The Graduate

directed by Mike Nichols
List(s):"Movie Two"
Category: "Drama"
Year of Release:1967
Date Added:02/07/2015
Date Watched:06/24/2023
Description:Ben Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) is a college graduate returning to his parents' home in the suburbs. He has no idea what he wants to do with his life and no motivation to find out. His parents throw him a party where the wife of his dad's partner, Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) decides to seduce Ben. He resists at first but soon they are meeting regularly in a local hotel. Mrs. Robinson is an unhappy alcoholic who married because she got pregnant. After her affair with Ben has been going on for a while. Mrs. Robinson's daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross) comes home from college. Mrs. Robinson makes Ben promise that he will stay far away from Elaine, but his parents pressure him into taking her out. They date and Ben decides he's in love. Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell Elaine about the affair, so Ben does it himself. Elaine leaves and goes back to school. Ben follows and stalks her even though she has a boyfriend. She soon decides that she loves him. But then Mr. Robinson finds out about Ben and his wife. He whisks his daughter away and arranges a quick marriage to the other guy. Ben follows and arrives at the church during the ceremony. When Elaine sees him, she ditches the wedding and she and Ben take off an hop a bus. But in the final scene, it appears that they both have no idea what they're doing or why.
My Rating:4

Reviews for The Graduate

Review - Graduate, The

Supposedly an amazing movie so far as camera angles and symbolism and all that, with great music by Simon and Garfunkel. But Ben was a thoroughly unlikable, amoral schlub and it makes no sense that Elaine would want him, much less her mother. People can't decide whether it's a romantic comedy about how love wins out, or whether it's a look at the pointlessness of youth culture in the 60's. Either way, my life isn't any better, nor my understanding any deeper, for having watched it. I just feel like I touched something slimy.
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