I Didn't like Hoffman's Performance

Rating: 6/10 (10 December 2011)

The Graduate is the story of Benjamin Braddock played by Dustin Hoffman. Braddock recently graduated college and is feeling lost in life when he is seduced and has an affair with Mrs. Robinson a sexy older woman played by Anne Bancroft. Ben has known Mrs. Robinson his entire life and the affair sours when he falls in love with Mrs. Robinson's daughter. The film follows his pursuit of the daughter and the backlash from his affair. Bancroft was great as the sexy Mrs. Robinson, and the use os Simon and Garfunkle's music complemented the film perfectly. To me the film was not as good as advertised because I didn't find Dustin Hoffman's character believable. Hoffman's portrayal of Ben as lost and naive was overdone and unbelievably, specifically when it came to his interaction with Mrs. Robinson. The gee shucks Mrs. Robinson schtick didn't jive with someone mature enough to be having an affair that was so dangerous. Hoffman only seemed real when he was fervently trying to win over the daughter, Elaine. The story was entertaining, and most of the actors did a good job, but Hoffman's failure and lack of realism made this film very average to me.