Thursday, August 8, 2019

Thursday Movie Picks-Mrs. Robinsons


This is an interesting suggestion over at Wandering Through The Shelves since there are many women out there who have a good time with a youngin" . I was thinking up movies and chose a very obvious one (Coo..Cooka Choo or however one spells that) and 2 others that seem to fit the bill. It will be interesting to see what everyone else chooses. Here are my 3...

1.THE GRADUATE-1967


This is the obvious choice since Mrs. Robinson is a real character in this film and even brings a familiar quote ("Are you trying to seduce me, Mrs. Robinson") along with a famous image of Dustin Hoffman framed by her leg. Simon and Garfunkel  music  really makes a great mark in this film and sets the tone. Confused graduate, Hoffman has no idea what to do with his life ending up in an affair with his dad's business partner's wife, played by the wonderful Anne Bancroft. It gets even more complicated when he falls for Mrs. Robinson's daughter. This film is, in some ways, of its time when young people did not know what to do with their life, wanting to make love, not war and  placing daisies in the guns pointed at them by the armed guards. The trapped feelings are expressed by the imagery in this film. It has humorous moments filled with angst and the sense of loss.

2. WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE-1993


This is a hidden gem that more people should see especially since Leonardo Di Caprio gave an Oscar nominated performance and, I feel, should have won, playing the mentally challenged young brother to Johnny Depp, the star of the film. The family just lost their dad to suicide  and must look after their morbidly obese mother who never leaves the couch. Depp works for a small grocery store in this small town where he delivers groceries, one being the horny Mary Steenburgen. She initiates an affair with the young Depp who is happy to oblige. He feels frustrated with his life and embarrassed by the size of his mom plus having to care for the family. In enters a young gal, Juliette Lewis and her mom, who are travelling in some RV and are stuck in town for a week. She awakens the free spirit in Depp and helps him and his autistic brother find meaning. See it if you can.

3. THE READER-2008


This is a heavy film but a good one even though it could have been great. It stars Kate Winslet, David Kross and Ralph Fiennes who exceed in this film set before, during and after World war 2. A young Michael meets up with an older woman who helps him when he becomes ill. After he is better, he finds her to thank her and they have an affair where she asks him to read to her. He loves to read to her as they share a romantic summer together only for her to disappear and he does not see or hear from her again. Now grown, the older Michael, in law school, is a spectator to a trial of women prison guards accused of atrocities and see Hanna is among them. He soon finds out Hanna's secret which she would rather hide and be found guilty than have it become public knowledge. We see how his bond to her never leaves even though he never is with her in the biblical sense again. This is well acted and promotes  discussions about the topic at hand plus you see Kate Winslet naked...again.

Which 3 would you choose?

44 comments:

  1. Hi, Birgit!

    The Graduate is one of my favorite films. I like absolutely everything about it including the groovy S&G soundtrack. At a theater in State College, PA, in 1968, I watched the movie three or four times in a row and took extensive notes in preparation for an essay on the film that I was assigned to write for my mass media course. Coincidentally, Mrs. Shady and I watched an episode of Monk last night that referenced the scene in The Graduate in which Benjamin runs to the church, bangs on the glass doors and interrupts the wedding.

    Mrs. S and I also saw Gilbert Grape in a theater when it was first released. She is a huge fan of Johnny Depp and Leo Di Caprio, while I admire Mary Steenburgen and think Juliette Lewis is overexposed.

    I haven't seen The Reader but enjoy WWII era nostalgia. I am eager to see Kate nekked. A movie that I can highly recommend that pairs an older woman with a young man is Summer of 42.

    By the way, Mrs. S and I are watching the British crime series Unforgotten that you recommended. We are enjoying it and thank you for letting us know about it.

    Thanks, dear friend BB!

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    1. Kate is Naked in many of her early films. Jude is one film that is full on but it is very depressing. I forgot about The Summer of 42 which is quite good.. I’m glad you are watching Unforgotten and will look forward to what you think of the last season.

      Delete
    2. i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
      or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346










      i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
      or
      call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

      Delete
  2. I've not seen The Reader.
    Would Risky Business count? Rebecca De Mornay's character was older than Tom Cruise.

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  3. That's a toughie challenge this week. I can only think of the graduate. But I also think of the old TV show Lost in Space. And the movie of it.
    Hope its been a good week and not too many cranky people at work! hugs-Erika

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    1. I don’t know if Lost in Space has an older lady getting it on with a younger man but love the tv show. No cranky people...I am off this week:).

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  4. One of these days I must sit down and watch The Graduate. Haven't seen the other two either.

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    1. The Graduate is good but not one of my favourite films. If you read the book, “The Reader” you will probably be disappointed in the film.

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  5. I saw The Graduate and read the book What's Eating Gilbert Grape. I haven't heard of the Reader but it sounds interest.

    betty

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    1. I haven’t read the book on either Grape or The Reader but since the books are normally better than the movies, see the movie first.

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  6. We match on The Reader! I like Gilbert Grape as well. I've still never seen The Graduate. I need to do that.

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    1. I know we match and I. Glad you saw Gilbert also. Maybe The Gradua5e will be on your blindspot for next year.

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  7. Hi Birgit - I've only seen the Graduate ... but would love to see all three ... on my list - cheers Hilary

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    1. At least you saw the one. Hope you see the other 2.

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    2. I’ve only seen The Graduate, though Gilbert Grape was being taught at my school as a film text(I only taught Year 8 at the time, so never taught it myself). There was a film I saw many years ago, can’t recall the title, where an older woman has a romance with a young man and feels guilty, but her ex husband, who still cares about her, encourages her to go ahead.

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  8. I can only think of one, "Harold and Maude." https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067185/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

    Harold's this young rich guy who is always going to funerals and staging his own suicide, then meets Maude, who's an older woman, and they become friends, then lovers. Some of it is hilarious, some of it heartwrenching.

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    1. This film has been on my to see list for decades and I would have chosen it if I had seen it. I love Ruth Gordon.

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  9. Great list! I really want to watch the Graduate and the Reader!

    Here’s my Thursday Movie Picks!

    Ronyell @ The Surreal Movies and TV Blog

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  10. I only saw The Graduate, which was a classic.

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    1. It is but it’s not one of my favs for some reason.

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  11. This has NEVER happened before! I have seen all three. I had read the book The Reader before I saw the film which meant I know Hanna’s secret already. For that reason I think I enjoyed the book more.

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    1. Wow! Glad you saw all 3 and I normally say for people to see the movie first before the book since the book is normally better.

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  12. I only saw The Graduate on TV of course, but I read the book The Reader, so I also know Hanna's secret. Illiteracy is a problem in this day and age, too, BUT it certainly wouldn't lead to a life sentence in prison. One film and one book this week. I can't believe it!!!

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    1. That’s great! I bet you will find the film disappointing but I enjoyed it. I have had clients who can’t read and have been taken advantaged of.

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  13. The first one that came to mind... Oh, what is it called? Anthony Perkins and Ingrid Bergman. Just a sec, I'll IMDB it...

    Goodbye Again. If you haven't seen it, you should. Bergman is in a long term relationship with some guy. Breaks up with him and starts affair with younger guy.

    That was the only one I thought of, but I saw someone in the comments mentioned Harold and Maude. I love that one.

    Of course I've seen The Graduate, and I did see The Reader. Gilbert Grape came out at a time when I wasn't going to see it. Maybe I'll catch it eventually.

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    1. I did see that Ingrid Bergman film and didn’t even think about it...slapping my forehead. I was very frustrated with Ingrid’s character but not surprised as this often happens that they go back to the schmuck. You have to see Gilbert Grape and I have to see Harold and Maude which I have to see.

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    2. Yeah, I totally wanted to slap her. Why? (Maybe because Perkins was actually gay...)

      You've not seen Harold and Maude!?! Oh my. It's a strange little movie with a surprising kick.

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  14. I've used The Graduate before so I couldn't this time but of course it was the first one that came to mind. It's a bit dated now but still enjoyable and the acting is top drawer.

    I was surprised by how much I liked Gilbert Grape when I finally got around to watching it. Quite touching and I was even able to endure that Lewis chick (usually I can not abide her)

    I'm guessing The Reader is going to be popular today but I hated it.

    A goodly number of choices...of course not nearly as many as older men/younger women.

    Summer of ’42 (1971)-Teen Herman Raucher (Gary Grimes) is spending the titular summer on Nantucket Island with pals Oscy (Jerry Houser) and Benji (Oliver Conant) just after America has joined in World War II. He meets Dorothy (Jennifer O'Neill), a young newlywed whose husband is away in the war. As his friends awkwardly attempt to woo girls their own age, Herman slowly befriends the older woman and finds himself becoming increasingly in love with her, but a sudden tragedy may change everything. Nostalgic and bittersweet this was a huge hit upon its release.

    White Palace (1990)-Lost in grief at the recent loss of his wife young staid ad exec Max Baron (James Spader) meet earthy 40ish wild child waitress Nora Baker (Susan Sarandon) and the attraction is immediate. They embark on a steamy affair but soon enough their class and age differences become an obstacles.

    Afterglow (1997)-A roundelay of unwitting changing partners. Contractor Lucky Mann (Nick Nolte) is a serial philanderer who of late has become involved with unhappy young housewife Marianne (Lara Flynn Boyle). Unbeknownst to either Marianne’s business obsessed but equally unhappy husband Jeffrey (Jonny Lee Miller) meets and falls for Lucky’s wife, the troubled Phyllis (Julie Christie) a former minor star who is wrestling with demons of her own. Odd, opaque comic drama but Julie is sensational and was Oscar nominated.

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  15. Excellent choices. I definitely would've picked The Graduate as my one and only choice in this category. It's a classic. And Dustin was soooo young there.

    Be well.

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  16. I didn't remember the Spring-Autumn relationship in Gilbert Grape. Only how impressed I was with Leonardo's acting.

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  17. The Graduate sure gets the win indeed. Sure that will be on many a list. Never heard of The Reader.

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  18. It’s been a while since I’ve watched The Graduate but I have a copy of the DVD on my shelf.
    I’ve never seen the Reader. I’ll have to see if I can find that one.
    R

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  19. I've seen both 'The Graduate' and 'Harold And Maude' twice each. Saw 'em both once and didn't get the appeal. But because people continued to rave about them, I decided to view each one a second time, to see if I had overlooked things the first time around. Nope & Nope. Just too overrated movies, imo.

    I can't think of any "Mrs. Cougar" movies I like. So I'll just stick with my favorite movie from childhood (which I just watched again the other day on my 60th birthday), 'SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON'. I thought maybe if I saw my favorite movie when I was about 7-10 years old, I could "go home again", but - nope - it didn't work. I'm now 60 years and 2 days old. Can't stop time, not even with 'Swiss Family Robinson' and a bottle of Old Grand-Dad.

    ~ D-FensDogG
    STMcC Presents BATTLE OF THE BANDS

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  20. Hi Birgit....how I loved Mrs Robinson...at the moment we have a re run of all the Johnny Depp films on Tv and they had the whats eating gilbert film on...a hidden gem....hope you are well....xxx

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  21. I remember when I first saw "The Graduate."
    "Mrs. Robinson? Why is he hooking up with that old lady?"
    Over 50 years later...
    "Mrs. Robinson? Yeah, she's pretty hot."

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  22. I'm not sure I would seduce a young Dustin Hoffman.

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  23. This is a genre that I've apparently missed for the most part other than the first two choices you offer. At the moment I can't think of any others though I've undoubtedly seen a few others.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  24. Birgit,

    Thanks for sharing these films. The only one I'm familiar with is Mrs. Robinson. We watched it for the first time in recent years and I was really surprised to find that I didn't like it as much as I thought. It did have some humorous scenes in it with Dustin Hoffman's ackwardness but other than that it just didn't do much for me. Dramas generally aren't my bag of tea. I find I have to be in the right frame of mind or mood to watch one. I am glad you introduced the last two to me, though. Thanks for dropping by. Have a boogietastic week, my friend! ;)

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  25. I remember What's Eating Gilbert Grape. I couldn't get past the name to see the movie:)

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  26. I totally forgot the whole Mrs Robinson part in What's Eating Gilbert Grape

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  27. i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346










    i am ERIC BRUNT by name. Greetings to every one that is reading this testimony. I have been rejected by my wife after three(3) years of marriage just because another Man had a spell on her and she left me and the kid to suffer. one day when i was reading through the web, i saw a post on how this spell caster on this address AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com have help a woman to get back her husband and i gave him a reply to his address and he told me that a man had a spell on my wife and he told me that he will help me and after 3 days that i will have my wife back. i believed him and today i am glad to let you all know that this spell caster have the power to bring lovers back. because i am now happy with my wife. Thanks for helping me Dr Akhere contact him on email: AKHERETEMPLE@gmail.com
    or
    call/whatsapp:+2349057261346

    ReplyDelete