The Graduate

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just have one word. Plastics.

Seriously, some of these movies are chosen because of their impact at the time. The Graduate made quite a splash when it appeared, in part, because it showed the younger generation's fear of getting caught up in the rat race. I'm not an expert in film but I think it was somewhat uncommon at the time to have movies that questioned the status quo -- which is why movies like The Graduate, MASH, and Easy Rider had so much of an impact.

BTW, when I was in high school I loved MASH (the film) but years later I saw it again and it struck as being mean and nasty. The tv show was much gentler. Also when I finally saw Easy Rider years after it debuted, I was underwhelmed. But they had a big impact at the time.

It's a bit like watching the Battleship Potemkin by Eisenstein. It's not such a thrill in the modern age but you have to consider how it was viewed when it came out.

I saw Easy Rider about 10 years ago. Talk about a movie that hasn't held up well.

[Anonymous]

OP,

Just because you didn't like it, doesn't mean it doesn't belong there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of it is the cinematography, as a pp mentioned. Hoffman swimming in the pool, for example, in limbo, cut off from his parents' generation and in between lives.

And the music! Paul Simon's songs made this movie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a movie is supposed to be great, it should transcend its time, e.g. All About Eve or It's a Wonderful Life, or the Godfather.

I agree. If you put it on the 100 greatest of all time, it should hold up. Put the rest on a different list, such as Most Groundbreaking or something like that.