Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katharine Ross 
Summary: Recent college graduate Benjamin Braddock is trapped into an affair with Mrs. Robinson, who happens to be the wife of his father’s business partner and then finds himself falling in love with her teenage daughter, Elaine.
What I Liked (Spoilers): I honestly really enjoyed this movie. What I found the most interesting was seeing Dustin Hoffman at such a young age – I think this is the first movie that I’ve seen him in that he was that young. I love how controversial this movie must have been when it was first released in the 60s. I really loved Ben’s character, who was just adorable, awkward and likable. He’s definitely a character that is easy to identify with. I also really enjoyed his relationship with Elaine – I don’t think I’ve ever seen Katharine Ross in any other film before, but I definitely enjoyed her performance. As I already mentioned, she and Dustin Hoffman made a cute couple. I also very much enjoyed the dynamic between Mrs. Robinson and Ben, even though it differed greatly from that which he had with Elaine. The music was also incredible, as was the directing (which I later found out won an Oscar). I fell in love with Simon&Garfunkel while watching this movie.
What I disliked (Spoilers): I didn’t dislike much about this movie, except for the fact that randomly throughout the film the female actresses would let out these really high pitched screams – Elaine at one point even through a fit on Ben’s bed. I thought that was an overdramatic portrayal of women; however, overall, it was just a small annoyance.
My favorite moment (Major Spoilers): Definitely the scenes where Mrs. Robinson was trying to seduce Ben; the scene where he drove her home from the party, and especially the scene where they are in the hotel room together. The moment where Ben places his hand on Mrs. Robinson’s chest and then walks away to bang his head on the wall was genius (which I later found out was actually a goof on Hoffman’s part that made it into the final cut of the film). The end of that scene, when Ben forcefully turns off the lights when Mrs. Robinson accuses him of being a virgin was also great. I also thought the scene where Elaine returns to Ben’s room and tells him she’ll marry him was extremely sweet. And of course the ending, in which Ben rescues Elaine from marrying a guy she doesn’t love, only to have them jump on the bus and exchange a look that basically echoes the question of: “Where do we go from here?”
Lasting Impressions: The Graduate had been on my list of movies to see for awhile, especially after having seen 500 Days of Summer. This movie is pretty incredible considering the time that it was released in, when most movies that dealt with any type of sexuality were frowned upon. I’m definitely going to try and watch more old movies from now on. I’ve also become a bigger fan of Dustin Hoffman now!
Rating: 8.75/10
