The focus of American Beauty is the existentialist veiw of
free will, as demonstrated by Lester Burnham (Spacey). While watching
one of his daughter's friends do a dance routine, he has an epiphany--the
last few decades of his life have been a steady decline into
meaningless duties for meaningless social rank. He decides he wants to screw the
dancer. So he starts working out, he starts smoking pot, he quits his
job and gets one he likes (at a fast food place), and stops taking shit
from his wife.
Predictably--perhaps we've all experienced something like this, which
is really why I gave the movie 5 stars--his actions turn his life
around, and not so predictably, turn his family's upside down. Acts II and
III are great examples as to how differing perceptions cause conflict.
The best example of this I can think of in the movie is the blow job
incident (you'll just have to watch!). Sometimes objective reality
doesn't match what we want it to match.
The crux of the movie, however, is the concept of free will and
priorities. Is a bit of spilt beer on a \\$4,000 sofa worth a renewed sexual
relation with his wife? He thought so, she didn't. For Lester,
happiness was the ultimate goal. He got it [...]
Undoubtedly, there is more. But this is a film review, not an
analysis. I really recommend that you watch it. It is the most poignant
example of "A man as a means for himself" I have ever seen on film.
This is a deeply cynical film that disdains responsible
productive work and enshrines whimsical escapism as a noble cause.
Businessmen are uniformly sleazy (except for the gay men, just to appease that
faction), military men are closet Nazis, and redemption comes in the
form of pot smoking and abdicating responsibility. One bright point that
elevates this movie to a two rating: Wes Bentley is a superb, focused
presence who I truly hope to see again in future films.
The movie American Beauty shows us two very different paths
to develop along and bring change into our lives. I would like to call
the first; "The Path of Power" and the second; "The Path of Freedom."
Examples of both paths are seen in the adult characters, as well as in
the younger teenage charcters. The movie shows us; how somone begins
developing along each path, what someone becomes after traveling each
path for a long period of time(i.e. provides us with a role model of the
path's ideal)and also shows the results and consequences of developing
each way.
The first path (power)is exemplified by Buddy(The Real Estate
King). Buddy makes an excellent living, has influence, looks and style.
His life is focused on making money and maintaining an image, which
seems to be where the derives his sense of self worth from. Despite his
sucess in real estate, his primary relationship is a failure. Becuase of
his devotion to career and image, he has little time and attention for
his wife, who decides to leave him.
Carolyn and Angela are also on the path of power. In order to
feel okay about themselves, they both have become obssessed with
cultivating an image of coolness and togetherness. They only have time for
surface level concerns and are afraid of anything penetrating or
introspective which might remind them that the mask they work so hard on is not
their true self.
Ricky Fitz personifies the Path of Freedom. Among his good
qualities; Ricky's self honesty, and genuine interest in others especially
set him apart from people of the first path. Because Ricky has a sense
of "okay-ness" with himself as a person, he does not need to manipulate
people or try to convince them he is something he is not. He grants
others complete freedom to think and do as they please and respects their
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