Dated, Overrated

Rating: 7/10 (23 June 2001)

I had great expectations when I saw this movie. My friends praised it to the skies. However I could not see anything really "great" about this movie. This is the twenty first century. Even Jerry Springer is now Ho-Hum. This movie was probably radical when it was released(1967). But the risque theme falls flat now.
There are many other flaws in the movie. Dustin Hoffman does not come across as a star athlete for one. Also there is a jerkiness in the plot. Elaine mysteriously seems to guess that Benjamin is having an affair. Also Benjamin moves suddenly from avoiding Elaine to loving her and wanting to marry her. This is not even 60's.. It seems out of the 19th century.

I did like some of the direction aspects of the movie. Maybe some parts are allegorical. But by and large I just found it to be "dated" and a somewhat "effete" masterpiece. See it if you want some insight into what your parents may have liked ;-).