Great generational film!

Rating: 10/10 (15 December 2012)

Although the film was aimed at the "Baby Boomers" generation, it still has appeal to modern day audiences. For you see, anyone can see them self in the character of Benjamen Braddock. The Graduate altogether, makes a statement about the generational gap between parents and their children. Not just in the plot of the film, but in a grander sense. It's almost as if each of the characters are symbolic of the previous generation or the current one. The film is filled with fine performances, especially from Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft. Hoffman is so laughably awkward in the film that it's not hard to find him likable. Bancroft is sensational as the seductive Mrs. Robinson who ends up becoming quite the villianess as the plot gets deeper. The writing is sharp and witty and nicely adapted from the novel. The cinematography is ingenious, shots have been utilized in this film that have never been seen before, such as the scuba p.o.v. shot and the famous "leg" shot. This is also an early film to include a type of pop soundtrack to it, the folk rock duo Simon & Garfunkel. This is a film that everyone should watch, it's entertaining and thought provoking.