The Graduate

Rating: Null/10 (30 July 2011)

Dustin Hoffman plays Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate, who comes home from college without much idea of what to do next in life. His parents assume he will go on to grad school. However, Benjamin does not know what he wants to do. Maybe he should join the "plastics" business one of the family friends suggests? Most of the movie is about Benjamin's affair with his dad's business partner's wife, Mrs. Robinson (played by Anne Bancroft). She seduces him and their affair goes on for a couple of weeks but stops when Benjamin falls in love with the just as sexy and beautiful daughter (Katharine Ross). However, as soon as Elaine finds out that Benjamin had an affair with her mother, she goes back to college. Benjamin decides to stalk Elaine and go after her to Berkeley. After some ups and down and a crashed wedding, Benjamin and Elaine run off and are finally together, or aren't they?
What I noticed in the beginning is that Benjamin seems to be a cross of the Waterboy and Forrest Gump (yes, I know these movies came later, but he still reminds me of them). His voice is as monotonous as Adam Sandler's in "The Waterboy" and he is just as socially awkward, embarrassing, and brutally honest as Forrest Gump. One example for this is Benjamin modeling tight fitting Scuba Gear at his own 21st birthday party in his' parent's pool for family, family friends and business associates of his dad's. A very awkward and embarrassing situation this must have been for Benjamin. Why would his parents not see that? In that moment, I felt really sorry for him and could exactly feel how much he must feel alone and confined in his own house and life. The only way to get out is to flee into Mrs. Robinson's arms and hang out in a hotel room every night. The affair with the hot Mrs. Robinson changes him. Benjamin turns into a character that can actually be liked, understood and be related too. He is not this awkward and annoying kid from the beginning of the movie anymore. His voice changes and he actually stands up for himself and what he believes in. He is no longer the little kid that Mrs. Robinson took advantage off.
Some of the symbolism in the movie is pretty interesting and very obvious. Although I am not yet quite sure what the meaning behind it is. What is up with the water, and what does Benjamin's red car stand for? I noticed that there are many scenes that include water, either an aquarium with fish, or his parent's pool. Maybe Benjamin is just drowning? Confined to a life he does not want to live? He does think quite a lot, so maybe he is literally drowning in his own thoughts.
Oh, and you better like Simon and Garfunkel as the movie seems to have only 3 songs that are played over and over again. The songs are a big part of the movie itself and the lyrics do explain, or support, the action on screen, but hearing one song for the 4th time almost makes one want to just stop watching the movie.
Anyways, in the end Benjamin leaves the confinement of the water and his old life, as well as his racy red car behind and drives off with Elaine; in a yellow bus.