In the movie “The Graduate”, Dustin Hoffman stars as our uncoordinated, Benjamin Braddock, who is confused about his future, and ends up having an affair with one of his parent's friends, Mrs. Robinson, and then falling in love with her daughter, Elaine. On the way, Ben has a number of spontaneous decisions that normally lead to comedic outcomes, and ultimately end up with Ben running off with Elaine, unsure of where the wind will take them.
***Plot***
Cole - The plot of “The Graduate” really had me unhooked. It was all about Ben trying to get Elaine, after first sleeping with her mother numerous times. Sure, it had its comedic moments, but they didn't compensate for the movies dull and slow atmosphere. The music used was all done by Simon & Garfunkel, who did an amazing job of capturing the movie's persona, but the movie's persona beforehand was to my displeasure.
Joe - The plot was certainly interesting, the kind that made you wonder who’s thinking what and why, but all in all it was a good story of loved and lost, then card flip in a romantic race against time for Ben to stop Elaine from marrying Carl. Over all the character development was very good, they did great in turning Ben into a nervous wreck, Mrs. Robinson into a… well….As well as Ben parents as goofs. Over all it had its ups and down, like any movie, but I personally liked it.
***Acting***Cole - Most of the actors did an astounding job playing their parts, but there were some misgivings. Mrs. Robinson, for example, does a very good job of playing a sleazy woman at first, but as the story goes on, she becomes sort of a mentally unstable woman, with almost no correlation to the plot itself, other than just as a stand-in.
Joe -I think that Dustin Hoffman get 2 thumbs up once again, he is and excellent actor all his own, but to add to the greatness all the actors played there parts just fine, Mrs. R a wahore, Mr. Braddick a goof. It was all well done.
***Music***
Cole - The music in The Graduate was done by the band Simon & Garfunkel, who played some stereotypical hippie music, which was suiting for the movie itself, but was not in my taste. Therefore I think it is a positive for the movie in itself, not my musical preference that decides this.
Joe - I personally love the music, I've always liked "The Sound of Silence", and it was well placed to fit the mood and the situation.
***Conclusion***
Cole - The movie was sort of interesting at first, and had some decent comedic moments, but the "comedy" really didn't give all that it had promised. The acting was also good AT FIRST, but crumbled as the story went on. Speaking of degrading, the plot really did give away as well as the rest of the movie, as it turned into a love story with little comedy, and with some unbelievable actions that no normal person would do. The music was the only thing that stayed moderately the same throughout the movie, which isn't necessarily a good thing.
Joe - Though the conclusion was romantic and humorous, with the running to the church and swinging the cross, but it was very open ended. I was disappointed.
***Pros***
Cole - Music, beginning of the movie
Joe - Humor, music
***Cons***
Cole - Lack of humor, film degraded
Joe - Racy
***Overall***
***/*****
