we really need to wait until Dec is over to get all limited releases Oscar releases over with, but I have a hard time thinking this year will top 2007.
I hope I am wrong and then next few months knock me on my ass.
From my personal list there are a ton of movies that haven’t come out yet and 15 of to have some WOW! factor, my question is will they (by themselves or in an aggregate) beat out my favorite pieces of art for ’07 – only time will tell.
Kris, I am not sure we have heard your view on Where the Wile Things Are yet, have you been able to check out a screening?
Matthew Starr- first, most of those movies are mediocre. second, why no love for Superbad?
Of the movies I listed which ones are mediocre?
I would say only No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Zodiac and Once were truly interesting and successful. Haven’t seen Diving Bell though.
I’ve seen Where the Wild Things Are. Can’t talk about it at length but it’s not a slam dunk by any means.
Chad: Surely you found Jesse James interesting (true not commercial successful, but critically).
Kris:Perfect, all I wanted to hear Kris and figured you would feel that way, can’t wait to see it.
I can’t think of a 2009 film that touches my top five of 2007 (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days, I’m Not There, No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood). My best film of 2009 thus far (Inglourious Basterds) is below all of them. I need The Road and A Serious Man to wow me to even consider comparing the years.
damn kris, i knew you wouldnt like where the wild things are, just as im almost positive you wont like the lovely bones.
Just to clarify, I am still excited for WTWTA but I was not sure it would be a “slam dunk” across the boards, though hope it still is for me.
Mike_M- I didn’t mean successful in the box office sense. I did find Jesse James interesting, but ultimately a noble failure. Same with Persepolis and Gone Baby Gone. I don’t hate the films on that list (with the exception of The Savages and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead), but if I were to defend 2007 I would cite-
4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days
The Band’s Visit
Chop Shop
Encounters at the End of the World
Frownland
A Mighty Heart
No Country for Old Men
Paranoid Park
Quiet City
Silent Light
Superbad
There Will Be Blood
You, the Living
Zodiac
[…] today I was reading my favorite Oscar Blog (incontention.com) and Kris Tapley mentioned in a post that 2009 “could be the best movie year of the decade.” I don’t see how any year […]
I heard that Rosamund Pike was absolutely delightful in this movie. Is it true and if so where is her push for Supporting Actress
I adore Sarsgaard but, especially if Meryl wins BA, odds have to be that Stanley Tucci takes Best Supporting – either for J&J or Lovely Bones.
Sure, there may be love for Molina, but how can Tucci be denied? The man has been giving magnetic performances for over two decades. His early work on TV in Miami Vice, Wise Guy and Murder One. Since then, he’s only gotten better every year.
I seriously doubt that Tucci will win an award for Julie and Julia. He will be lucky to be nominated–perhaps more likely for The Lovely Bones.
I saw 37 films at Toronto and An Education was one of the best.
Unlike others here, I thought No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood were terribly overrated. Two movies I won’t be watching again anytime soon.
Thank you daveylow. There was a reason the 2008 Oscar telecast was the lowest rated ever and thats because many people DIDNT love No Country and There Will be Blood. I hate that people just matter of factly state that was one of the best years when I couldnt disagree more. 2 unbearingly dark and unegaging films that I could barely sit through.
Req: Please don’t make generalizations. I actually liked WTWTA very much. All I said was it’s not a slam dunk, and it’s not.
And why the hell wouldn’t I like The Lovely Bones? Simply because it’s not predicted across the board. Again, stop making rampant generalizations.
ha Kris it wasnt an attack at all dont get mad at me. but you hadnt been responding to my questions about wild things, this approach just got you to respond, glad to hear you think its very good, awesome! And ya I hope you love the lovely bones!!! :)
Slant’s positive review implies a lack of confidence in Molina, and a bit Scherfig:
Mulligan’s performance is a thing of understated beauty, instinctively attuned…alight with choices in emotional keys both unexpected and resonant.
Superfluous…endorsement that Scherfig offers by way of a predictable makeover…as a radiant Holly GoLightly.
Groaningly conventional…scenes opposite her stiff upper-lip father (Alfred Molina) and mother (Cara Seymour) which sway unpredictably from broad comedy to indulgent melodrama.
I wasn’t responding due to an expressed reason: I can’t. So the hint was: stop asking.
Chad: I had a feeling you meant that about how successful the movie was, I guess I have such high regard for that movie, I am always shocked when people don’t find brilliant like it do, but what do I know, haha.
I know I’ll be considered the AntiChrist right now, but both NO COUNTRY and TWBB didn’t do it for me in 07 (deemed 2 of the best films of the decade).
NO COUNTRY, well crafted, acted, and all, left me extremely cold.
And TWBB felt interminable. Way overacted by DDL, and too-crazy ending.
Again, I know I’m in the minority. But that’s how I felt.
No Country detractors, you have safe haven as long as I’m around.
Nice to know we No Country detractors have a haven here, and nice to see more good news on An Education after Up in the Air it is my most anticipated right now
OMG!! I have to share this! Did you know that when a man is in a relationship with a woman, he gets her name?
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/movies/features/article_1506285.php/In-Pictures-An-Education-New-York-Premiere