Review of American Graffiti (1973) by Geoffrey O — 22 Jul 2013

This movie gets better every time I see it. I first watched it with my dad (it's his all-time favorite movie) when I was 7 or 8 back in the days of VHS. However I'm 19 now, and watching it now, not only does it hold up well, but it speaks to me on a deeply personal level. Was I alive in 1962, or even 1973? No I wasn't, but do I really need to? In some ways, times have changed quite a bit in 50 years, but in other ways, we're no different. Regardless of where or when you live, everyone of a certain age can relate to the characters. These kids are on their last night of innocence, their last nights of being kids before they go out into the real world to live their lives and form their legacies (everyone has them, no matter what they are). And as the end of the movie reveals, life truly does catch up with them. Two of them die (very believably too), one becomes essentially an average American, and the other moves to a nearby country (I suppose to avoid the upcoming draft) and only sorta-kinda makes a name for himself as a writer. It's sad and almost tragic. As I write this, I am about to begin my journey in college and truly begin my life. 1962 was the perfect time to set this movie. It was still while the United States was still in simple, innocent, and very hopeful times, but at the very end of it, right before all hell broke, and the world was changed forever in such a short amount of time (that we arguably still haven't recovered from). Kurt in particular struggles at the up-most tipping point whether he should go off to college or stay at home, and see his dream girl that evening. He reminds me so much of myself in personality, and his struggles. Discovering what I wanted to do with the rest of my life, what I wanted to do in college, both things I had to decide rather quickly.

There's also a scene where Kurt is "joining up" with the gang that really reminded me of myself. In my small town/high school, I was typically the shy one, but was very well-known in my school's circle. I was teased a lot (but in a friendly way) by those sorts of guys, and I could definitely see myself ending up in that situation. Also, I had a lot of platonic girl-friends, like the type Kurt was talking to (Wendy reminds me a lot of several girls I was friendly with). His reserved personality is also one I can definitely relate to.

Also, I love the film's style, it's "look and feel" with the classic cars, the stylish (but realistic) look at it's time period, it's use of music to help replicate the times, the language, the fashion, and the very bold characterizations, all help make this a truly special film. It's writing style allows it's viewers to discover something new every time they watch it (it's also got a very memorable and quotable script). It's plot, while very simple, is also very realistic, and very well-done. The four different inter-connected plots all take place on the same night. It's sort of a "day in the life" for these kids in 1962, but it's a very special night, a sad one really, but not in any conventional way. By the end of it all, you feel like you're wrapped up in these characters' lives, and it really makes me wish I was their age in the time period. It made me feel a deep sense of nostalgia for an era that I didn't even live in. It's use of music and the famous radio DJ "Wolfman Jack" as another character (and the urban legends told about him) is just another way this film defines it's time period. The way the characters interact make you feel like you're there, and everyone knows someone like all these characters, even the small ones. There's so much that can be said about this film, and I will only continue to enjoy it as I get older and become nostalgic about a certain time in my life. The film gets better with age as it becomes a more striking representation of the times and becomes relevant to more and more former-high schoolers. You do have to look at the movie on a deep level to understand it though (it's still enjoyable either way though. I thought it was really funny when I was 7, especially watching it with my dad, who himself wasn't even alive when this took place, though just barely). I have a hard time finding even a hint of fault in this movie. It's pretty much a perfect movie in my eyes.