AN EDUCATION

(Unusual British coming of age movie)

Leave it to the British to come up with an unusual approach to the standard “coming of age” movie. The delightful Carey Mulligan stars as Jenny, a 16-year-old high school student who has vowed to “save herself” until her 17th birthday. She meets David (Peter Sarsgaard), a thirtysomething man who introduces her to the finer things in life, taking her to art auctions, fancy restaurants and operas. Jenny is a good student whose parents (Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour) hope she can gain a scholarship to Oxford. Jenny’s friendship starts leading to something more, as David, who turns out to be quite the con artist, convinces Jenny’s parents to let her go to Oxford overnight with him. The parents, especially the miserly father, see David as a ticket to financial gain. Jenny, at first at least, knows that David is looking for more than a friendship and plays along with him until she uncovers some nasty truths about him. Jenny, in fact, gets quite “an education.” While the movie is somewhat light and breezy, and Mulligan plays Jenny as a quickly maturing young lady who takes advantage of her situation, there is a dark side. David is not all he pretends to be and subtly takes advantage of her. Jenny is not all innocent herself. Is she in love with David? Is she infatuated by him? Or is she just along for a good ride? Emma Thompson has a brief role as the school mistress who sees where Jenny’s fling is going and tries to help her. David’s friends are interesting supporting characters, especially the dumb blonde who hasn’t got a clue as to what is going on. As said at the beginning, this is not your typical coming of age movie. It did hold our interest and even made us root for Jenny, even though she had her devious motives. We missed some of the lines because of the English accents. (We wish English movies had sub-titles). Rated PG-13, with many sexual references. At the Avon.

THE BLIND SIDE

(Much more than a sports film)

The Blind Side tells the inspiring story of Baltimore Ravens football player Michael Oher. It is an inspirational sports movie with so much more going for it, thanks to some crisp writing, great acting and the fact that it is about a sports figure who you can still see playing his game on Monday Night Football. Quinton Aaron plays Oher with such an expressive face that says so much more than the few words he speaks. Born in the Memphis ghetto, brought up in a violent, drug addicted, dysfunctional family and neighborhood, “Big Mike” copes with his environment by running away from it, both literally and figuratively. He is an underachiever who is enrolled in a Christian high school, where he is completely out of place because of his size, color and scholastic abilities. Michael is taken in by a well-to-do family who live on the other side of town, when Leigh Anne Tuohy, the mother, stops their car and offers him a ride and a couch to sleep on overnight. Sandra Bullock is terrific as the upscale, aggressive woman who takes Big Mike on as a cause, teaching him much about football and life. Country singer Tim McGraw, who looks quite different without his big black Stetson, is equally good as her supporting husband. Michael soon becomes a part of the family, idolized by the young son and respected by his older sister. There is much humor in the movie, as Leigh Anne explains to Big Mike just what his role on the football team encompasses, much to the amazement of his coach. Counteracting the humor is the realization that Mike is different from everyone around him…for a number of reasons. There is a great deal of poignancy in the relationships that develop and much honesty in how the story unfolds. At a crucial time in the story, Leigh Anne must come face to face with her motives, and Michael must learn to make important decisions. While the movie is a tear-jerker at times, it is never maudlin. Michael Oher and the Tuohy family are real people. (We get to meet them during the closing credits), and we’re sure that the writers took some liberties in telling their story. But a wonderful, inspiring story it is, making The Blind Side one of the best movies for people of all ages and backgrounds to see this year. Rated PG-13, with nothing to worry about.