tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post2948709408013891730..comments2022-03-24T16:11:50.124-04:00Comments on The Man From Porlock: Spirit of '67: Pictures at a Revolution (Part III)Craighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-1806144835037896122010-06-04T13:35:02.600-04:002010-06-04T13:35:02.600-04:00Excellent work. I've been impressed with the ...Excellent work. I've been impressed with the way <i>The Graduate</i> holds up under repeated analysis, and my students almost always like it. I've gotten to the point where I brood on the small shifts from Ben's initial 1950's suit to his more bedraggled action hero look late in the film. He is surrounded by countercultural types at Berkeley, at any rate.<br /><br />Why is it that Mrs. Robinson increasingly steals the movie as one gets older? Why does Elaine allow Ben to kiss her after their rude date? Does that scene really make any sense, aside from his explanation that he feels the need to be rude all of the time? Why is a scene set in a zoo, perhaps to emphasize the domestication of Elaine's conformist fiance Carl Smith? <br /><br />Also, I wonder--has Nichols directed anything nearly as good since? How many other major films use the zoom so much?filmdrhttp://filmdr.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-62309666227285471582010-05-25T18:39:01.908-04:002010-05-25T18:39:01.908-04:00Hokahey, I'm extremely impressed by your stude...Hokahey, I'm extremely impressed by your students. I remember watching it in the late-80s with a group of freshmen and they loved it, so it's heartening to see the younger generation (every one of them) take to it. For some reason I never picked up on John Hughes as a direct descendent, but I believe you're right.<br /><br />Jason, interesting how you're able to see the other characters' POVs, since for me the movie focuses on Benjamin so tightly. Yet you're right, there are defining moments for the other characters: Mrs. Robinson talking about art, Elaine's tear on their first date. There probably is more distance than initially appears.<br /><br />Thank you for the kind words, Ronak. I've often found the longer the post, the fewer the comments, so I'm grateful to any reader able to stick it out long enough to respond. Regarding your other comment: You're right, the opening of "The Graduate" did influence the opening of "Jackie Brown." I wouldn't have thought Tarantino an obvious fan, but there you are.Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450775188328918558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-55289935274781982322010-05-25T13:59:45.727-04:002010-05-25T13:59:45.727-04:00I love this series of yours, even though I haven&#...I love this series of yours, even though I haven't watched any of the movies, even better than that lie-blogging thing you came up with.<br />Nothing to say, I just felt a general lack of comments on this one, as well as from me on your blog.<br /><br />Btw, Ebert gave it a positive review too. It was his first year.Ronak M Sonihttp://ronakmsoni.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-43044714130865380872010-05-24T14:43:31.244-04:002010-05-24T14:43:31.244-04:00Yeah, this is in my all-time top 10. To me, it'...Yeah, this is in my all-time top 10. To me, it's the movie that always feels relevant, in part because it's so easy to watch the movie from Benjamin's POV, or from Mrs. Robinson's, or even from Elaine's. Or you can volley from one to the other throughout. Point is, no matter what mood I'm in when I start the film, somehow one of the characters or one of the scenes gets under my skin. I love that. It's special.<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for all this info. And I love this observation: "It's funny how two of my own favorite filmmakers could have such disparate styles. I guess it boils down to whatever works best for the director and the material." I think you're quite right.Jason Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18150199580478147196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3211112229982829419.post-27750189544067186422010-05-23T16:27:24.892-04:002010-05-23T16:27:24.892-04:00Thanks for this. It adds greatly to my knowledge o...Thanks for this. It adds greatly to my knowledge of the film. I was touched by the film when I saw it in 1970 (I had just broken up with a girlfriend and it spoke to my bitterness and disillusionment). After that, I thought of the film with indifference until I started showing scenes as part my film history unit for my 8th grade history class.<br /><br />Now I watch the whole thing three times a year with three different classes, I never get tired of it, and I always find new details to marvel at. My 8th graders usually love it (feelings sometimes vary - some don't understand it, others are very passionate about it) - so they see something relevant in it. <br /><br />They also see how it inspired elements in the 80s renaissance of John Hughes teen movies - which have a lot of influence on more recent teen movies that my students see. Also, strangely enough, one can detect the seeds of teen TV shows such as <i>Lizzie Maguire</i> (the treatment of the parents; the way they cook burgers by the pool; the way Mrs. Braddock dresses and wails when Ben announces he's going to marry Elaine.) <br /><br />I totally agree - it's a great film.Richard Bellamyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12397053921647421425noreply@blogger.com