Prequel to Rain Man?

Rating: 8/10 (9 January 2010)

This movie is such a timeless classic. From the trendy outfits of the sixties to the lovely Anne Bancroft, this movie is definitely a must see. The beginning of the movie is what I really love. The initial affair scenes. Anne Bancroft is outstanding as the sexy, sultry Mrs. Robinson. How she seduces young Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) is so cool with little to no effort. From the middle to the end of this film was great too, but mainly because of Katharine Ross' sympathetic Elaine Robinson. The interaction between her and Benjamin on their first date was so sweet and poignant. It made a wonderful contrast to the dirty and empty affair scenes from the beginning of the movie between Benjamin and Mrs. Robinson. It made for a wonderful lead in to what I thought was the best part of the movie. Elaine finding out Benjamin's other woman was her own mother. You have innocent Elaine joking around with Benjamin who has just rushed to tell her that he had been having an affair with her mother. Her mother goes to stop him. She stands in the barely open doorway just as Benjamin is going to tell her who he had an affair with. Elaine looks in the crack her doorway, sees her mother standing there dripping wet from the rain, and her face goes from giddy to a deep mixture of sadness and disgust. Classic.
My ONLY 2 issues with this film were these. Too much Simon & Garfunkel. Too much. I love some of their old stuff, but it became a bit distracting with constant songs of theirs playing in the background of most scenes. Then there is the character of Benjamin Braddick. He was the most....hmmmmm, what's a nice word for retarded? He was the most special person I have seen aside from Raymond from Rain Man. It's no wonder Hoffman got picked to play that part. Some of his ridiculous statements, actions, and those sighs he kept making made me wonder what on Earth would these beauties see in him? He had an endearing quality about him, but he was so annoying. As a woman, I just didn't get it. I still wince at the scene of him banging from the church balcony on that glass.
Great watch and outstanding acting from Anne Bancroft and Katharine Ross!!!