Rating: Summary: The greatest movie I've ever seen Review: Though The Graduate came out in 1967, the story line itself still holds true today. My favorite part is in the beginning when Hoffman's parents are throwing him the graduation party and Mr. Mcquire, obviosly a family friend, tells Ben to get into plastics. Imagine if you got into plastics in 1967.
Rating: Summary: Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson... Review: The best movie ever made. Hoffman and Bancroft are both are brilliant actors, who force you to sympathize with their characters. The soundtrack is wonderful, filled with great songs like "The Sound of Silence." It is both incredibly funny and terribly sad, and even though most people can't relate to Ben's's relationship with Mrs. Robinson, everyone can identify with the charaters' emotions. I first saw this movie in a film studies class, and was concentrating mostly on camera angles and such, so I thought it was an alright movie, but nothing particularly moving. Then when I watched it again on my own, I was completely mesmerized by both the beauty and the reality of it. You MUST watch this movie!
Rating: Summary: A powerful depiction of the 60's anti-establishment generati Review: Dustin Hoffman in the title role is splendid in his portrayal of the neophyte male college graduate who is expected to take his place in corporate society. The double entendre jumps out at you as he is expected to graduate from boyhood to fully functioning, sexual male specimen as he is seduced by Mrs. Robinson, his future sweetheart's mother. The social convolutions of Mrs. Robinson, played to the hilt by Ann Bancroft, are indicative of the lengths to which the 50's generation parents would go to ensure the welfare of their college-prepped offspring, their own social behavior notwithstanding.
Rating: Summary: Well here's to you Dustin Hoffman Review: Whoever said that Hugh Grant invented the endearing stutter had obviously never seen 'The Graduate'. It is such a fantastic piece of cinema that I am not going to recount the story , I'll leave you to watch it for yourself. An integral part of making a great movie is creating one or more images that are genuinely memorable; 'The Graduate' has them in spades. For me the most impressive of these involves Hoffman after his graduation. To celebrate, his parents throw him a party and buy him a car - we are being presented with the American ideal of suburban bliss, yet to display Hoffman's character's disenchantment with the stereotype into which he has been thrust, the camera refuses to focus on anyone in particular. Furthermore the the scene is set with him wearing a SCUBA diving outfit so their voices are muffled and indistinct thus masking the officious geniality of his relatives . This image is re-enforced when he jumps into the pool and watches their bustling from the womb-like safety of the water sorrounded by the tinkling sounds of Simon and Garfunkel and a halo of bubbles. This image far more eloquent than mere words and sets the tone for the rest of the film. The film is an all-time great, combining the acting talents of Hoffman and Bancroft with the Direction of Mike Nichols and the songwriting of Simon and Garfunkel; A mixture you'd be hard pressed to top.
Rating: Summary: Timeless Review: Everyone should see this movie. Hoffman & Bancroft are superb. The supporting cast is believable and deliver outstanding performances. It is a slice of life which is as poignant today as it was in 1967. The scenes in the film not only show what was happening in the late 60's, but serve to capture the feelings and confusion of a young adult preparing for the rest of his life, when the future is not all that clear. The Simon & Garfunkle sound track is a perfect match and serves to evoke all the emotions that the characters are feeling. Ben's mom & dad are hilarious in their efforts to be part of, but not intrusive in, his life. I have seen this movie dozens of times since I was first exposed to it in a film class several years ago and I have not tired of it yet! Enjoy!
Rating: Summary: Excellent acting all around, great comedy and soundtrack Review: The chemistry between Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft was excellent. Simon & Garfunkel were a perfect complement to the movie.
Rating: Summary: Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson. Review: One of the movies that shaped a generation. A dramatic triumph in the form of Dustin Hoffman's debut performance as the feckless Benjamin. Benjamin is the graduate of the title. Fresh out of college, he has a promising life ahead of him. He just doesn't know what that life is. A boy without direction, he falls under the influence of Mrs. Robinson, who just happens to be his sweetheart, Elaine's, mother. When she seduces him, he must choose the path for him, be it Elaine, or Mrs. Robinson. And by choosing, this boy graduates into manhood. A powerful film, whose final shot speaks to today's generation of young graduates, just as it did to the generation 30 years ago.
Rating: Summary: finest movie ever made Review: This is my favorite movie of all time. It is absolutely wonderful, both hilarious and touching. Hoffman's performance is first rate. He plays Ben, a repressed virginal character who is worried about his future. He has no idea who he is, what he wants, what he is going to do. Anne Bancroft plays Mrs. Robinson, a friend of Ben's parents who is cooly determined to seduce Ben.Subtle symbolism pervades the movie. Ben is drowning, and the director often shoots him in water, or looking through water. For example, Ben's parents buy him a scuba suit for his birthday. They force him into the swimming pool, and push him back in when he tries to climb out. Mrs. Robinson wears animal skins and leopard prints, suggesting blood thirst. Mr. Robinson has one word for Ben, one word for what his future is all about: "Plastics." Desperate to feel something, Ben falls passionately for Ali MacGraw's character, the daughter of the Robinsons. She is engaged to be married to someone else. Ben is determined to woo her. The Simon and Garfunkle soundtrack is flawless, many of the songs written specifically for this movie. Brilliant writing, brilliant direction. The finest American movie ever made. Hilarious. A must see.
Rating: Summary: bringing back the 60's Review: I saw this movie quite awhile ago so I don't know what is going to be different about the new relase but when I saw it I thought that it was very typical of the times that it was made in. Dustin Hoffman was young and wrinkle free and he was very new to the whole acting scene. I felt that there were some slow spots in the movie and his part made me feel slightly uncomfortable but I really enjoyed the music in the movie so I guess that I would see it again.
Rating: Summary: The Sound of Silence... Review: is what you would have heard before i reviewed this movie. I am astonished i am the first person to take a minute out of their day to do it. I mean the music is incredible. Hoffman is incredible. However, in spaces he seems to overact and become less than human, nearly flat. This is the only knock on the movie, however. Hoffman is brilliant in most places. His ability to keep a straight face in places is admirable. The camera work is original, especially the scene in which hoffman is submerged by his parents into their pool. Bancroft does a wonderful job. Its worth owning for the music alone people.
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