Rating: 
Summary: Calling All Film Makers!
Review: Any film student to be should see this film. This is a lovely film portraying a young Dustin Hoffman as a college graduate (Ben) who comes home to find that he has no direction in life. He finds outlet for his stress with a friend of his parents, Mrs. Robinson. After many affairs with her, Ben hears that her daughter (Elaine) is coming home from Berkley. After being told by Mrs. Robinson that he should have nothing to do with her, he is obligated to take her out. At first he acts like a true jerk to her, but when he emotionally hurts her, he changes his domineer. He is now fighting three peoples wants, his father, Mrs. Robinson, and his own desire to be with Elaine. In regards to the cinematography, there are lovely camera shots and angles when the scenes at Barkley were filmed. Again a must see for an aspiring film maker.
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Summary: In not so many words, it's amazing.
Review: Spoken in a soft hushed voice, The Graduate speaks not only to the baby boomers' generation, but to any young adult (including myself at twenty one years old) that finds his or herself lost in life's tunnel with a flashlight low on batteries. I can only hope that every generation of young adults has a chance to view this movie and isn't insantly turned off by its production date. With a combination of a beautiful lyrical score, thoughtful camera shots, deep script and masterful acting, this film is nothing short of superb.
Rating: 
Summary: dated and overrated
Review: I give this film 4 stars instead of 3 for its impact and social relevance at the time. I don't feel that the film has aged as well as some of its contemporaries. Perhaps I've just viewed other movies in this vein and The Graduate doesn't really set itself apart from them. It's a good film, and I like it, but I believe it was number 7 on the AFI list, and that's just far too high a ranking. A masterpiece of filmaking? Not in my opinion. Just a good film that doesn't hold up quite as well by today's standards.
Rating:
Summary: A Very Specific Time and Place.
Review: This was one of the transforming movies of my youth. It captured the angst a lot of us felt, knowing that we didn't want the seemingly empty material values we were supposed to want, but not knowing what the hell it was that we DID want. That this is a universal dilemma of young adulthood is why The Graduate still speaks to us.But, on seeing it now, it is so obviously of a very special time and place. Post 50's early 60's America in general, Southern California specifically. It was still an innocent America....the Viet Nam war isn't even mentioned. This is just on the cusp of pre-Hippie, pre-Yippie, pre-Chicago Convention, pre-Nixon, pre-Bobby & Martin's assassinations but after John's. To see the movie now is to see another country, one that didn't exist for very long, and one that no longer exists. The world this movie depicts is about to explode, and Benjamin's dissatisfaction is a precursor to that which would fuel that explosion. BUT THAT'S ANOTHER STORY. Forget about that and just enjoy a tremendously funny and insightful film. Mike Nichols second directorial effort (and he went all out to make his bones) and the star-making breakout role for Dustin Hoffman. Ann Bancroft is wonderful, Katherine Ross delicious, Murray Hamilton very funny, and the rest of the cast perfect. A disaffected graduate scholar/athlete drifts into an affair with his father's partner's wife, and subsequently falls head-over-heels for the daughter. That's it, but what fun and great laughs are mined from this material. Just great classic scenes and dialogue, and emotions and situations that are timeless. And, of course, there was the brilliant idea to use Simon & Garfunkel's music. The near-Hollywood ending is saved by the last shot....confusion and angst aren't that easily dispelled. It was a watershed film way back when.....enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Average re-packaging of seminal movie
Review: You have seen other Mike Nichols movies you loved. The 25th anniversary interviews (albeit from 1992) give some insight into Nichols' creative processes. Watching these first will help you re-enjoy this early anti-establishment piece. Shame he couldn't take the time out to record a commentary for the 30th? The print is average, but wouldn't need much restoration. They only did the sound. Oh well, still worth the money. Fresh print and director's commentary would have been a $20 five star deal, nominated as this movie was for so many oscars and making, as it did in its day, the equivalent of $175M dollars at the box office.
Rating:
Summary: A FANTASTIC Film; a so-so DVD
Review: I just finished watching the DVD of the Graduate. When I first saw the film I was in my early teens, younger than Ben. I saw it on the big screen in college, the same age as Ben. Now I'm in my 30s, older than Ben. The movie stands the test of time. I have to give it Five stars. In fact, right after watching it, I had a desire to watch the whole thing again. I don't think the movie will ever grow old! (For those of you not familiar with the movie, it's about a young man who's just completed college. He does not know what to do with his life. He is seduced by the wife of his father's business partner. Eventually he falls in love her daughter. The sexcapades not withstanding, I think anyone can identify with not knowing what to do with your life.)The reason I only gave the movie 4 stars is because I was averaging it out with the DVD treatment. I would give the DVD treatment 3 stars. The DVD contains the extras that were added to the 25th Anniversary edition of the videotape. They include a documentary, an interview with Dustin Hoffmann, and the movie trailer. (The film is also in widescreen.) For a videotape that would be in incredible. I like DVDs with more extras. If any DVD ever warranted a Director's Commentary, it's The Graduate. Additionally, this DVD warranted a Music Only soundtrack. Finally, the DVD had not been cleaned up. There were glitches and spots on film. I believe The Graduate deserves better. Nevertheless, I do recommend it. It's a timeless film.
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Summary: ONSLAUGHT OF TIME
Review: You cannot really mess with or criticise a classic, can you? I don't want to anyhow, but I guess I can just add my stamp of approval to a film that is timeless. The same dynamics could be at work between people and within human relationships at any time in history. This film has given us a commonly known reference to predatory middle aged women "Mrs. Robinsons". The film is remembered for its original story, its brilliant performances, and for launching the career of Dustin Hoffman and Katherine Ross. Anne Bancroft, too, was brilliant. Simply an unforgettable film with unforgettable images.
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Summary: Graduating from the 50's
Review: Groundbreaking film that once again shatters the trappings of a previous decade. This is a penultimate example that nothing in America is what it seems and what may have been virtually unthinkable in the 50's is brought to the fore ON SCREEN and thrust into your face. I don't subscribe to the view that this is a black comedy...not entirely, anyway. Rather, I think it was an intelligently written "nod" to a generation that found itself not knowing what to do in their parents' traditional--almost orthodox--mold of expectations and values with the added irony of those same parents performing the taboo!! Bravo to Hoffman in his finest role of tortured, lost innocence; Anne Bancroft is stunning and manipulative. And applause to an ongoing rush to the church augmented by the incomparable Simon & Garfunkel.
Rating:
Summary: yes
Review: good film it is about more than several trucs i love this america!
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Movie
Review: This movie is simply one of the greatest ever made. The raw human emotion displayed in it is astounding. The movie is about breaking away. And break away this movie did: it's one of the most unconventional movies ever made. Plus it's funny, touching, realistic, and heartfelt. See it.
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