After much anticipation, Emerald Fennell’s directorial debut, “Promising Young Woman,” makes its way to video on demand Friday. After premiering in theaters Christmas Day, the film will now be available in your own home.
Fennell’s whip-crack wit is the engine that powers this brash middle-finger directed at the casual misogyny of rape culture, but the performance of leading lady Carey Mulligan is the grounded, soulful center of the fable, fleshing out the tragedy in this tragicomic tale. Mulligan steps into this modern role after a series of period pieces, attacking it with a ferocity and specificity that it is no surprise to anyone who has followed her career.
At 35, she has an Oscar nomination and BAFTA under her belt, and with the swath of critics’ groups awards she’s picked up for “Promising Young Woman,” it seems there’s more hardware in her near future. Mulligan always delivers complex and singular performances, so make it a Carey Mulligan Tribute weekend with a selection of her best films to accompany “Promising Young Woman.”
Mulligan’s breakout performance was her star turn in Lone Scherfig’s 2009 film, “An Education,” for which she earned her Oscar nom and BAFTA prize. Mulligan stars as Jenny in the early ’60s-set film, a bright English schoolgirl who is seduced by an older man, played by Peter Sarsgaard. The film was also nominated for Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars. Stream it (with ads) on IMDb TV, or rent $2.99 on Amazon, YouTube, Vudu.