Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Carey Mulligan | ... | Jenny Mellor | |
Olivia Williams | ... | Miss Stubbs | |
Alfred Molina | ... | Jack Mellor | |
Cara Seymour | ... | Marjorie | |
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William Melling | ... | Small Boy |
Connor Catchpole | ... | Small Boy | |
Matthew Beard | ... | Graham | |
Peter Sarsgaard | ... | David Goldman | |
Amanda Fairbank-Hynes | ... | Hattie | |
Ellie Kendrick | ... | Tina | |
Dominic Cooper | ... | Danny | |
Rosamund Pike | ... | Helen | |
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Nick Sampson | ... | Auctioneer |
Kate Duchêne | ... | Latin Teacher (as Kate Duchene) | |
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Bel Parker | ... | Small Girl |
In the early 1960's, sixteen-year-old Jenny Mellor (Carey Mulligan) lives with her parents in the London suburb of Twickenham. On her father Jack's (Alfred Molina's) wishes, everything that Jenny does is in the sole pursuit of being accepted into Oxford, as he wants her to have a better life than him. Jenny is bright, pretty, hard working, but also naturally gifted. The only problems her father may perceive in her life is her issue with learning Latin, and her dating a boy named Graham (Matthew Beard), who is nice, but socially awkward. Jenny's life changes after she meets David Goldman (Peter Sarsgaard), a man over twice her age. David goes out of his way to show Jenny and her family that his interest in her is not improper and that he wants solely to expose her to cultural activities which she enjoys. Jenny quickly gets accustomed to the life to which David and his constant companions, Danny (Dominic Cooper) and Helen (Rosamund Pike), have shown her, and Jenny and David's ... Written by Huggo
In early 1960s England, a 16-year old schoolgirl becomes infatuated with a man nearly twice her age. The best thing about this handsomely made if unoriginal drama is the winning performance by Mulligan, a radiant young actress. American Sarsgaard seems an odd choice to play her British suitor, but he brings an appropriate creepiness to the role. Also notable are Molina, Williams, and Thompson. Although based on a memoir, it is hard to believe that the young lady's parents would be so gullible and idiotic as to let her go out of town for overnight stays with an older man they know nothing about. The screenplay is somewhat plodding, leading to a clichéd ending.