The Graduate movie review

Rating: 8.7/10

Directed by Mike Nichols, The Graduate is a 1967 film that was nominated for 7 Oscars and won 1 for Best Director. The film follows the story of Ben Braddock, a confused young man, who just graduated from a prestigious university. He is confused about his future and sick and tired of the pressure his parents and people around him put him under. He one day has an affair with Mrs. Robinson, the wife of his father’s business partner, then finds himself in love with her daughter, Elaine.

It is quite difficult for me to review this film. I have mixed feelings about it. I don’t know how to interpret it. But what I know for sure is, it is a well directed film. It is the little things that Mike Nichols, the director of this film, did that makes it so special; scenes that depict the change in emotions of Ben or scenes that depict the happiness or sadness of Ben.

Not only does it make me understand the emotions of the characters better, it makes the film very well paced. In the beginning of the film, Mike Nichols depicts Ben’s happiness by making it look like the scenes and sequences have no cuts and everything is happening all at once. I think it’s a great technique by Mike Nichols.

When the sad part kicks in, he uses the good old fade out which conveys Ben’s emotions perfectly. As the scene fades out, the story gets slower, and that fade out is a great mood-change for the audience. It gets us ready for what the film is going to be like while at the same time captures Ben’s feelings. Without these little things that Mike Nichols did, this film would have been ordinary. He clearly deserved his Oscar for the work he did with The Graduate.

Another great technique done by Mike Nichols is when Mrs. Robinson seduces Ben. You never get to see what Ben sees, you only get a glimpse of it for like a micro second. But you could feel how Ben is feeling. You could feel how he’s nervous, feeling a little awkward, and just wants to get out of there. But at the same time, a little aroused by Mrs. Robinson. The reflection of Mrs. Robinson’s nude body in Elaine’s drawing/portrait is a nice touch too.

Now comes the hard part, my interpretation of the film. The Graduate says something about how confused teenagers are, how they don’t know what to do and aren’t sure of their futures.  Then there’s this thing about escaping from your parents, the world, everyone else, and act on your own impulses; what you think is right and what you believe you should do.

When the famous final scene kicks in and the twist is revealed, another message is being portrayed. It’s a great ending and also not a clichéd one. But it makes me all the more confused about this film. To be frank, I didn’t really get this movie. I didn’t know what it was trying to say. It’s the type of film that leaves rooms for interpretations. Maybe I will understand it a little more upon a second viewing.

The music in this film is also incredible. The score “sound of silence” is played numerous times during the film and you never get tired of it. There’s also one particular scene where Ben is driving and there’s guitar playing. The guitar is played in sync with the engine of the car. As the car stops, the guitar stops. I thought it was cool and really well done.

I have two main problems with the film. Firstly, the second half of the film seems kinda messy. The film is at the climax, Ben is trying to get the love of his life back, but somehow you can’t just wrap your head around what is happening. In my opinion, this is due to the lack of character development between Elaine and Ben. I didn’t buy their romance. I didn’t buy how someone would go crazy for a girl after one date. I didn’t get how a girl could forgive a guy that quickly and easily. I didn’t root for Ben at all and that just ruined the climax of the film for me.

Another problem is the reasoning behind Ms. Robinson’s affair with Ben and her command to keep Ben away from Elaine. She was trying to escape her loveless marriage and add a little excitement to her life. It is what both Ben and Mrs. Robinson needed. While also trying to protect her daughter from falling in a loveless marriage and abandoning her dreams like she did. From what I interpreted, she doesn’t like the idea of an arranged marriage and she believes Elaine should be able to choose the way she lives and who she wants to get married to.

At the same time, she arranges a marriage for Elaine just so she doesn’t do it with Ben when she clearly doesn’t really know what she wants to do. That really threw me away from the story a little bit. It seems like it’s about winning more than doing things by justice with her daughter.

Enough of the negative stuff, performances in this film are superb. Dustin Hoffman does a really great job with this film as a socially awkward person. We are in his shoes throughout the entire course of the film. We experience what he experiences, feels what he feels, and sees what he sees. He carries the film perfectly.

Other great performances include; Anne Bancroft, as Mrs. Robinson. She is great as the seductive mother and when the role calls for her to be evil, she does it perfectly. Katherine Ross is also great as Elaine, the confused young daughter of two controlling parents. You could clearly see her innocence and confusion portrayed by her. William Daniels and Elizabeth Wilson are also great as Ben’s parents. They played their parts perfectly and you can feel the nerves and pressure they’re putting on Ben.

The Graduate is a well directed film with great acting and good plot. I enjoyed this film to a certain level but I didn’t love it. It’s definitely a good time that I will probably watch it again sometime in the future to get a clearer understanding of the film. It tells a great story and message. The directing, acting, and cinematography are perfect in this film. Maybe it doesn’t deserve the praise and hype this film got, but it’s definitely a good solid film.