'An Education'

'An Education' (PG-13) ***1/2

Writer: Nick Hornby based on memoir by Lynn Barber
Director: Lone Scherfig
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina, Dominic Cooper, Rosamund Pike, Cara Seymour, Olivia Williams, Emma Thompson

Once in a while you see a movie that captures an actress who makes such a strong and impactful debut lead performance that you know that a major new star has arrived. In "An Education" that major force is Carey Mulligan and for her first leading role she is guaranteed an Oscar nomination. She reminds me of a Audrey Hepburn type and I don't throw that around lightly for Ms. Hepburn is my all time favorite actress. She has a face that the camera loves, a smile that lights up the screen and a timeless beauty that rarely is seen on screen. She gives I think the best performance of the year so far in a wonderful and beautifully moving film. It will be interesting what Hollywood does with her as we will see soon in the "Wall Street" sequel. "An Education" is also one of the best movies of 2009 that tells a perfectly realized coming of age story set in the 60's. The director Lone Scherfig (Italian For Beginners) captures it's time and place flawlessly. The costumes, streets and feel of the movie is perfect. Sometimes I tear up during a movie for no other reason than I know I have seen a beautiful and special story and actress and that's the way I felt here. Also outstanding is Peter Sarsgaard (Garden State) who gives another in a long line of great performances as the mysterious cad that our heroine falls in love with He gives a flawless British accent and his chemistry with Mulligan is believable. Alfred Molina (Boogie Nights) who is a dependable character actor is also perfect as the father. This is a touching, funny and beautiful movie that captures realistically the pains, wonder and dangers of growing up and falling in love when being a young woman. This seems like a movie geared towards teenage girls but I think it will impress anyone who likes a good story, great acting and likes to see an arrival of a major new actress who gives a perfect performance. One of my favorite things about movies is finding surprises and new actors and actresses that I haven't seen before who make an impact. That actress is Carey Mulligan and the camera loves her as do I.