Seriously, just watch the movie. Right now. Go.

Rating: 10/10 (9 May 2014)

Mike Nichols's "The Graduate" (1967) is easily one of my favorite films. It's a classic for a reason. Nichols perfectly summarizes both the rebellion of the younger generation, known as "the generation gap" that erupted in the 1960s, and the troublesome crisis that everyone goes through at some point in their life when they realize they have no idea what they want from it.
The photography and cinematography of it is incredible. Every shot has meaning, every shot is innovative, and every shot adds to how amazing this film is. It's built on how artistic and creative the physical foundation of it is, and the story goes from there.
"The Graduate" would be nothing without its lead character, Benjamin Braddock, and his actor, Dustin Hoffman. I've heard that Hoffman's a method actor through and through, and this performance proves it. He fits the role perfectly. Benjamin, a recent college graduate who reluctantly goes to live with his goofy parents due to having nowhere else to go, is awkward, lost, confused, and most importantly, lacks motivation. His character stands for what everyone feels at times, and represents that part of us, but when he overcomes his life-induced faults and recovers the motivation to move forward with his life, it's truly inspiring. Hoffman portrays his character amazingly.
Simon and Garfunkel's music is perfect for this film. It emphasizes both how achingly forlorn it can be at times, and how hopeful and beautiful it is.
"The Graduate" is awkward, realistic, and witty. While watching it with several other people I discovered that for some, like me, it's hilarious, because of my dry sense of humor, but for others it's simply more of a drama. I see it as a romantic comedy that is at times painfully sincere, and laughed my way through it.
The most memorable part for me was the very last scene where Benjamin and his unfortunately troublesome choice of a love interest are sitting in the back of a bus, having just fled from a wedding, romantic-movie-style, and the uncomfortable moment that no romantic comedy wants to show comes: the inevitable "what now?". It's a paradigm of how awkward and real the film is.