Can someone explain the movie to me? I saw it and was so totally confused. What's the movie about?
Question about American Beauty
- Thread starter Webbed
- Start date
like, why did the Colonel kill him in the end? Why did his wife want to kill him? How come that weird guy is so afraid of his dad (the Colonel)? What's the story about the Colonel's wife?
<< why did the Colonel kill him in the end? >>
Colonel thought neighbor (Spacey) was having sex with his son. He disliked gays (like most military people do) and wanted to understand what was so special about liking the same sex... that's the way I interpet it. He felt the urge to kill that which defied his belief.
<< Why did his wife want to kill him? >>
She wanted to be free and sleep w/ the eyebrow King.
<< How come that weird guy is so afraid of his dad (the Colonel)? >>
His dad beats him since he is a "slacker", plus son doesn't want dad to know he deals drugs so he plays innocent.
<< What's the story about the Colonel's wife? >>
I think she was brainwashed or has mental problems.
- Oct 28, 1999
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*My interpretations*
I think the Colonel was a gay man that couldn't come *out of the closet* because of the military. This coupled by the fact that he a TON of emotional problems coupled by the fact that he *thought* his son was performing sexual favors for his neighbor pretty much pushed him over the edge.
His wife wanted to kill him because he did what ever he wanted because he simply wanted to and with no regrets. He took control of his life and did want he wanted too simply because it made him feel good. She was so hung up on self help tapes that she couldn't do anything for herself. It got to her so bad that it drove her insane.
The Colonel had some serious psychological issues. He had a lifetime of military life trying to repress issues that he couldn't bring out(the gay thing).
As far as his wife, I think she toasted her brain on depressants.
I think the Colonel was a gay man that couldn't come *out of the closet* because of the military. This coupled by the fact that he a TON of emotional problems coupled by the fact that he *thought* his son was performing sexual favors for his neighbor pretty much pushed him over the edge.
His wife wanted to kill him because he did what ever he wanted because he simply wanted to and with no regrets. He took control of his life and did want he wanted too simply because it made him feel good. She was so hung up on self help tapes that she couldn't do anything for herself. It got to her so bad that it drove her insane.
The Colonel had some serious psychological issues. He had a lifetime of military life trying to repress issues that he couldn't bring out(the gay thing).
As far as his wife, I think she toasted her brain on depressants.
Well I guess the Moral of the story (and isn't that a stretch) is to take chances and live life with passion. People often get into ruts that grind them down.
Of course blackmailing your boss and smoking pot with the neighbors teenage son are hardly what I would call good examples. The story is the usual warped hollywood story we get nowadays.
Hannibal was suppose to have an ending were clarice runs away with hannibal but I guess that was even to warped for hollywood.
Of course blackmailing your boss and smoking pot with the neighbors teenage son are hardly what I would call good examples. The story is the usual warped hollywood story we get nowadays.
Hannibal was suppose to have an ending were clarice runs away with hannibal but I guess that was even to warped for hollywood.
besides the meaning vi_edit said, i think it also points out how ironic sometimes people are. the colonel appears to hate gay, but he is gay. the little girl always say how much sex she has had, but ended up she has never had any, and so on so on. and IMHO (again just my feeling):
1) the colonel has to kill kevin (sorry, forgot his name in the movie) coz' he has leaked his secret, but he can't get the "love" the needs
2) hmm, probably coz' she thinks she has to fight for her "rights"?
3) it's a inherit thing developed by his dad, that the colonel has this high / untouchable respect
4) his wife..... that's an interesting one.... to make the movie more interesting?
1) the colonel has to kill kevin (sorry, forgot his name in the movie) coz' he has leaked his secret, but he can't get the "love" the needs
2) hmm, probably coz' she thinks she has to fight for her "rights"?
3) it's a inherit thing developed by his dad, that the colonel has this high / untouchable respect
4) his wife..... that's an interesting one.... to make the movie more interesting?
John:
But the colonel himself is gay. Why did he only killed him after he came on to Kevin Spacey. If he wanted to killed Kevin Spacey because he thought his son was sleeping with him, he should have just killed him in the garage.
She was sleeping with Eyebrow King anyway. Kevin Spacey was ok with it. Maybe because if they go through a divorce she would lose everything? Then, when Kevin Spacey was killed when she got home, why was she crying so bitterly? He's dead anyway and she's free to do whatever she wants and she didn't have to do it herself.
The weird guy. If I was making as much money as he was, I would have moved out of the house and not be beaten by the dad. After all, his dad was guillible enough to think he was making all those money from serving hors d'ouevres.
The story doesn't add up.
But the colonel himself is gay. Why did he only killed him after he came on to Kevin Spacey. If he wanted to killed Kevin Spacey because he thought his son was sleeping with him, he should have just killed him in the garage.
She was sleeping with Eyebrow King anyway. Kevin Spacey was ok with it. Maybe because if they go through a divorce she would lose everything? Then, when Kevin Spacey was killed when she got home, why was she crying so bitterly? He's dead anyway and she's free to do whatever she wants and she didn't have to do it herself.
The weird guy. If I was making as much money as he was, I would have moved out of the house and not be beaten by the dad. After all, his dad was guillible enough to think he was making all those money from serving hors d'ouevres.
The story doesn't add up.
The Colonel killed him in the end because he was an outwardly-homophobic-closet-homosexual and when he came onto Spacey's character he was rejected, so he felt the need to kill him. The wife wanted to kill him because she felt like she was losing control of the power. In the beginning of the movie she is very forceful, and clearly "wears the pants" in the movie.
However, by the end, Lester has taken over his own life, therefore removing all the power in their marriage from his wife.
<< The story doesn't add up >>
The story doesn't add up to you because you're trying to interpret it too logically, when the entire theme of the movie is how illogical everything is.
However, by the end, Lester has taken over his own life, therefore removing all the power in their marriage from his wife.
<< The story doesn't add up >>
The story doesn't add up to you because you're trying to interpret it too logically, when the entire theme of the movie is how illogical everything is.
<< the colonel appears to hate gay, but he is gay. >>
How do we know that for a fact? Simply because the Colonel kissed Spacey in the garage doesn't prove that. I thought he was trying to "feel" what it would be like "to be gay".
i cant beleive people didnt understand this movie. it wa one of the most straight forward movies ever. you obviously didnt pay attention if you couldnt figure it out.
sorry....
sorry....
I think his wife was buying into all the self help tapes which were telling her not to be a victim. She was trying to empower herself and when she got caught cheating she was angry so she was going to kill her husband for making her feel guility. At the last minute she realized how warped that was and broke down because she realized that she really loved her husband. (At least that's my interpretation)
The colonel was supposely a repressed homosexual who had to kill his next door neighbor for either rejecting him or because he was afraid people would find out that he was gay.
The colonel was supposely a repressed homosexual who had to kill his next door neighbor for either rejecting him or because he was afraid people would find out that he was gay.
bear in mind, this is one Asian guy that didn't grow up in America. I sometimes read books and the humor is completely lost on me.
don't worry webbed, i am asian and when i first came to the US, everything was a mystery for me. it took me quite a while to start understand things here
webbed, i tend to forget that we're dealing with a global community here and not just people from america. i apologize for my rude remarks.
loosbrew
loosbrew
all comments and insight have been duly noted and I will watch the movie again. Hopefully, I'll understand it this time.
loosbrew: it's ok, no offense taken.
loosbrew: it's ok, no offense taken.
Jeez, did you guys actually WATCH the movie?
The Colonel was a repressed homosexual. That's why he tried to kiss Kevin Spacey. After he was rejected, he killed him to prevent his secret getting out.
The colonel's wife was basically catatonic because it was the only way to avoid setting off his rages.
My mom thought that Annette Benning killed him because a. she's and idiot and b. she missed the shot of the colonel rushing back in with blood on his shirt.
The Colonel was a repressed homosexual. That's why he tried to kiss Kevin Spacey. After he was rejected, he killed him to prevent his secret getting out.
The colonel's wife was basically catatonic because it was the only way to avoid setting off his rages.
My mom thought that Annette Benning killed him because a. she's and idiot and b. she missed the shot of the colonel rushing back in with blood on his shirt.
Life is is how you make it out to be. It is great if you think positively, but down right pain full and fustrating if you are negative.
One of the great thing I have learn in 33 years is to think of 3 positive things frist thing in the morning and 3 befor bed. And, keep remind myself to remember to think positively though out the day.
One of the great thing I have learn in 33 years is to think of 3 positive things frist thing in the morning and 3 befor bed. And, keep remind myself to remember to think positively though out the day.
Ooops!:Q I didn't hit the Reply button at first. I typed most of my post and then got a phone call. By the time I wrapped and replied, a lot of you got my points covered. (It wasn't that way when I started.)
Sometimes it gets annoying when people misunderstand a movie, but it isn't bad when you're actually making an attempt to understand it. I hate when I run across people that say "American Beauty was the dumbest movie blah blah blah, I didn't understand any of it!"
Like I said, at least you're making an attempt and you haven't trashed the movie.
Like I said, at least you're making an attempt and you haven't trashed the movie.
there isnt always a "point" in movies
sometimes they just represent the chaos of everyday life
methinks the colonel character had repressed feelings that were brought to light when he suspected his own son was engaging
when he acted upon those repressed feelings, he betrayed his own life(image), and must have been angered at the person he blamed for pulling it out to the surface
the wife of the colonel seemed like what a wife in that situation would evolve into, an emotional vegetable
I loved the Kevin Spacey character when he got himself the "rod" and toked away in his garage
sometimes they just represent the chaos of everyday life
methinks the colonel character had repressed feelings that were brought to light when he suspected his own son was engaging
when he acted upon those repressed feelings, he betrayed his own life(image), and must have been angered at the person he blamed for pulling it out to the surface
the wife of the colonel seemed like what a wife in that situation would evolve into, an emotional vegetable
I loved the Kevin Spacey character when he got himself the "rod" and toked away in his garage
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