The Graduate was released in 1967, and to this day remains one of the most favored classic of our history. My personal rating of it is 4/5 -- heck, 4.5/ 5. Starring up and comers like Dustin Hoffman, as well as down and outs like Anne Bancroft, the Graduate is hailed by some as an all time critics choice for best movie. According to the Doc, this movie is loved for its quiet anti-establishment stance, as well as its silent portrayel of the cold war. So naturally, despite my best efforts, I found none of these things in the film. So what did I like about it? Why did I even like it? It was honest. Pretty Vague, right? Let me explain:
"Are you here for an affair, sir?" -- Hotel Clerk
What rang true for me in the film was the honesty of it. The film wasn't some great quest, there was no ultimate goal to be had, no McGuffin for our hero to idealize and chase down. It was just a look at life, a story that could probobly be the most believable in cinematography. It was a story about a guy who finished the last bit of structured life he had, and realized he had lived under the gentle control of adults for so long, he didn't know where to begin in deciding for himself. He had no plans, no future, and probobly wasn't all that excited for the coming either. And in his weak and dependant state, a manipulative series of moves by his parents as well as the Robinsons set him on a one way course for crash and burn. Only at the end does he realize that he doesn't need his own plan for himself to get away from other's plans for him. In a daring move, he siezed the one thing he knew he wanted, and quite frankly, was contented with himself for the first time in a long time. It's a cut and dry story where nothing is black and white, and probobly most humorous about the film was the way it took what is usually a romanticized, passionate idea of sex and made it into a mechanical, awkard, and hardly pleasurable experience for everyone involved.
"Ben, this whole idea seems half-baked" --Mr. Braddock
And so did the camera angles, Sir. I mentioned before how it is that I enjoyed the movie quite thoroughly. So why am I quibbling around in the 4 ratings? Because my WPHS videos shared a similar film quality in about half the scenes. I don't want to make it seem like it ruined the movie for me, quite the opposite; I am trying to air out my only problem with the film, so that I can get it out of the way and remember it more fondly. Certain scenes, such as the ending bus ride, were visual genius. The montage of Ben moving from the pool to the Hotel over and over was magnificent. So whay is it that at points like where Ben told Eain of the affair, the long hallway shot felt like something out of Troll 2? For shame, filmmakers.It dissillusioned me from the entire show at certain critical points.
"Oh no, I think you're the most attractive of my parents friends." --
I especially enjoy how the film was a comedy in disguise. So enthralled were we with the idea of such a fun lifestyle, lacking responsibility and filled with risk, we failed to notice the comedy hiding in each situation. In the moments we laughed at, we didn't laugh because we thought the film was telling us a funny joke or story, it's because Ben was so awkward and we loved it. The characters were so alive for us, the story came first hand, and the comedy just flowed natrually in with it.And so I draw this review to a close. I would also like to point out the Cajones Mister Nichols to splash breast all over the screen like that. I would be shocked to find it in movies today, in this far more liberal era. It most certainly livened up the film. Way to hit us with a knuckleball, Nichols. Your the best. I'm afraid thats all, my russian followers. Благодарим Вас за чтение.
Stay Savvy my Friends,
Erudito
Sources:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0061722/
http://www.gotoricks.blogspot.com
http://www.themovieproject-moviefan.blogspot.com
Excellent. Well crafted. Nice play to Russian audience. Good personal voice. Nice overall look to review.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
SWM