American Beauty

American Beauty

1999

Director: Sam Mendes

Writer: Alan Ball

122 Minutes

“I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world."

American Beauty is a social commentary about suburban life explained by one man, Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey). In this life, some are happy, sad, gay, straight, in love, out of love, depressed, etc.

But, that’s the beauty of America. It’s the beauty of flipping burgers when you are a teenager. Or getting the car you always wanted. The beauty of an innocent young girl or realizing every material possession you have is meaningless if you are not happy.

Lester experiences all of these things on his quest for happiness.

And there is more. From floating bags to smoking pot. And great motel sex to getting healthy. And even Nazi china to self redemption. The beauty of the American Dream is so evident, so present in this film than in any other.

The scene above is the ending. Lester is shot in the back of the head by Col. Frank Fitts (Chris Cooper) after their homosexual encounter. The truth shall never be heard.

In the original script, Frank Fitts had a love affair with a military personal who was killed in battle, thus Fitts repressed sexual motivations come out when he suspects Lester is on par and Fitts makes his move. Unbeknownst, Lester is not gay and Fitts’s hate speech about “fags” is spoiled in his own hypocrisy.

But, this scene is about an expression. He’s happy. He realizes something about life that many seem to forget. Life is priceless – ever changing and wonderful. For the first time, Lester has joy.

“How are you?”
“It’s been a long time since someone asked me that. I’m great, “ replies Lester.

He stares at a picture of his family, once happy and then a gun is placed to the back of his head. In this moment, he could die a happy man. And he does.

Most of us are old when we die. We can’t move, back hurts, sick with disease, or taken when we are too young. Lester was happy when the bullet entered his brain. We should all be so lucky.

In the end, all this is a mystery. Everyone in and around that house had motivation to kill Lester. Jane (Thora Birch) and Ricky (Wes Bentley) recorded a conversation about killing him and are moving to New York. Carolyn (Annette Bening) had a gun in her purse and was caught cheated. Angela (Mena Suvari) got rejected. Buddy (Peter Gallagher) was having an affair with his wife.

I’m sure Col. Frank Fitts’s military career was spotless. Why would the cops question him? What would he say? Why even confess?

But Lester, our hero, is happy. The rest of the world can sit and clean up the mess because in life, we only get a couple moments of happiness. It’s better to appreciate life than to clean up the blood, sweat, and tears of others.

Lester knew that and simply put it as: spectacular.