Oscar contender An Education is consistently surprising and not because of gimmickry or exclamation-point-punctuated plot twists.  Director Lone Scherfig simply leads you in unexpected directions with a murky morality that doesn’t feed viewers simple conclusions.  A tale of a young schoolgirl with a bright future who is seduced by an older playboy and his lifestyle could have come off as an awful sermon, but Scherfig gives the film gravitas.  Brian Englishby’s score is also consistently surprising; you’re often uncertain what that music means and it’s very effective.  Unfortunately the last two minutes of the film sums things up in a way that is out of step with the rest of the film.  The content of the ending isn’t a disappointment, but the style makes it seem tacked on.  The music that had been so unpredictable, swells in a clichéd climax.  Don’t be surprised if the DVD comes packaged with an alternate ending.

Overall, however, the movie is beautifully mounted and acted, particularly by leads Peter Sarsgaard and Carey Mulligan.  Though miles apart stylistically, the story of a young person seduced by a fantasy lifestyle and the success of a seasoned and often unsavory elder makes it a perfect companion piece with Funny People and the ultimate celebration of education has parallels to Precious.  Maybe this is the year Oscar hits the books.

–Pops Corn