I watched American Beauty again after someone made a thread about it that peeked my interest. I remembered liking it, but I like it even more now after a second viewing. What an incredible film. I love the dynamics of life, truth, trust, love, superficiality... It reminds me so much of my own life, the way I criticise my parents, the way I feel alone with my family because they don't understand me, and the way that people with pure motives can be brutally and unjustly judged by stupid people who can't face the truth about their own life.
American Beauty (Drama)
I love this movie. It's not an artistic masterpiece on the level of Ozu or Bergman, it doesn't have that hint of artistry, but it's technically flawless. Every technical aspect is excellent, the cinematography, the acting, the writing, the directing, I can't find any flaw. But what makes this movie truly great is the story, plot, and themes. This is a movie that celebrates life, it's about life and death, truth and deception, and is brutally honest in its depiction of everything. The story revolves around a family that appears normal on the surface but is complex and weird beneath the surface, and doesn't apologize for it. Gradually as the movie moves on it becomes more bold and less ashamed of the truth about life. What is normal? At times you don't notice the cinematography, and at other times the composition is the main focus. The characters are criticised thoroughly and the culmination is a mixture of lust, heartbreak, devotion, and murder. There are moments that make me cheer, make me laugh, make me swell with joy, and make me sympathise and understand even with the worst of people. There is an incredible understanding of life in this movie. There is one scene where Spacey's character is at an upper class party bored out of his mind when a young waiter identifies himself as the boy who just moved in next door. He says hi and there is an awkward pause. Spacey wonders why the boy is still there. The boy asks him if he likes to party. "Excuse me?" Spacey asks. "Do you like to get high?" Suddenly Spacey lights up like this boring part is about to get interesting. They're out back smoking weed, and the waiter's boss opens the door. "I'm not paying you to do whatever you're doing." He says in an aggressive tone. This is the kind of intimidation a boss may use to get his employee in line, but the boy is so bold and brave. "So don't pay me." "What?" His boss says, stammering. "I quit, so you don't have to pay me. Now leave me alone." The freedom blows Spacey's character away. It's incredible, this idea that in life you are free, and slavery is a state of mind. Spacey starts to live freely after the influence of this incredible young man who sees life like no one else, it captivates his daughter too who falls in love with the young man. I don't want to spoil too much, but this movie is full of incredible moments that move my heart and soul.
"Do you want to see the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced?" I'm paraphrasing, that's not an exact quote, but the boy asks the girl and shows her a video of a plastic bag being blown by the wind. He describes an epiphany he had when he captured it on film, it was like a spirit dancing before him showing him that life was pure joy and there was nothing to fear. You watch as a plastic bag is blown in circles by the wind, dancing before you among the leaves, and it is spiritual and magnificent.
American Beauty (Drama)
I love this movie. It's not an artistic masterpiece on the level of Ozu or Bergman, it doesn't have that hint of artistry, but it's technically flawless. Every technical aspect is excellent, the cinematography, the acting, the writing, the directing, I can't find any flaw. But what makes this movie truly great is the story, plot, and themes. This is a movie that celebrates life, it's about life and death, truth and deception, and is brutally honest in its depiction of everything. The story revolves around a family that appears normal on the surface but is complex and weird beneath the surface, and doesn't apologize for it. Gradually as the movie moves on it becomes more bold and less ashamed of the truth about life. What is normal? At times you don't notice the cinematography, and at other times the composition is the main focus. The characters are criticised thoroughly and the culmination is a mixture of lust, heartbreak, devotion, and murder. There are moments that make me cheer, make me laugh, make me swell with joy, and make me sympathise and understand even with the worst of people. There is an incredible understanding of life in this movie. There is one scene where Spacey's character is at an upper class party bored out of his mind when a young waiter identifies himself as the boy who just moved in next door. He says hi and there is an awkward pause. Spacey wonders why the boy is still there. The boy asks him if he likes to party. "Excuse me?" Spacey asks. "Do you like to get high?" Suddenly Spacey lights up like this boring part is about to get interesting. They're out back smoking weed, and the waiter's boss opens the door. "I'm not paying you to do whatever you're doing." He says in an aggressive tone. This is the kind of intimidation a boss may use to get his employee in line, but the boy is so bold and brave. "So don't pay me." "What?" His boss says, stammering. "I quit, so you don't have to pay me. Now leave me alone." The freedom blows Spacey's character away. It's incredible, this idea that in life you are free, and slavery is a state of mind. Spacey starts to live freely after the influence of this incredible young man who sees life like no one else, it captivates his daughter too who falls in love with the young man. I don't want to spoil too much, but this movie is full of incredible moments that move my heart and soul.
"Do you want to see the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced?" I'm paraphrasing, that's not an exact quote, but the boy asks the girl and shows her a video of a plastic bag being blown by the wind. He describes an epiphany he had when he captured it on film, it was like a spirit dancing before him showing him that life was pure joy and there was nothing to fear. You watch as a plastic bag is blown in circles by the wind, dancing before you among the leaves, and it is spiritual and magnificent.