The Graduate

1967 – Drama/Comedy/Romance by director Mike Nichols

Description: Confused about where to go and what to do with his life now that he is a college graduate, Ben goes home to Pasadena.  He fumbles his way into an unusual situation: seduces into an affair with Mrs. Robinson.  Wasting his days away and flinging through his nights, Ben still has no idea what to do.  Unexpectedly he decides that he is in love with and is going to marry the daughter of his mistress, much to the dismay of Mrs. Robinson.

Review: It is a very good adaptation of the book and the roles are played perfectly by a wonderful cast.  Dustin Hoffman plays a nervous, confused, moody 21 year old well.  Of course Anne Bancroft did such a good job playing nonchalant, confident, controlling, guilt tripping Mrs. Robinson!

My ratings:
Story & Plot – 8
Acting – 7
Drama – 7
Romance – 6

My favorite quotes:

F    “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me.”

F   “Goddamn, that's great. So old Elaine Robinson got started in a

       Ford.”

F   “Benjamin, I am not trying to seduce you.”

F   “Mrs. Robinson, if you don't mind my saying so, this conversation is

       getting a little strange.”

Lead cast: Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, Katherine Ross
Supporting cast: William Daniels, Murray Hamilton, Elizabeth Wilson

The Amityville Horror (1979)

1979 – Horror by director Stuart Rosenberg

Description: Newlywed couple, George and Kathy Lutz, find and buy their dream home.  After moving their family in, strange things start to happen.  Maybe the history in this house plays a bigger part in their story than they think could be possible.  Will the Lutz family survive and if so for how long?  And will they ever get to the bottom of the riddle that is their house?

Review: Classic story of when your house attacks!  The writers stayed pretty close to the book.  You would get the most out of this movie by watching it after nightfall.  Typical overacting of the 70’s and 80’s drenches this movie.  Overall I think that I love this movie for the nostalgia factor, it used to scare the crap out of me when I was a kid!

My ratings:
Storyline & plot – 6.5
Acting - 4
Horror – 6
Suspense – 6.5

My favorite quotes:
F   “I went into that house… And what I saw there was real, what I felt
       there was real and what I heard there WAS real!”
F   “Jody doesn’t like George.”
F   “Goddamn it, this is MY house!!”

Lead cast: James Brolin, Margot Kidder
Supporting cast: Ron Steiger, Don Stroud, Murray Hamilton