What's the point of American Beauty?

[KingGheedora]

What's the symbolism in this movie? It's on right now and I was young the first time I saw it so I didn't really read into it too much.

Why did this movie turn out to be such a tragedy? The thing I wonder about the most is that once Kevin Spacey's character finally reconnected with what made him happy in life he ended up dying; what was the point of that? Do you think if it had a happier ending the movie would have been yet another feel-good-about-life movie of the year?

 

[pyonir]

AB can be summed up in one quote:

Brad Dupree: [reading Lester's job description] "My job consists of basically masking my contempt for the assholes in charge, and, at least once a day, retiring to the men's room so I can jerk off while I fantasize about a life that doesn't so closely resemble Hell."

 

[Nocturnal]

I dunno but that movie just kind of reflects life in general. To me, it portrays life of the average American. Even the closet gay guy is played to a tee. I met someone like that before.

 

[zephyrprime]

I think perhaps it's because a lot of those things that made people happy in the movie (and by implication in real life) are not things that are healthy and viable in the long term. It's just injecting some stark realism back into the film in the most brutal way possible (death/mortality).

 

[0roo0roo]

ennui and a bit of underage tit

 

[sandorski]

Man shakes off the chains of Fake Life, an Automaton of Fake Life takes his Life to maintain Order.

Reality upsets Fake Reality.

True Happiness undermines Fake Happiness.

Take your pick. Basically Spacy's character achieved a True Freedom that is rare. Most live a life of Servitude and hate Freedom.

 

[altonb1]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
ennui and a bit of underage tit

[QFT]

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: altonb1

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
ennui and a bit of underage tit

[QFT]

that is what i thought

 

[meltdown75]

the moral of the story is that when you get married and hit middle age, you have a crisis which can only be averted by strong pot and young women.

 

[Steve]

Originally posted by: meltdown75
the moral of the story is that when you get married and hit middle age, you have a crisis which can only be averted by strong pot and young women.

Can't wait!

 

[meltdown75]

Originally posted by: Steve

Originally posted by: meltdown75
the moral of the story is that when you get married and hit middle age, you have a crisis which can only be averted by strong pot and young women.

Can't wait!