The Film
Life's lessons don't all happen in the classroom. For Jenny (Cary Mulligan), a sheltered teen in 1960's England, the lesson of life hit hard in An Education on Blu-ray. Destined for Oxford University, Jenny's life takes a detour as an older man David (Peter Sarsgaard) and his bohemian lifestyle seduce her. An exciting interlude of concerts, dinners at nice restaurants, and weekend trips presents possibilities yet threatens to derail her future in this stylistic telling of Great Britain in the pre-Beatles era.
For another take on this film of higher learning, check out Lexi Feinberg's review.
The Picture
A contrast of dark and light scenes sets the tone of An Education. Dark and safe is the surrounding of Jenny's home where she's on the path to what she sees as a boring life. When she's with David, the settings are brighter and more vivid. His friend's apartment where they hang out is downright vibrant and airy. The contrast illustrates the divide between her ordinary life and the stimulating experiences available to her, and it comes across well in this widescreen 1080p 2.35:1 transfer. Even in the contrast, the period piece has a grainy edge and tones, including skin tones, are intentionally warm to highlight the age in which the film is set.
The Sound
In pre-Beatles Great Britain, jazz and classical music are both well presented in 5.1 channel DTS-HD Master Audio. The film handles dialog well, as it does jazz, dog races, and other ambient sounds throughout the film.
The Extras
There isn't really much in the way of what you might call extra credit with this Blu-ray. Sony gives An Education the indie film treatment with minimal extras. There are deleted scenes, a making-of feature, commentary, and footage from the red carpet film opening. The Blu-ray purchase of this film is for the movie, not the bonus materials.
Final Thoughts
An Education highlights the divide in England between working class and the beatnik movement of the early 1960s and the allure of the counter culture. That temptation is often difficult to watch as it entices 16 year-old Jenny. But the Blu-ray Disc release's strong audio and video transfer carry the film well from theaters to the home.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
