Benjamin Braddock has finally graduated college, but has no idea what to do. He has grown tired of being pushed and prodded along through life, but there doesn't seem to be anything for him to really do. Until a family friend decides to make him her own little pet project. You guessed it: enter Mrs. Robinson. The famed seductress. One of the original cougars. The reason for the song. click play to listen

Benjamin decides to just lay low for a while. Still incredibly unhappy, he gets lost in an empty affair with Mrs. Robinson and whittles away an entire Summer with no thought as to what his future might hold. But then Mrs. Robinson's daughter, Elaine, returns home from school and after much pressure from his concerned parents, Benjamin reluctantly agrees to ask her out on a date.

Sure enough, Benjamin and Elaine hit it off, and her mother is absolutely furious. So furious that she is willing to ruin both of their lives by revealing the secret. But what is Benjamin to do? He is finally in love, and finally knows what he wants.

Some might be surprised that The Graduate is such a heralded movie, seeing as how it's often portrayed as merely a movie with a great soundtrack and a twisted love triangle. The Graduate is really a much deeper story about a young man who is struggling for control over his life, not knowing what he wants, but knowing full well what he does not want- the life that has been made for him. As a fellow contemplative 20-something, I find Benjamin's character highly relatable.  He has wandered around aimlessly until he found something, or someone, worth chasing. And boy does runs hard after her.

Jerry is all alone in his life, for the first time in over 12 years. His marriage is over. He has abandoned his life as a lawyer in Nebraska, and spends his days wandering around New York City with just an allowance of three dollars a day. Aimless and lonely, Jerry wanders over to the apartment of a very old friend, who is now a beatnik painter playing host to a party full of hipsters- one of which being the cute, carefree Gittel who instantly charms Jerry with just a couple of outspoken comments about his hat.

Gittel and Jerry strike up a very unexpected romance, and as opposite as the two of them are, it sort of works out for them. For a little while. Until Jerry's wife (divorce pending) starts calling his apartment asking questions and crying into the phone.

Two for the Seesaw is a very interesting look into a mismatched relationship, both characters relatable and sympathetic for the viewer. I was impressed with how realistic everything felt, especially since I'm not convinced that Robert Mitchum is one of the great actors of the 20th Century. But, playing alongside Shirley MacLaine he held his own, and served up a performance which I think might be one of his greatest.

If you like character development, romance, and a story line that pulls at the heart strings, be sure to check it out!

Sidney Poitier's dynamic on screen presence is enough to turn any movie into a must-see. I will admit, I'm not really one to delve into those inspiring teacher-conquers-wily-students movies, but my love for Poitier motivated me to finally watch To Sir, With Love. My secondary love for Lulu was a motivating factor as well. I was a bit curious to see the film for which one of my favorite childhoos songs was written. (click below to listen: To Sir, With Love by Lulu)

I've mentioned before that my husband, Phil, is a school teacher. He student-taught rural children in Northeast Kentucky, so when he accepted a year-long position at a inner city school in Canton, it was a trying experience that really stretched him (and our marriage) a couple of years ago. That being said, I could somewhat relate to Portier's character as an outsider who, as a last resort in search of any paying job, comes into a somewhat rough-and-tumble 1960s British school to be a teacher.

The film deals with the spread of counter-culture ideology into the lives of act-before-you-think high school students who really expect to go nowhere in life. Poitier's character surprises the students by teaching them self respect and life skills he learned from his impoverished life he led while becoming the man he wanted to be. Despite his race relegating him to outsider status in this inner city neighborhood, the students (and even teachers) begin to learn from "Sir" and even develop an affection for him that went beyond social norms of the day.

To Sir, With Love is a great back to school movie that offers a great look into 1960s British culture as well as explores personalities and relationships that any character-developing movie lover will enjoy.