10.
The Group (1966): Vassar girls! Candace Bergen's first
starring role! A great cast, and a good, but a little talky, movie.
9.
When Harry Met Sally (1989): Okay, so there's not a
lot of graduation in it, but that's how it starts out. And after all, doesn't
almost everything start with graduation? Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan star, with
a great cameo from Rob Reiner's mom in the deli ("I'll have what she's
having.")
8..
Rudy (1993): No one ever tried harder to get into
college, worked harder while he was there, or was prouder when he graduated. A
sappy movie, only marginally about football, but a great story of dedication
and triumph.
7.
National Lampoon's Animal House (1978): Well, not
everybody can graduate. Stands for the proposition that no matter how lacking
in class, boorish, and stupid you may be, you can still grow up to be a United
States Senator. One of the funniest movies ever made, and it doesn't lose its
edge over time. Always worth a watch.
6.
The Muppets Take Manhattan(1984): As new college
graduates -- once again showing that anyone can go to college --
the Muppets try to peddle their college musical in New York. A fine, funny
movie, no matter how old you are.
5.
An Officer and a Gentleman(1982): A sappy romantic
movie, but with an Oscar© winning performance from
Louis Gossett, Jr., as the drill instructor who molds Richard Gere -- and even
the women pilots-in-training -- in to men.
4.
The Last Picture Show (1971): One of the last,
great, black and white movies. This story of high school seniors approaching
graduation in a dusty Texas town was directed by Peter Bogdanovich and
converted to the screen by its author, Larry McMurtry. A Best Picture nominee,
Ben Johnson and Cloris Leachman both won Oscars©
for Best Supporting Actor and Actress.
3.
Breaking Away (1979): So what do you do after
graduation in Indianapolis? Go to work, get married -- ride a bike? Dennis
Christopher, Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern and Jackie Earle Haley star as the four
friends looking for a purpose in life in this grand light comedy. Nominated for
Best Picture, Best Actress (Barbara Barrie) and Adapted Score, it won for Best
Original Screenplay.
2.
The Graduate (1967): Surprise!!!! A very good
movie, with a ground breaking performance by Dustin Hoffman. Nominated for Best
Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress (Anne Bancroft), Best Supporting Actress
(Katharine Ross) and more, it won for Best Director. Doesn't age as well as you
probably think it does.
And the winner is.....
1.
Say Anything... (1989): Didn't win anything, ever,
from anyone, but I think it's the best movie about high school graduation ever
made. Cameron Crowe wrote and directed this light comedy about a boy (John
Cusack) convinced he is destined to be a world champion kick boxer who falls
for the smartest girl in his class (Ione Skye) just before she is set to go to
England to study. A wonderful performance by John Mahoney (of
Frasier fame as her father. Well worth the purchase or rental.
One class short: