The Graduate - Dustin Hoffman

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 09 Dec 2007 06:56

I just watched this movie. I don't understand why it's on some top movies of all time lists, and why Dustin Hoffman's acting was considered good.

Any thoughts?

C-Fan · Post by **C-Fan** » 09 Dec 2007 10:31

My thought is that this should be in the Arts and Leisure forum...

I think a good thread would be: top-rated movies that you don't like.

I know many critics say Citizen Kane is the greatest movie ever, but many "normal" people don't even like it.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 09 Dec 2007 18:07

moved to arts and leisure - dyalander

I love The Graduate. I think the scuba scene is a fantastic visual representation of the character's alienation and the familial pressure he feels. I'd agree that Hoffman's performance isn't exactly virtuoso but it suits the role very well.
It depends also on what grounds you're judging it. Films don't exist in vacuums. They are positioned within cutlural, social, medium histories. If you take the Graduate out of those contexts and watch it as if it was released in 2007 some of its significance will be los.

That said I still think the depiction of a set of pressures and sentiments that can arise in the transistion from adolescent to adult / student to career, is still relevant. And I also think Bancroft's performance if brilliant.

bdams19 · Post by **bdams19** » 09 Dec 2007 19:04

We watched both of these in film appreciation in hs.

The Graduate- excellent film.

Citizen Kane- I'd rather kick my own ass than watch it again.

Those are my short critiques based on nothing but opinion. Enjoy.

CIC flurry · Post by **CIC flurry** » 10 Dec 2007 06:24

Yes, Dyalander, I feel like it must have been more potent in the 60's.

And about Dustin Hoffman, he seemed very one dimensional with a little bit of flair thrown in at times, but I suppose he did a very good job at being awkward which was probably the point.

But I didn't connect with the movie at all, even though I've been through a similar time in life after college when I didn't have set goals... and had sex with older women of course.

Aside from no connection - the storyline didn't have a good flow I feel. What was with he and Elayne getting married all so soon... why did she even like him? that made no sense.

Dat · Post by **Dat** » 10 Dec 2007 11:57

The church scene is hilarious.

SlashC · Post by **SlashC** » 11 Dec 2007 15:35

I liked The Graduate because of the awkwardness. My favorite moment is when he grabs the mom's boob at the hotel and she just carries on talking as if she had more important things to do. I did notice when I watched the movie with friends that I would often be the only one laughing at certain parts. I guess some people don't find the movie very funny. I liked Dustin Hoffman's acting in the graduate... I can't really imagine any other actor pulling off the role. Maybe a young Billy crystal? How about Christopher Walken... ? :

In other news, I'm graduating next semester and I already feel a disconnect with what I "should" be doing.

dyalander · Post by **dyalander** » 11 Dec 2007 19:36

What was with he and Elayne getting married all so soon... why did she even like him? that made no sense

You mean what was with the other guy and Elaine getting married so soon. She doesn't marry Ben she just ditches the other chump at the alter to leave with Ben.
The marriage is implicitly set up by her folks and its not just overnight, there are clear markers of time having passed. Off the top of my head at least one season has passed - its months between Ben coming clean and when he goes to college to persue her (Simon and Garfunkel's soundtrack is another rad thing about this film - "April Come She Will" helps mark this passing of time). The other dude is supposed to be good looking and based on the fact that he is at college and based also on his attire, he is also presumably well-off and respectable. That she would go out with such a guy after what happened with Ben isn't really that much of a surprise is it? Nor should it be a surprise given what we know of her parents and the way in which parental pressure operates within the film that she would marry him.

DonC · Post by **DonC** » 15 Dec 2007 17:03

dyalander wrote:moved to arts and leisure - dyalander

I love The Graduate. I think the scuba scene is a fantastic visual representation of the character's alienation and the familial pressure he feels.

Cough* Artsy ponce *Cough

Dat · Post by **Dat** » 15 Dec 2007 19:19

DonC wrote:
dyalander wrote:moved to arts and leisure - dyalander

I love The Graduate. I think the scuba scene is a fantastic visual representation of the character's alienation and the familial pressure he feels.
Cough* Artsy ponce *Cough

I'm sure that's what the director was going for too. There's a shot on the golf course in Donnie Darko that emulates this scuba scene.