Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Movie Review #8 OSCAR SPECIAL: An Education


First off, I want to thank everyone who has signed up to follow La Vida Frills. I'm sorry updates haven't been as much lately, school has been pretty hectic these days, but things will be getting better as time goes forward! Now on to the review ---

I know I had promised a different review a while back, but I wanted to give you my insight on a more recent movie I just saw, called An Education (2009). Why out of any movie would I bring this up? Well this coming Sunday is Oscar night, and out of all the nominated movies I think this might be the most different and stands alone in the greatest way possible. Does it have to do with lolita? On the outside, no. But in it's core, everyone, including lolitas, can appreciate it's message.

The story is that of 60's era darling Jenny (played by Oscar nominated Carey Mulligan), a bright student at her local school in England, dreaming of two opposite goals --- Paris and attending Oxford. While Oxford is the one desired more by her parents, Jenny still fantasizes of wearing black gowns, dancing to jazz and kissing underneath the Eiffel Tower (with a cigarette in hand). But, her once childish day dreams change with she encounters David (played by Peter Sarsgaard), who though older is exactly everything Jenny has dreamed of in a man.

Soon their relationship blossoms from an innocent romance, to one filled with things only grown ups would do, yet Jenny is engrossed in David's complex life. But the question is, will Jenny chose her education or a life of her Parisian dreams coming true?

Though "Coming Of Age" stories usually bore me to death, I really found this one important, why? Well it's great to finally see an encouraging story geared towards women where the major thing that moves the plot isn't the girl getting pregnant or having someone die in her family .. etc. This is all about a choice that everyone must make. Either they can sit back and enjoy the already great life they lead, or take a leap and make something of themselves and their talents.

I think we have all struggled with this choice in life, and I really think this has a strong connection to the choice of becoming apart of Lolita fashion. You can either sit back and continue the normal day to day wear that has become a standard in our 20th century culture, or you can chose to be different and make yourself feel good inside and out because of your new style. Lolita definitely isn't something that's tame, though at times different styles can be more tame then others. It's a bold move, just like the ones Jenny makes in the film.

The standing feature in this movie is both Jenny and the 1960's setting. Mulligan's performance is nothing short of brilliant. She has the attitude, charm and wit to match any other famous female character of the time, but also with a sense of misunderstanding that makes her, in a term, human. The 60's era was unlike anything else that has come into our culture, closely matched to the individual style of the 80's. Yet, the 60's really embodies class, and this movie shows it.

So, will this win an Oscar? Unfortunately, it'll probably go to that obsessive blue movie about smurfs and trees. But in my world, this would definitely be a top contender, and if you get a chance go see it!

La Vida Frills gives Jenny and her Education 5 headbows out of 5, go and get inspired to follow your dreams.

So what's next weeks movie? Here's a clue.

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