American Beauty

1999

Director: Sam Mendes

Composer: Thomas Newman

Distributor: Dreamworks

Key Elements: Message, Concept, Music, Visuals

My Review:

This movie is at once a portrait of modern American “whiteness” and a dark vision of suburbia. It exposes our secrets: how we validate ourselves with material things, how we sexualize our desire for our youth, how beauty makes us feel like outcasts, how we believe leaving our situation will change who we are, and how we are both drawn to and repulsed by things that are different to us.

The imagery of the movie, its falling rose pedals, floating plastic bags and long shots of maple-lined streets are perfectly placed.

My favorite thing about the movie is Lester’s existential journey which culminates in his poetic post-mortem soliloquy just before the credits roll.

Also, interesting title: “American Beauty” is the name of a type of rose. Both the imagery of the rose and the focus on American lifestyles makes this a appropriate title.

Clip:



Quotes:

• Remember those posters that said, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life?" Well, that's true with every day except one: the day that you die.
• Look at me, jerking off in the shower... This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.
• It's just a couch! …This isn't life, it's just stuff. And it's become more important to you than living. Well, honey, that's just nuts.
• Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in.
• I want to look good naked!
• I feel like I've been in a coma for the past twenty years. And I'm just now waking up.

Stills: