Rating: 
Summary: Transcending "Plastic"...Perhaps
Review: As I think about this film, I am again struck by the fact that films never change, only we do over a period of time (in this instance decades) from the first time we see a film until we most recently see it again. I admire this film as much now as I did in 1967 but for different reasons. Much younger then, of course, I was totally sympathetic with Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) and drew parallels between him and Salinger's Holden Caulfield. Today, I really do not identify with any character in the film even as I appreciate more than before the multi-dimensional social commentary which Mike Nichols makes on that era. In a word, "plastic." I consider it both significant and revealing that neither Benjamin's parents nor Elaine Robinson's parents are given first names. Elaine is perfectly portrayed by Katherine Ross, in stunning contrast to Brenda Patimkin played by Ali MacGraw two years later in Goodbye, Columbus. Nichols also integrates seamlessly the script co-authored by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry with the music score (Simon and Garfunkel) and Robert Surtees' cinematography. Also, he selected and coordinated brief but brilliant appearances by Norman Fell (Mr. McLeeiry), Alice Ghostley (Mrs. Singleton), Marion Lorne of "Mr. Peepers" fame (Miss DeWitt), and Henry (Hotel Clerk). I even spotted Richard Dreyfuss among the hotel guests. Nichols' brilliant work in his film earned for him an Academy Award as best director.The comic moments are memorable (some indelible) but the humor is essentially bittersweet, as is the humor Nichols created with his former associate Elaine May. How easy to overlook the fact that the film portrays adultery, a relationship which betrays so many others. Also, that the predatory Mrs. Robinson's need for sexual gratification exploits so callously Benjamin's vulnerability as he struggles to decide what to do with his life after graduation from college. For me, the film's title is ironic because, even with his diploma in hand, Benjamin must complete other rites of passage and almost (not quite) loses the decent and uncorrupted young woman he truly loves. As the film ends, he and Elaine sit together at the back of a public bus, staring ahead without apparent emotion at a future which, for them, is assuredly uncertain. Once again, Benjamin must address a question posed earlier, "Now what?" It remains for cultural anthropologists to comment on this film's sociological significance. As indicated previously, I think so highly of this film because Nichols has brilliantly combined and integrated just about everything a great film requires: a compelling story, great acting and cinematography, memorable (and appropriate) music, and effective use of humor. Many people believe that this film offers a "window" to upper-middle class suburban America in the 1960s. Probably it does. But I think it will also continue to be appreciated because it examines certain themes which have defined human experience for several thousand years: the struggle for wisdom, the sometimes necessary loss of innocence, and the transcending power of the human heart.
Rating: 
Summary: A clear classic, a must-see at least once
Review: This is a very good movie made in a time where movies were just starting to broach *unseemly* topics. For me it seems a bit dated now. Not the music which is timeless... or the topic which is timeless as well. I think that there is alot of visual symbolism in this movie that was cutting edge at the time that seems a bit weary(Zooming out from mrs robinson leaving her to look small, old and a bit haggard... candle-stick shadows on the wall that look a bit sexual) The pot-shots its takes at the superficial nature of how *adults* deal with young people are priceless...How the parents, well all the adults view the main character, Benjamin. As someone to be molded (PLASTICS!), to be guided, to not see as a total human being. No adult in this film sees Benjamin as a total person. Even Mrs Robinson who has, perhaps the best opportunity wants no part of the whole package. This is a must-see at least once. From the classic line "PLASTICS!" to the end where he is in the church yelling "ELAINE!" looking all but crusified this is an important and at times very entertaining film.
Rating:
Summary: Still Powerful After 36 Years!
Review: I never did see this movie, because I was too young back then, but after seeing it, I can see what a profound movie it would have been at the time. Young man, coming of age story, gets involved with older woman, but in the end finds true love, and must fight for his one love to get it. Also, young man not knowing what to do with himself after college, still trying to find himself, and his life centre, doesn't
this happen to every young AND old person? Young man gets involved with older women, breaking down the age barriers and traditional society norms. Isn't this a reflection of our society now? Where anything (and it usually does) goes? Nothing nowadays shock us anymore, we are a society numbed by the breaking down of every conceivable principle. Beauty found in the role of Elaine, she represents everything good,that is honest and true and beautiful. You need this in a society of broken down values. The power of this film can be seen by it's longevity. After 36 years! It's subtle message, and point of view on society and human shortcomings is as powerful today and no doubt even more powerful in 1967. This film led to an industry trend towards culture movies which tackle human themes with big musical scores, such as Midnight Cowboy and One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. This one was so much ahead of it's time. This is a MUST SEE for everyone.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I just saw this movie for the first time and I came to it with high expectations having heard so many say how wonderful it was. If you have not seen it yet and don't want the plot revealed to you please don't read on as the ridiculous story is my main complaint.
On the positive side I gave this movie two stars for Anne Bancroft, Dustin Hoffman, and the wonderful Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack. Anne Bancroft is wonderful and sexy as Mrs. Robinson. In the first part of the movie the affair between her and Hoffman is humourous and well played by both. From this point on the movie just falls apart for me.
Of course the affair is just that with no real relationship or expectation of one. I can't understand however, what kind of moron would even consider becoming emotionally involved with the daughter of a woman he was sleeping with. This is just the height of selfishness to me without a thought of the feelings of either mother or daughter, only his own. That the daughter should reciprocate his feelings after learning that he had been sleeping with her mother and then stalking her seems even more ridiculous to me.
Finally, the daughter marries someone else who she apparently doesn't love because her parents tell her to marry him. Katherine Ross is beautiful but her character seems to possess no will of her own. Then after she and the man she marries are pronounced man and wife in the church and seem to kiss happily, Hoffman's character appears and creates a scene. Then Ross's character runs from the church with him and they board a bus and I guess ride off into the sunset together. What a lot of of ROT.
I couldn't help wondering if some man of the bus grabbed the Ross character by the arm and said come with me if she might not abandon Hoffman and run off with him. The Elaine character seems completely vacant to me. While Hoffman is one of my favorite actors, even if he asked me to run off with him after sleeping with my mother I don't think I could get by the whole, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN SLEEPING WITH MY MOTHER thing. That we should buy Elaine does after a couple of dates and being stalked by a rather demented acting Hoffman seems just wierd to me.
Finally, it feels like Mrs. Robinson is suppose to be the bad one and Benjamin the persecuted hero. I felt that although she is much older, Benjamin was also an adult who entered into the affair willingly and continued it willingly. Even if he did so out of boredom and felt she used him for sex it was a mutual relationship. I felt he had some obligation to abstain from romancing the daughter as a result of his decision to sleep with the mother. That he doesn't behave with honor or responsibly isn't the downfall of the movie though. Of course people often don't behave with honor or responsibly and that can make an interesting story. What ruins the movie for me is the unlikely way the relationship with Elaine evolves and the one-dimensional, mindless quality of the Elaine character.
Rating:
Summary: The Graduate stands as powerful as ever
Review: Everyone born in America since 1967 has by now seen or heard at least something from this movie; it has been raved about, played on TV, and spoofed, seemingly millions of times. Upon viewing the movie, it is easy to see why it is so endearing. Hoffman plays a young man who just graduated from college, confused about life and trapped in his wealthy parent's California home and lifestyle. Along comes Anne Bancroft as the much older wife of Hoffman's father's partner, who makes an attempt to seduce him, which he hastily refuses. After some reflection, however, he happily decides to proceed with the somewhat torrid affair. A problem arises when the wife's daughter arives in town and Hoffman may find himself in love..... The Graduate is a great blend of comic timing and drama. The sountrack by Simon and Garfunkle is arguably the best use of a soundtrack by any movie, with music that captures the boredom and repitition and torridness of the affair, and subsequent wild passion, seemingly much better than any dialouge could. Hoffman and Bancroft are irreplaceable in their respective roles, with many people still claiming to relate to Hoffman's character even though they've never been in a similar situation. This is truly a classic film that I believe will still be brought up 50 years from now.
Rating: 
Summary: A Film That Defined the Sixties
Review: This ain't it. As a junior in college when I first saw this film in 1968, I found nothing to relate to except the the Simon and Garfunkle soundtrack. It contained nothing else of the philosophic, political, or styleistic revolution erupting all around me. True, it was an indictment of the moral and cultural vacuum of capitalistic conformity carried over from the fifties, but such an indictment does not in itself make a canonical sixties film. Watching this movie (on DVD) for the first time since I saw it in 1968 only reinforced my original luke warm impression. That even a seriously gin-soaked Mrs. Robinson would waste her considerable seductive talents on a big nosed dork fresh out of college seems even more improbable to me now then it did in 1968. The reaffirmation of true love won over by relentless stalking is still nauseatingly Hollywood formula trite. True, the acting is impressive, but in the final analysis can't really carry the premises or the overwrought pretentions to serious social commentary.
Rating:
Summary: Classic addition
Review: You can't go wrong adding "The Graduate." I enjoyed the Dustin Hoffman interview extra. Don't expect too much from old classics on the DVD extras. The movie though has upped my collection in quality classics for sure.
Rating:
Summary: Guaranteed To Leave You In A Cheerful Mood
Review: THE GRADUATE is one of my all-time favorites - a memorable classic from the sixties. It is a story about a young man (Dustin Hoffman) who is a recent college graduate facing a bewildering array of life choices. He has an affair with an older woman named Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) while a romance is developing simultaneously between him and Mrs. Robinson's daughter (Katherine Ross). So you know right away this is going to be either a comedy or a tragedy. Actually it has enough elements of both to keep you interested until the climax which is quite creative and guaranteed to leave the viewer feeling satisfied. The competition for awards in 1967 was tough from the likes of IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT and GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER. Mike Nicholls, however, did manage to win an Oscar for Best Director and nominations were received for Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Actress (Anne Bancroft), Best Supporting Actress (Katherine Ross), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Cinematography.
Rating:
Summary: A Really Good Movie With A Lesson
Review: This film tells a terrific story of a young fellow who was a loser from the word go. We see his wealthy parents and their well-placed friends, we see him graduate from college by means of the education his parents funded for him -- and then we see him do nothing with his life but fool around. No ambition, no energy, no creativity, no initiative, just a sluggish crock of complacency due to a total absence of challenge while growing up. Everything was simply given to this spoiled rich kid, and when the time came for him to be on his own... well... nothing. Zip. Zero. Blank out. Sit on the bottom of the family swimming pool and inhale compressed air, that was about the extent of his ability by then. Oh certainly he messed and played around, propagating The Graduate's utterly enjoyable character-driven plot, but the overall waste of life, youth and potential portrayed here was absolutely stomach-turning. This movie was a magnificent tribute to the boomer offshoots, possibly the first generation simply allowed to coast into a life of luxury, thanks to the financial and other resources provided by good old Mom and Dad. It is a terrific film, and everyone should see it. (And the music is great too, but only about a thousand other reviewers have mentioned that.)
Rating:
Summary: Great movie - so-so DVD
Review: This is one of my all-time favorite films. This is not the ideal DVD of it, but it suffices. The DVD: The Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack sounds great. The picture is a bit muddy but not distractingly so. The extras are OK. The Hoffman interview is bit long and parts of it are repeated in the documentary. Some commentary tracks would have been great. But what you really want is the movie. Only one word can describe this cinematic masterwork: Plastics.
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