An Education

Set in 1960s London, Jenny (Mulligan) is a sixteen-year-old studying hard to attend Oxford; but is befriended by a charming man nearly twice her age, who shows another side of life that makes Jenny reconsider her goals. There's a bit of unintentional creepiness and humorous awkwardness in Sarsgaard's character, and the film finds itself getting redundant as Jenny seems to linger in her new lifestyle. But all the supporting characters are likable and three dimensional--despite any personality flaws--and the cast is strong enough to haul a dragging story to its conclusion. Certainly one worth judging for yourself.