Rating: 
Summary: A different kind of summer of love, Philip Roth style.
Review: 'Goodbye Columbus' has been compared to 'The Graduate': it's another late-60s study of an aimless, young Jewish graduate disillusioned by the time-honoured, soul-destroying route to success - conformity. It is certainly a very enjoyable romantic comedy that deserves to be better known. It is more sympathetic to its young hero than the more famous film, without sentimentalising him or over-looking the fact that his integrity could simply be moral cowardice or immaturity. Neal Klugman as an individual is always contrasted with groups - his family, Brenda's family, his work environment, the wider Jewish community. He finds there is no such thing as individualism, that people are tied down to, and dependent on, families and work, quashing their own dreams and desires. At the wedding, Neal is faced, in the midst of raucous gaiety, with a host of unhappy men who sold out. But these men have roots, a community, that he is always excluded from; and he doesn't even seem to have dreams like the young boy who stares at Gauguin reproductions in the library every day - 'Man, that is the life'. What makes 'Goodbye Columbus' so enjoyable, however, is the surprising chemistry between Richard Benjamin and the usually inert Ali McGraw. The sense of a long, lazy summer romance is beautifully captured, with the restrained use of jumpcuts and visual tricks giving a kind of urgency to the uncertain romance. This is a film that celebrates the private moments cocooned from the wider, public picture: the giggling, the frustrations, the tantrums, the great sex, the epiphany of a young woman skinny-dipping at night, the farce of a young man's premature expression of his desire in a car, outside the house of his lover and her disapproving parents.
Rating: 
Summary: Distant and evocative
Review: Ali McGraw is distant and beautiful as the spoiled gal that seemingly has it all.Dick Benjamin gives a very controlled and superb performance as the guy who falls for Brenda Potemkin. Its sexy for its time, Its alluring, its true to life and its heartbreaking because we know that girls like "that" do not really want male librarians for a mate. Or do they? After some verbal dueling Brenda and Neil are walking and Neil says " Well is our "date" over"? Brenda: I dont want to have a date now" she turns away in a beguiling way and mumbles her phone number so that Neil can barely hear it and runs off. Witty and of its time
Rating:
Summary: "It Must Be summer if Doris is Reading 'War and Peace'..."
Review: For years "Goodbye Columbus" has been an old movie favorite of mine, popping up sporatically on late night, broadcast television in various edited forms. I'm delighted, that this satirical 'slice of life', romantic-comedy (based on a novella by author, Phillip Roth) has now finally made it's appearence in the DVD format. The story is pretty simple. Neil Klugman (Richard Benjamin) is a guest at his Cousin, Doris' ritzy, country club. It is there, he catches sight of and is instantly attracted to the beautiful, Brenda Patimkin (Ali MacGraw). This poor young man from the Bronx asks out and starts dating the wealthy, spoiled girl from Westchester. We watch the relationship blossom over the course of the summer, as Neil falls in love with Brenda and gets involved with her crazy family. On the simplest level, this film is a satirical look at being young, Jewish and dating in 1960's suburbia. But it is also a film about being young and not knowing what you want out of life. Throughout the film, Neil is questioned repeatly about his low paying, Librarian's job and what his plans are. The truth is he dosn't really know. He dosn't want to "grub his whole life away trying to make money", yet he also finds the counter-culture answers of 1960's youth just as ridiculous.The film looks at the different view points on a variety of topics (sex, marriage, children, work) between baby boomers and the WWII generation, that came before them. This is all wrapped up in delicious satire, that pokes fun at Jewish life in suburbia (including, the most overly ostentatious wedding ever put on film). Director, Larry Peerce and Screen Writer, Arnold Schulman have created a wry movie, which is both humorus and inciteful.I love the scene where Brenda's father gives Neil a speech about the "contempt" that today's youth show for their elders. He pointly reminds Neil, that at one time he felt the same way. The casting for the film is also brillant. Actor, Richard Benjamin shines as the young man in love, who is trying to find his place in life as well as among Brenda's loud and obnoxious family. Ali MacGraw (in one of her first roles) is equally good as the spoiled, rich girl. But the cast member who really gives a memorable performance is actor Jack Klugman as Brenda's Father, Ben. He gives a great nuanced reading, showing us a father who works hard, loves his family and will do anything to make his daughter happy. The DVD itself has both good and bad points. The mastering of the picture is crytal clear, but the sound is only fair (but what do you expect from a 1969 film). The DVD is bare bones without any extras (not even a trailer). I would have loved to hear audio comentaries from either Bejamin or MacGraw. This is a great film comedy which makes for a wonderful evening of entertainment! Highly recommended!
Rating: 
Summary: Argghhh, an EDITED dvd version of Goodbye Colulmbus
Review: I loved this film when I first saw it. I must admit to being a fan of Richard Benjamin. I waited and waited for the film to be released on dvd and when it became available, I immediately ordered one. Imagine my HORROR when upon the initial viewing I realized that the studio had released an EDITED version on dvd!! I have never heard of such a thing. All of MacGraw's nude scenes have been severly cut to allow a PG rating as opposed to the original release which had an R rating. I absolutely HATE censorship. I don't care whether the cuts are of sex, violence or simply to shorten a film. I want to see a film as the director wished it to be seen. Is the movie still good? Yes, of course...but this release will always be tainted by the cuts the studio made to attain a wider audience. Shame, shame.
Rating:
Summary: WATCHABLE
Review: I SAW THE MOVIE AND I LIKED IT.. BUT I JUST DIDN'T LIKE THE ENDING. I WOULD PROBABLY WATCH IT AGAIN THOUGH.
Rating:
Summary: WATCHABLE
Review: I SAW THE MOVIE AND I LIKED IT.. BUT I JUST DIDN'T LIKE THE ENDING. I WOULD PROBABLY WATCH IT AGAIN THOUGH.
Rating:
Summary: Fond and Eternal Memories
Review: I saw this film while I had first entered high school way back when. This movie holds a special place in my heart. The film was told through the eyes of Neil Klugman (Richard Benjamin). I know he was enraptured by the lovely Brenda Patimkin (Ali MacGraw) but I also knew he had another eye on the success of her family. I know that I had my eye on Ali MacGraw. At that time in my life she was the epitome of poise, grace and beauty. The way I see this film it is about two lovers or would-be lovers that never seem to be on the same page. Benjamin is genuinely attracted to MacGraw but does she really like him or is he just a convenient partner for her sexual coming of age? Is she just using him? Then there is a change. By the end of the film you wonder if the message is that you make the bed that you sleep in. I read Phillip Roth's novel after I had seen the film. I thought the scene in both the film and novel where Brenda and Neil first meet was heartfelt and magical. However, the most memorable scene in the entire film is between Ali MacGraw and Jack Klugman (Mr. Patimkin, Brenda's dad) at the wedding. Jack Klugman gave an excellent performance throughout this film. But in this wedding scene you can really feel a father trying to protect his daughter from the worldliness of life and if only he could really be there all the time for her to help ease her pain. This film may look dated but for me it is eternal.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Teen Memories
Review: I saw this movie when it first came out in 1969 with my first real boyfriend. Somehow, even though our situation was nothing like the one portrayed in the movie, I really identified with Neil & Brenda's relationship. Maybe it was the intensity of the relationship, or maybe, I was just a silly 16 year old, ah youth!!!
Even though this movie is 35 years old, it still has a very contempoary feel, and there is a genuine chemistry between Ali McGraw & Richard Benjamin, which is a great credit to both Benjamin & the director of this film, because Ali McGraw is one of the world's worst actors. I must admit, Ali was a beautiful girl, I was so jealous of her & her model skinny body. She looked great in all those Villager & Bobbi Brooks outfits.
Anyway, enough of my musings. I highly recommend this movie, basically, it's just a good story.
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Teen Memories
Review: I saw this movie when it first came out in 1969 with my first real boyfriend. Somehow, even though our situation was nothing like the one portrayed in the movie, I really identified with Neil & Brenda's relationship. Maybe it was the intensity of the relationship, or maybe, I was just a silly 16 year old, ah youth!!!
Even though this movie is 35 years old, it still has a very contempoary feel, and there is a genuine chemistry between Ali McGraw & Richard Benjamin, which is a great credit to both Benjamin & the director of this film, because Ali McGraw is one of the world's worst actors. I must admit, Ali was a beautiful girl, I was so jealous of her & her model skinny body. She looked great in all those Villager & Bobbi Brooks outfits.
Anyway, enough of my musings. I highly recommend this movie, basically, it's just a good story.
Rating:
Summary: For Graduate fans!!
Review: If you enjoyed the Graduate or films like it, you probably enjoy this. Richard Benjamin is great and Ali Mcgraw looks great(she's good too). It's one of those melancholy love stories that I find are very enjoyable upon repeat viewings.
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