The Graduate -
This kind of left me feeling a bit let down. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but the movie as a whole just didn't live up to it. It was still a good film, don't get me wrong. I just had way too many problems with it.
I couldn't stand Hoffmans character. He's a totally neurotic, self-absorbed, idiot that I can't fathom why any woman would want to date him. let alone bed him. No good reason is ever given for Mrs. Robinson being attracted to him, outside of simple convenience.
The music in the movie was omnipresent and obnoxious. I swear the same stupid song was played over and over again. I even took my headphones off at one point because of it.
The relationship with Elaine was handled very poorly. Near as I can tell they went on maybe 2 dates. But somehow Benjamin was massively in love with her. And why exactly did Mrs. Robinson not want him to date Elaine? Outside of the obvious that is? Seemed to me that there was something else there not being said.
THEN we have Benjamin being a bona fide stalker and following Elaine to college. And she doesn't freak out when he asks her to marry him?! After not even having a relationship anymore?! I just don't get it.
THEN...THEN, we have the stupid thrown together marriage with the other random dude that it seemed like she hardly knew.
This movie just baffled the hell out of movie. It's starts out great, and promises a good dissection of the pseudo-crises that a graduate may go through right out of college. But then it veers off into silly rom-com material and never looked back.
perhaps in 1967 this was new and inventive, and meaningful, but it just didn't work for me as it is now.