Rating: 
Summary: Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Review: This is one of the defining films of my generation, and of course I saw it when it came out in 1967. Seeing it again after all these years I was struck by both how funny it is and by the brittle, cynical and brilliant performance by Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson. She is flawless in a part that might easily lend itself to overacting. Instead she is subtle, controlled, focused, and authentic in a way that is both sexy and chilling with just a hint of ironic humor. The maternal way she has with the virginal Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman in a breakout role) emphasizes the creepy, almost incestuous nature of their sterile affair.Mike Nichols has directed a number of sexual/relationship comedies, including Carnal Knowledge (1971), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), Nora Ephron's Heartburn (1986) and Carrie Fisher's Postcards from the Edge (1990). Nichols's films typically feature talented and charismatic actors and actresses who explore in a deceptively humorous manner the dark side of human nature. The humor usually has an edgy quality while the taboo elements are somehow resolved into happy endings as in a musical comedy. Nichols likes to work with material from another medium and make it his own. Typically, The Graduate is adapted from the novel by Charles Webb. Nichols also likes to feature cutting edge popular music in the score. What we hear in the background and played over the opening credits is Simon and Garfunkel's "Sounds of Silence." Of course Paul Simon wrote the song "Mrs. Robinson" for this movie, but what I didn't realized until now is his "It's all happening at the zoo" was probably inspired in part by the zoo scene in this film. Dustin Hoffman's confused and drifting Benjamin, worried about his future and suffocated by his parents' generation, knocked everybody out in those days with his dead-panned, literal delivery of one-liners, some of which were written by Buck Henry, who plays the desk clerk at the rendezvous hotel. I especially loved Ben's answer when his father, enquiring about his Quixotic plan to marry Mrs. Robinson's daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross), asks, "Isn't this a half-baked idea?" In dead seriousness, Benjamin says, "No, sir. It's completely baked." Memorable is Norman Fell (whom most of us recall from TV's long-running comedy, Three's Company) in a small part as the landlord of the Berkeley rooming house. He is of course a past master at dead-panning one-liners; in fact, he is a master at mute dead-panning. One of the funniest bits in the movie is when the camera catches his face as Elaine's father comes out of Ben's room spewing obscenities and insults at Ben. What we loved about this movie was the youthful point of view; the wonderful chase scene at the end, a Hollywood staple made fresh; the sympathetic character of Benjamin with whom we could readily identify; the cliche-ridden and shallow parents being slyly made fun of; and the sense of getting what we want out of life and doing it our own way. This is a coming-of-ager and a romance and a social satire rolled into one, and a classic Hollywood movie that no afficionado would want to miss. But see this for Anne Bancroft, a brilliant and perhaps underrated actress in one of her most memorable roles.
Rating: 
Summary: The graduate
Review: The movie "The Graduate" is a story that focuses on the life of Ben Braddock after his college graduation. The narrative takes you through evolutions in his life. He starts off by "dating" Mrs. Robinson who is a friend of his parents. He does this mainly because Mrs. Robinson tells him what to do and how to do it. She gives him a constant that he doesn't have to change or make decisions on. Mrs. Robinson is always in control and though she lets him think that he has the control she manipulates him. Despite Mrs. Robinson's wishes Ben starts to date Elaine and ends up falling for her which angers her mother. Mrs. Robinson doesn't think that Ben is good enough for Elaine and threatens to tell Elaine about their relationship if his liaison with Elaine continues. Because of this Ben tells Elaine and she is angry with him and her mother. She returns to Berkeley and after being pursued by Ben tells him that he mother told her that Ben had raped her. After discussion Elaine comes to realize that she has feelings for Ben and he didn't rape her mother. Elaine then decides that she might marry Ben. However, Mr. Robinson comes to Berkeley and tells Ben to stay away from his daughter. Elaine then leaves in the middle of the night to get married to some guy. Ben hunts them down and gets there after the wedding is over. Nevertheless, Elaine and Ben run out of the church and catch a bus. The closing seen shows their smiles fading and unhappiness settling in.
The relationships between the people are unrealistic. Especially the one between Elaine and Ben. In the beginning it's realistic because Elaine doesn't know about Ben's relationship to her mother. However, after Elaine learns about there relationship it makes no sense that she wants to talk to him let alone marry him. The story has them forgive and forget. He had an affair with her mother and ruined her parent's marriage and she ran away from her wedding to be with him. It doesn't make sense.
And the relationship between Ben and Mrs. Robinson...it's more realistic than his relationship with Elaine but is still makes no sense. Ben has just graduated from college and he gets into a relationship with a woman 20-30 yrs his senior. Again, it's strange.
The movie was very well done, however. The lighting and film shots add a certain feeling to the film. Also the music brought you in deeper. They give you a sense of hope and a strange sense of despair all at the same time. The songs fit wonderfully with the narrative. Casting was well done. However, Dustin Hoffman looked many years older than his counter part Katherine Ross. All in all it was an awesome movie. I recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: A little bit dated, but overall, you gotta love this movie. Really brilliant, very anti-establishment, pretty radical especially considering when it came out in the late 1960's... Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Goofy
Review: All of the characters are cartoon figures. This is an 'intelligent, funny satire' only in the sense that 'Springtime for Hitler' was too. 'The Graduate' is a film
that appeals most to those who are too short for true satire.
Rating:
Summary: WAKE UP TO SEX
Review: What a wonderfull film! I discover in it a lot of tenderness and affection...and sex of course, but a beauty sex, the seduction of an older women to a young boy just like I want it for me at that age.
Anne Bancroft is a Venus de Milo and Dustin Hoffman the perfect encarnation of innocence.
There no other film like this before an only Summer of 42 can be so tender. I love it.
Rating:
Summary: Love it, love it, love it
Review: This movie has been an obsession of mine for a while. I've been able to catch bits and pieces of it on cable for the last few months, but never it saw it in its entirety. I even caught it at the beginning one night and said, "Finally! I'll get to see the whole thing!".....Alas, I fell asleep. Two days ago I went on a pilgrimage to find it and finally conquer this darn movie once and for all. And I must say, I love it from top to bottom. Of course, the first thing that everyone mentions is the amazing soundtrack. I honestly don't think this movie would be the same without it. I have a newfound appreciation for Simon and Garfunkel. The cinematography is really what caught my eye. The shot at the beginning when Ben is just lying there, and the camera doesn't move as his parents walk in....it's a small detail, but it's outstanding. The whole "Sound of Silence" sequence which transitions Ben from the pool, his hotel room with Mrs. Robinson, and his room at home....WOW. The acting is superb and the dialogue is wonderful. (A FORD! How great!) The plot and believability leave a little to be desired. (A girl who will marry a man who slept with her mother?A marriage proposal after one date?) However, the way in which this movie is put together truly makes it a masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Just not that good....
Review: There are two things that even make this movie tolerable. First is the way it is directed. The camera angles and the scene to scene directing are really cool to watch. Second is the great soundtrack by Simon and Garfunkle. It kicks in at just the right time and really adds to the movie. That being said this movie stinks. The storyline is absolutely revolting. Can anyone honestly imagine doing what benjamin did? By the end of the movie I couldn't stand him. People make him out to be the hero of the movie, but he is actually just a stupid kid. There were also a lot of holes in the plot. Benjamin seemed too old to be just graduating college, and he seemed too stupid to be 21. Also, I have no idea why elaine decides to go for him after he slept with her mother, many times. It is just too gross, weird, and stupid to ever happen. Don't ever pay any money for this movie, and AFI what the heck were you thinking? Number 7, please.
Rating:
Summary: Everybody goes through times like these...
Review: It took all my life for me to see THE GRADUATE, but I'm glad I finally did! Everybody is a Benjamin Braddock at some point in life. Here we have an intelligent, introspective young man, fresh out of college, who wants nothing more than to lounge in his parents' pool and reflect upon his future, a slacker three decades before that term was coined. But those in his life try to pull him into different directions and attempt to make decisions for him. His parents are hell bent on his going to grad school; a colleague of his father's insists he seek out a career in the plastics industry; and, most forcibly of all, Mrs. Robinson coerces him to initiate an affair with her.THE GRADUATE is more a story of one person versus a domineering society than anything else. At every turn, Ben attempts to right all the wrongs and potential wrongs, only to have his efforts backfire badly on him. What he wants most is what eludes him, forcing him to wrest it from that domineering society.The film is very effective in underscoring mundane actions -- climbing slowly out of a swimming pool, driving across a bridge, peering at monkeys in a zoo -- with Simon and Garfunkel's excellent music.
Rating:
Summary: Jennifer's The Graduate Review
Review: The film The Graduate is a classic 1967 release that is directed by Mike Nichols and released by Embassy Pictures. The film earned $50 million in 1968, which is number one money maker in that time.
Director, Nichols, won the Academy Award for Best Director. The film was also nominated for 6 other Awards, Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Supporting Actress. The soundtrack featuring songs by Simon and Garfunkel was gold in 1968 and "Mrs. Robinson" was number one on the charts for four weeks.
College grad (Dustin Hoffman) does what his parents and other people tell him to do including family friend Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) who tells him to have an affair with her. Then he falls in love with her daughter Eliane Robinson (Katherine Ross), and finally finds something he wants to do with his life.
I give this film 4 stars because I thought Dustin Hoffman did a good job. I thought that the music complimented the movie nicely as well. It was a good film.
Rating:
Summary: Famous For Being Famous
Review: The attention this movie receives is just not deserved. Dustin Hoffman's casting is often described as "perfect" - but it is actually a distraction. His character is supposed to be physically but not intellectually impressive (the book on which the movie is based describes the character as resembling a surfboard). His physical appeal is the only reason Mrs. Robinson dallies with him - he's a boy-toy she doesn't respect. But Hoffman just isn't physically impressive - so there is nothing motivating the relationship. His acting is also too nervous and wirey for the part - it suggests an obvious potential danger in his character, putting it far from the malleable and then disposable stud Mrs. R desires. Similarly, the Hoffman character breaks up Robinson's daughter's wedding when she foolishly gives into his surface appeal - just as her mother did. Essentially all motivating structure is lost in the movie. The Hoffman character is supposed to be motivated to steal the bride by his juvenile male competition with her studly husband-to-be. But Hoffman plays the role in a way that forecloses any real motivation for this bizarre act. The destruction of the wedding is presented as a confused way of breaking up the afternoon's boredom. In short, the script is a flashy mess. It is true that the film's fancy camerawork and the sophomoric, pseudo-ironic Simon & Garfunkel music brilliantly conceal the incoherence of the story. The film contributed those techniques - which are so valuable to today's Hollywood director. The director also made lemonade of the lack of structure by using it to enhance the film's atmosphere of a bad dream. The film deserved to be a commercial success. Even after all these years, it may even worth the time needed to see it - if you're stuck in a foggy city with no friends in town. But a great movie? Please. That's like calling one's first smash-and-grope of your girlfriend's breasts in the neighbor's basement a "great romance."
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