Review: The Graduate

Another classic on the "must see" list, at least according to most critics. So, we added it to the list and watched it when it came recently. So, here ya' go: my thoughts on The Graduate.

Everyone knows the basic plot. 21-year-old Benjamin Braddock, an upper-middle-class college graduate, adrift after leaving college. Trying to find meaning in his future, he drifts into a affair with a married woman (one of his parent's friends). Meanwhile, to complicate things, he meets and falls in love with her daughter. The movie was tremendously successful, striking a nerve with disenchanted youthful audiences, and launched Hoffman's career.

I can see why this was a career-making movie for Hoffman. It was only his second film, and he apparently beat out Warren Beatty, Robert Redford and Charles Grodin for the role. After seeing him in the role, however, it's hard to picture anyone else playing Ben Braddock. He's a little creepy when he's trying to follow Elaine back at Berkely, but I really liked the earlier scenes as he's drifiting after college, floating in the pool, etc. A recent graduate myself, I definitely remember that aimless, what-do-I-do-now feeling. It's definitely understandable why this movie struck such a chord.

This is definitely one of those movies with multiple layers. The young man finding himself adrift, caught between the older generation and the newer - in women, jobs, mores. The type of movie that term papers are written on. I can understand why it's on so many To See lists.

The directing was great in this movie, and the editing was awesome. I loved the way scenes blended into each other while he was drifting before meeting Elaine, and my all time favorite scene was his discussion with her at the doorway of her class, both before and after class. That one merited an out-loud laugh. Very nicely done :) So many good lines too. "Plastics." "Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me... aren't you?" And the music... well, I just like Simon & Garfunkel anyway, but it was very nicely used here.

I think what I didn't like most was the ending, and I think that's what kept me from giving this movie more stars. Without giving anything away, I thought the resolution to the story was very silly. Still, the final scene on the bus, paralleling the beginning scene on the plane, was very nicely done - how he's come so far, and still hasn't gotten anywhere. Like I said, the directing was great in this movie.

Overall: 3 of 5. I liked the movie, and related a lot to Dustin Hoffman's character, at least in the at-loose-ends situation. However, I did find him a little bit odd, and thought the ending of the movie was downright silly. I'm glad I watched it, and understand a lot of the Mrs. Robinson references now. Still, I don't feel the need to have it on my shelf.