#95 - The Graduate

"The Graduate" might have been scandalous in 1967 but by today's standards I don't really think it would be considered all that scandalous, considering that right now on ABC their is a show called "Cougartown."

Unless you've lived under a rock for some period of your life you know the story: Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) has just graduated from college, comes home and is spending lots of time contemplating what he's going to do with his life. All of this free time leads to him having an affair with his father's, partners wife Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) and then falling in love with her daughter Elaine (Katharine Ross).

Overall the acting is just okay. Dustin Hoffman is good and Anne Bancroft is pretty fantastic. However, Katharine Ross is very weak in her role as Elaine. There just isn't really any chemistry between her and Dustin Hoffman.

In my opinion, the real strength of this film is the sound and music. The sound or audio in many scenes is very effective. For example, when Dustin Hoffman is in his family's pool under water and we get to hear his perspective of "the world" above him, it really gives you an idea of how he is feeling in general about life: there is not enough silence or time for him to think. His parents and their friends are pushy & opinionated about what he should do with his future.

Secondly, the music is fantastic. All the songs throughout by Simon & Garfunkel are well placed, especially "The Sound of Silence" which accompanies the opening scene/credit sequence.

While this film didn't blow me away it was overall one of the better movies I've seen. It won't seem shocking or daring today. But, as your watching it you can see why it was scandalous or shocking in 1967.