THE GRADUATE
The Graduate is
a movie directed by Mike Nichols that was released in 1967. The movie is based
off the book, written by Charles Webb in the year 1963. This film is well known
around America and was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film
Registry. The movie tells a story about a young man named Benjamin Braddock who
has just recently graduated from college and isn’t quite sure where he wants to
take his life. Shortly into the movie at one of his father’s parties, an older
woman asks Ben to drive her home. Ben is already having trouble figuring out
what he wants to do with his life so he’s in not such a good mood, but agrees
to drive her home anyway, because she is an old family friend. Upon arrival of
the house the woman tell Ben that no one is home and that he must stay until
her husband gets home. Ben tries to leave multiple times but fails, and the
woman tries to seduce him. Soon after Mr. Robinson (the woman’s husband) gets
home and Ben ends up leaving. However a few days later Ben is feeling as if he
wants to be adventurous and decides to give Ms. Robinson a call. Ms. Robinson
and Ben agree to meet at a hotel and their affair begins.
In this
movie the production designer uses all sorts of different techniques with
lighting and sound to set certain tones in different scenes. In scenes such as
ones in the hotel the lighting seems dimmer and there is soft music playing in
the background, which I think is used to make more of a sneaky atmosphere since
it is where Ms. Robinson and Ben are having their affair. What I found
interesting is the way that Ben’s attitude changed as the film went on. At
first everyone seemed so proud of Ben for doing so well in college and he
seemed kind of depressed about the fact that his real life is going to start
now. But once the affair started Ben seemed much more laid back but also happy.
The use of
sound in multiple scenes throughout the movie does a really good job of setting
the mood. The opening scene is in a suburban neighborhood with happy music
playing which kind of puts you in a cheerful mood. The movie takes your mood on
a roller coaster ride, doing a great job transitioning you from mood to mood.
Overall I
would highly recommend this movie to anyone who is just looking for a quality
movie to watch. The different plot twists with the combination of the way the
film was put together make this a very good all around movie. I was surprised
to hear that the movie was so well known because I had never heard of it. Most
situations where a book is turned into a movie, it doesn’t end to well. I’m
very happy to see a movie that was able to pull it off.
