Movie+Review

//The Graduate//, directed by Mike Nicholas in 1967, is a romantic comedy with an extremely bizarre love triangle causing an uproar of dramatic events. Mrs. Robinson(Anne Bancroft) is the seductive adulterous wife of Mr.Robinson(Murray Hamilton) who is business partner to Mr.Braddock(William Daniels). Young Benjamin Braddock(Dustin Hoffman) has recently returned home after graduating, to live life with his parents because he has no idea what he wants to do with the rest of his life. Mrs.Braddock(Elizabeth Wilson) and her husband are constantly on Ben's back to take out the daughter of the Robinsons but he refuses. Benjamin is having an affair with Mrs. Robinson and though the relationship is purely sex without a connection Ben acts on this impulse many times. Later regretting his actions he finds he has fallen in love with her young and beautiful daughter Elaine (Katherine Ross).

These actors made this movie believable and relate able to many people. The problem of cheating wife going through what maybe a midlife crisis and the young confused man trying to find his way in the world is very realistic. It was a natural performance done by all. They showed the upside of having someone to share your nights with and the downfall of hurting a family because someone try to fill a void. They cried, laughed, fought, and found themselves in this short two hour move.

This Romantic comedy was filled with original dialogue. It has it's wit and humor about it. Though the characters seem to be somewhat emotionless their inner thoughts come out in their facial expressions and body language. The scene where Ben states he is tired of "just coming up here to have sex, I wanna have a conversation" he begins to make Mrs.Robinson answer his intrusive questions on her past and life with Mr. Robinson. The film's underlying strong theme I believe is just because your confused doesn't mean to be reckless, act on impulse, and potential ruin good things for yourself.

The soundtrack was very fitting for //The Graduate//. Paul Simon and Dave Grusin are two of the main artists on this movies music track. The songs fit their scenes and complimented the moment. Each song stands out in it's own way, the tracks set the tone for what is going on and what is to come. Songs like //Mrs. Robinson// and //The Sounds of Silence// relate directly to each character giving you a little bit of insight to their personalities.

The movie was produced in 1967 making it's cinematography pretty simple. There were several scenes that the director focused in on the object or person closely only allowing you to see that one particular and slowly zooming out showing you the background commotion. In the opening of the movie it's a close view of Ben's face and as it zooms out people seating in seats come into your view and you soon see that he is sitting on a plane heading for Califorina.Another technique used was viewing the world through Ben's eyes. In the scene at his parents house he is walking around in a suba diver suit and you see everything through his goggles.Since the movie was made many years ago the movie editing was simple, not sure that there was to much technology back then. The move was set at a slow pace through Ben's eyes but all around him the world was moving quickly, it was both at the same time. Mike Nichols extent of special effects was just being able to put his viewers in Ben's shoes by using the camera for you to see through his eyes and slowing zooming out to give the scenes a move dramatic effect.