Brilliant. Certainly Lives Up To It's Reputation As A Classic.

Rating: 10/10 (31 May 2011)

this really is a remarkable film. i always remembered it had a good screenplay and acting, but i never really was all that aware of it's contributions to cinema technique and how it really did shape film physically and intellectually. i always thought of it as being a intellectually sound film but somewhat flat as cinematic cinema. nothing could be further from the truth.
'The Graduate' isn't just intellectually sound, it's pure brilliance. it's observations on people and American, suburban life are nothing short of scathing. as has been said about the film, "it's a brilliant satire of a society littered with cars, cocktails and swimming pools". it's a society where people are disconnected and desperate to find a escape from their own mindless conformity, only to find themselves trapped by their limitations and inability to reject the very society and lifestyle that imprisons them emotionally and spiritually. it's almost chilling. even the young lovers at the end find that they have escaped with no real plan except to rejoin the kind of world that has objectified and oppressed them.profound. brilliant.
people had very few films like this back then in the 1960's. young people had really no films like this at all. most films that were aimed at youth audiences were an illusion. youth films back then were either corny and unrealistic like the Frankie and Annette beach party movies, or they were contrived and manipulative films that attempted to warn youths on the hazards of being young and lawless. Disney baby movies don't count here because their target audience was primarily children and families. 'The Graduate' changed the look and approach to youth films forever. even though a lot of youth oriented films can capture the cinematic look of 'Graduate' these days, they can hardly match it's intellectual wit and it's integrity and sense of moral outrage. and the 'Graduate' is the true spirit of youth and being young, not some manufactured, manipulative illusion of what youth is. no matter what your age, 'The Graduate' will make you feel young just watching it.
it's a little depressing to watch this film nowadays and realize how little we've learned since then and how far backward we've gone as a society. youth films today seem contrived and stupid again without the freeing qualities or sense of true morality this film has.
what can ya say? everything is perfection here. the music, the direction and photography, the brilliant and insightful screenplay, and of course the outstanding performances by Hoffman and Bancroft. especially Bancroft.
wow. kudos to this one. it's waaaay better than i remembered or ever realized it was. it's a little ironic that a film with such "youthful spirit", might just take some maturity to fully appreciate it's brilliance.
to all the people out that that keep allowing themselves to be objectified and brain washed and conditioned like clones, male and female, and woman DO objectify men in our society like men do to women as this film eerily points out.to all the people like benjamin and mrs. robinson. hold tight. have faith. Jesus loves you more than you will know.