''The Graduate'' (1967 movie)- Review

Directed by: Mike Nichols
Released: 1967
Country: United States

Genres: Comedy-Drama, Coming-of-age, Romance

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

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Mike Nichols's The Graduate, based on the novel by Charles Webb, is just delightful! It is a light film and leaves a big smile in the face. The Graduate is funny, deals with a bizarre and hilarious story, well-written and acted, and supported by some amazing songs (all of which I just adored!).

The Graduate is about the recent college graduate Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman). After he graduates, his father arranges a big party in his house. But Benjamin is not much delighted after hearing the innumerable congratulations; he is worried about what to do with his life. Enter Mrs Robinson, the wife of Benjamin's father's law partner. Mrs Robinson, played by Anne Bancroft, requests Benjamin to drive her home. Benjamin reluctantly does. But after reaching her house, Mrs Robinson asks him to come in, and starts behaving in such a way that makes it seem that she is wanting to seduce him. The hesitant Benjamin reluctantly agrees to her vampish invitations, and the two start an affair.

Katherine Ross and Dustin Hoffman in ''The Graduate''

But then enters Mrs Robinson's daughter, Elaine (Katherine Ross). His parents urge him to take Elaine to a date, and despite Mrs Robinson's continuous protests, Benjamin does so. And eventually he finds himself falling in love with Elaine. They fall in true love, but then there is Benjamin's affair with Elaine's mother that becomes a dark shadow over Elaine and Benjamin's relationship.

This film was hilarious and humorous! I loved it! The screenplay, adapted by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry from the novel of the same name by Charles Webb, is simply great! The dialogues are amazing; the comedic situations are built up well. Anne Bancroft, who perhaps gives the best performance in this film, is great as the vampish, alcoholic middle-aged woman. Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin gives a wonderful performance. And Katherine Ross--- she's just amazing as Elaine, the Robinsons' daughter who falls in love with Ben. I liked her acting. Especially in the scenes where Elaine and Benjamin go on their first date, Ross was great, and when she broke into tears because Benjamin was behaving rudely with her, she made the scene extremely sad as well.

This was a fast-paced film, humorous and delightful, lovely and comedic, and I would highly recommend it!

4.5 out of 5

''Amarcord'' (1973 movie)- Review

Directed by: Federico Fellini
Released: 1973
Country: Italy

Main cast: Bruno Zanin, Magali Noël, Puppela Maggio, Armando Brancia, Giuseppe Ianigro, Ciccio Ingrassia, Donatella Gambini

Genres: Coming-of-age Comedy-drama

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Review

Federico Fellini's ''Amarcord'', considered to be one of his best works, is a pleasure indeed. It is cheerful, bizarre, eccentric and funny. What is noteworthy is that showing the daily life and eccentricities of the eccentric people in a village, through humor, drama, and art, ''Amarcord'' succeeds in making the audience sit 2 hours looking at the screen, guessing what will happen next. No, it's not a film with a story, a problem, a solution. It is just a 2 hour of journey showing us the days of the protagonist, teenager Titta, and the people around him.

Titta recalls his days as an adolescent in the particular village, filled with eccentric but mostly goodhearted people. We meet a wide variety of characters: there is Titta's short tempered father, then there is the beautiful Gradisca (upon whom many teenagers have a strong crush on), there is Titta's mentally ill uncle, there is nymphomaniac Volpina. And so many other people, to name but a few.

The film starts as people of the village cheerfully welcome spring. And oh, this actually kept me gazing at the screen. So cheerful and carefree the characters were looking! Actually, I can't give a proper plot summary; it seems really difficult. But just remember that Titta recalls his days of his adolescene, in a village, in Fascist Italy.

The screenplay is brilliant, cheerful. The score is absolutely amazing. Cinematography deserves special praise. It is a delight to look at the film. Overall, this is a well-written, well-made, and oh, an excellent film by Federico Fellini! :)
  

''The Perks of Being a Wallflower'' (2012 movie)- Short review

Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
Released: 2012
Country: United States

Genres: Coming-of-age, Drama 

Main cast: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Mae Whitman, Johnny Simmons, Kate Walsh, Dylan McDermott, Melanie Lynskey, Nina Dobrev, Paul Rudd, Zane Holtz, Reece Thompson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Short review

Now here is a movie I absolutely loved. Based on the epistolary novel by Stephen Chbosky, this film is directed by the author himself. This is a sweet, moving and beautiful picture, and is free from all the coming-of-age film cliches. The plot centers around Charlie Kelmeckis (Logan Lerman), a lonely teenager who has just started high school. He narrates events of the film by writing letters to an anonymous friend. He is not a happy person, being frequently bullied, given little attention, and having no friends. He keeps waiting for the day when he will finish high school. Then he meets Patrick (Ezra Miller), a senior who frequently plays pranks at the teacher, and Patrick's stepsister Sam (Emma Watson). Charlie immediately befriends them, and then Patrick and Sam, who are very, very nice people and great friends, introduce him to a new world, giving him friends, laugh, love, and a chance to rediscover himself. You know one thing, you may think that this film might have some cliched content, but believe me, it's a beautiful film free from cliches. It is far from cliched high school films like ''A Cinderella Story''. I absolutely loved The Perks of Being a Wallflower and at times, I was almost in tears. Probably the best coming-of-age picture I saw in the last few days.

4.5 out of 5

Wild Child (2008 movie)

Directed by: Nick Moore
Released: 2008
Country: United Kingdom, United States, France

Main cast: Emma Roberts, Alex Pettyfer, Natasha Richardson, Shirley Henderson, Georgia King, Juno Temple

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romantic

Rating: 3 out of 5

Review

''Wild Child'' is a teen comedy romantic movie- and it is sweet and quite interesting. It brought a smile to my face. Nevertheless, the plot is predictable. But however, this film is quite entertaining. Because it is not boring and it has humor, and romantic elements.

Emma Roberts (niece of Julia Roberts) stars in this movie as Poppy Moore, a spoiled teenager living in Malibu. She loves pranks. After a prank enrages her father (played by Aidan Quinn), the latter sends her to a boarding school in England.

The school is strict. And Poppy has trouble adjusting: Discipline, discipline, and discipline.

But, however, her roommates get friendly to her, and decide to help her to get expelled, as she hates the school and wants to leave. They help her participating in different pranks. Then several interesting, several emotional events follow.

The characters and the cast are generally okay. Natasha Richardson plays the Headmistress, who is generally quite strict but wants Poppy to improve and tries to help Poppy to improve herself. Richardson is excellent in her role.  Alex Pettyfer plays Freddie (the male protagonist), son of the Headmistress. Poppy and Freddie fall in love with each other.

There is also Shirley Henderson, who plays the strict matron. Georgia King plays the antagonist, Harriet, the head girl who always tries to make Poppy miserable.  She gives a good performance.  There are also several roommates of Poppy who always try to help her.

The story and screenplay are both good. Cinematography is good. The music is also good.  The film is a bit predictable. But however, this doesn't affect the film much. As it is really quite entertaining, enjoyable, and touching. It is a lighthearted comedy romantic film.

Overall, despite being predictable, this lighthearted film is fairly enjoyable, entertaining, and not boring. Watch this film; you won't be disappointed!

3 out of 5.

Mystic Pizza (1988 movie)

Directed by: Donald Petrie
Released: 1988
Country: United States

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Plot synopsis

The film tells the story of three young women: sister Kat and Daisy and their best friend Jojo, who work in the famous pizzeria named Mystic Pizza. Jojo loves her boyfriend but shies away from marriage. Kat falls in love with a married older man whom she babysits for. And Daisy also falls in love with a handsome young man. A coming-of-age romantic comedy film.

Cast

Julia Roberts as Daisy Arujo 
Annabeth Gish as Kat Arujo
Lili Taylor as Josephine (Jojo) Barboza
Vincent D'Onofrio as Bill
William R. Moses as Tim Travers
Adam Storke as Charles Gordon Windsor
Conchata Ferrell as Leona

My Opinion

A sweet coming-of-age romantic movie, and for this movie Julia Roberts first achieved critical acclaim. Great acting by Annabeth Gish and Lili Taylor, and others as well. With a good story, presented in a nice way, this movie is quite likeable. Not a masterpiece, to tell the truth, however, this movie will not disappoint you. It is a good, quite enjoyable, and sweet movie.
 2.5 out of 5.