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The stars of coming-of-age film ‘An Education’ were out in force last week for the premiere at the London Film Festival, and whilst the film stars renowned British actresses Emma Thompson and Olivia Williams; it was promising young actress Carey Mulligan who was the centre of attention.

The film, based on the memoires of Lynn Barber and brought to the big screen via Nick Hornby’s screenplay, tells the story of how a schoolgirl, Jenny (played by Mulligan), is seduced by the sophisticated lifestyle of a much older man. Mulligan has received overwhelming critical applause for her performance, with many critics likening her to the luminous Audrey Hepburn. She is fearless within the role; naturally conveying a sense of lightness and grace in moments which could have otherwise seemed sad or awkward.

To my mind, Mulligan’s performance reminds me of Ellen Page in the smash hit American comedy ‘Juno’, who portrayed the dry wit and candour of the character with a level of self-confidence unique for her age. It seems that when the personality of the actress imprints itself on the performance to such a positive effect, this becomes the pivotal point for the film’s success. With this in mind, I am convinced that ‘An Education’ will do very well.

In recent years, there has been a new kind of comedy film hitting cinema screens, which revamps the teen-comedy genre through satire and eclectic soundtracks. More than that, these films have become alternative and hip despite their mainstream appeal.

2007’s ‘ Superbad’ is an iconic example of this new wave of teen comedy, which has been led by the influential director Greg Mottola. The film tells the usual story of teenage boys trying to party and get laid, but the familiar cast of characters, the chemistry between them and the refreshingly odd, improvisatory style of acting is what breathes new life into this hackneyed comedy genre. ‘Superbad’ seems to have influenced the entire genre, demonstrated by the string of similar film releases including ‘Knocked Up’ and ‘Pineapple Express’.

Mottola has followed up this comedy hit with the 2009 film ‘Adventureland’. As with ‘Superbad’, it is not the plot of the film which makes it good, but Mottola’s direction. He treats his teenage characters as would-be adults rather than naive children, enabling him to successfully portray their struggle to understand their emotional and intellectual identities.

Expect more excellent and original film-making to come…

After a breakthrough performance at this summer’s Green Man festival and several shows at smaller venues in the North, the Liverpudlian band Wave Machines are definitely in my list of bands to keep an eye on. Described by NME as “Men in masks with subtle pop suss”, Wave Machines are an enigmatic four-piece who excel at energetic live performance. Their recent album ‘Wave If You’re Really There’ perfectly exhibit s their signature sound, which is an unusual combination of quirky lyrics and sparkling synths. Certain tracks have an 80s disco inspired sound, and it’s at these moments that Wave Machines are really at their best. Favourite track of the album? The irresistibly catchy single ‘I go, I go, I go’.

The star of the sensationally popular romantic fantasy ‘Twilight’ certainly has a lot to answer for. I’d fully intended to focus my praise on his acting talent, which is definitely not to be overlooked, but I can’t help but mention his unconventional yet spell-binding attractiveness in his role as the sexy and serious vampire Edward Cullen. His performances with Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella Swan, are completely engrossing yet charmingly natural, evidence of the excellent on-screen chemistry between them. It is this chemistry that allows the film to subtly nod to, but mainly avoid the clichés associated with the near-exhausted genre of vampire films in favour of focusing on the sincerely represented love story. This creates a refreshing experience for the viewer, especially those not already fans of the Stephenie Meyer books.
But one flick of those steel-gray eyes, and I forget everything I learned in my film modules.