Review of The Graduate (1967) by Christine C — 21 Jun 2013

Were Martin Scorsese and Paul Shrader influenced by Mike Nichols' "The Graduate"? The scene in the club is similar to that of Travis Bickle taking Betsy in to a porn theater. That's as close to greatness does this film get. Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) is one of the most idiotic characters I've seen in film, somebody you have little pity for and are very much annoyed by; he is a bore. I couldn't care less for any of the parental figures, too. Braddock doesn't know what to do with his life; I find it hard to believe that he actually did something stellar in college. He has an affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) and then falls in love with her daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross). I understand to a certain extent why the married woman seduces Braddock but I have no idea why her daughter found him attractive. It also happens very quickly, there wasn't much development on either side. The whole situation is silly, so is what Elaine thinks took place between her mother and Benjamin and how quickly the situation is reconciled, how quickly there is a separation and those that have seen the film know what happens in the end.

Let us forget logic and not worry about its flaws, even if I view the film straight on it's not such a valiant effort. I do not hate it; it has some unique qualities, especially its point-of-view shots, the cinematography in general. It has a strange atmosphere which I definitely liked. Anne Bancroft actually gives a better performance than Dustin Hoffman for the most part. Hoffman is a terrific actor but I haven't seen him in a great film thus far. I believe this is what hampers him; he didn't have a great character or screenplay to work with. I haven't seen a performance from him that can be up there with Travis Bickle or Michael Corleone; incredible characters performed by incredible actors (in great films), not one or the other. People in "The Graduate" are mainly sketches, not real; I didn't comprehend the reasons behind their doings. The music score is appealing and how it works in the very last scene. I can why many people love the film so much but it has too many shortcomings to be great, like Hoffman's "Midnight Cowboy" and "Papillon.".