The Graduate and all its Insanity

Journal Entry on The Graduate

Okay, so, I'm not going to be writing very properly here and fair warning—I absolutely, greatly. . . . dislike this movie, and I'll tell you why. But first, I'll talk about what it is in the movie that at least respect and understand.

The main theme of the entire movie seems to be “Now What?” I can completely relate to Ben's uneasy feelings about the future and how he really has no idea what he wants to do in life. I get that. I was there for a really long time and almost didn't go to college because of it. So that whole dynamic I understand. I also understand that it showed, though somewhat subtly, the generation gap. This is visible in examples such as Mrs. Robinson waiting for Ben to open the car door but Eileen never does. So it shows the small and subtle changes in society. Also, it demonstrates how everybody has those impulsive moments that they just want to act upon (but usually have the common sense not to,) but also shows the repercussions of such.

HOWEVER. . . . Just because I see a small amount of meaning in it, in fact, even if a movie has a lot of obvious meaning, or some great technological or artistic advances, does not make it a good movie! And for me, I can't for the life of me understand what everyone sees in this movie. Let's go through it one by one, in just a few of the key points I have decided upon:

1. Boring, 1 Dimensional Main Character

Ben is a one dimensional character with next to no emotion and no personality. He has a lot of awkward moments that make for interesting shots in the movie, but over all, his character is so utterly boring. He never actually does anything. And he smiles maybe once in the whole movie. I get being directionless and full of doubt, but people like that are still. . . well, people with personalities. He didn't even express those two emotions/situations. He was just, there, in ever scene. His character was so flat. It was frustrating.

2. Long, Nearly Mindless Shots

A lot of the scenes in this movie were comprised really long, nearly pointless shots. There was montage after montage that yes expressed a small storyline, but the way they were gone about made it seem rather dull. And again, it may have simply been that Ben was really doing nothing in life and it was just mostly scenes of him and Mrs. Robinson together or him just lounging around. . . doing nothing. And there was one montage where they play almost two full songs of Ben just either having sex or floating in the pool. Really?!

3. Horribly Unrealistic and Slightly Dislikable Character Reactions/Situations

Okay, so having an affair with an older woman can happen, but it's rarer. The fact that neither Mrs. Robinson nor Ben thought of the fact that they were so close relationship wise in life (Ben being the son of Mrs. Robinson's husband's business partner) is also rare, but yes, does happen. Then Ben falls for Mrs. Robinson's daughter; also realistic, but rare. But the part that really gets me is this: Mrs. Robinson told Eileen that Ben raped her. Yet when Eileen confronts Ben, she basically forgives and forgets in the span of five minutes! She forgives and forgets and in a small way confesses love to the man who her mother said raped her. No. That's not only unrealistic but somewhat despicable. And then, Eileen proceeds to run away with Ben after she's already said her vows to another man, and Ben practically beats up her father. From the discernible time span that the two were together, it's a wonder she sees anything in him at all.

4. Ridiculously Repetitive and Kind of Annoying Soundtrack

So I think by now it's obvious that I take a lot of stock in music. And I honestly have nothing against Simon and Garfunkel. But if they were going to insist on repeating a song every other scene, if that, you'd think they'd be able to find one a little more complex, maybe with more than one verse, you know, not “Scarborough Fair”.

Okay, so there's my rant on that movie. There was a lot I didn't like about it and that was just to summarize. I don't know what it is that I'm missing, but I'm pretty sure disliking this movie doesn't make me any less intelligent in anyway or less observant than anyone else. But that's the second time I've seen the movie and I didn't like it either time. And if I'm missing some huge point, by all means, I'd love to know, because everybody raves about it and I just can't figure out why. . . yeah. *takes bow* Thank-you.