A friend of mine called and asked if I felt like escaping the confines of my home and venturing out. I agreed, and somehow we found ourselves settled comfortably in a midtown theatre awaiting the start of a movie I had heard little about. From the start I found myself falling in love with the character Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey. There was something about his voice, and the utter calmness of it that sort of relaxed me, almost forcing me to fall deep, deep in love with the science of American Beauty.
1999 was a tough year for me. Who am I kidding, every year since discovering people want for you what they want for you and nothing more, has been tough. But, 1999 saw a whole new meaning of tough. I like Lester felt dead. I was in a dead-end career. My love life was stranded on a one-way street in desperate need of repair. And my acceptance of self physically, spiritually, and emotionally was all but shot to hell. In some ways the lead character and I were living vaguely similar lives. So I listened and believed Lester when he said, "But...it's not to late to get it back." Your life, that is.
I'm a sucker for passionate tales of the dysfunctional American ideology. I so love to see the American lose. Not that I do not love this country or its on again, off again benefits, its just, I love the underdog more. Could it be that I consider myself an underdog, and as a result harbor a skewed view as to how he, or rather I am treated by society? Maybe, but I maintain, the underdog needs extra special attention. Lester, a habitual underdog is loathed by his wife and his daughter, works at a job he cannot stand, and considers jerking off in the shower the highlight of his day. His wife, hates her husband, ignores her daughter, and desperately searches for perfection. Their daughter is repulsed by both of them, hates her body, and feels inferior to her blond haired, blue-eyed best friend. Wow...is this not the real American Family or what? For years the perceived American family has been held up as the beginning and end of morality: A mother, father, two children (typically a girl and a boy), the dog, and a cute little house with a bright white picket fence surrounding a most wonderful star-lit dream.
Bullshit. The American Family is ten times worse than the portrayal in American Beauty, and hundreds of times worse than any bullshit that clouded the airwaves prior to the radical 80s. As the self-proclaimed "Police of the World", it is an American requirement almost to project an image of togetherness, success and perfection. We must convince all those that do not reside in the United States of America, and its territories that the American Dream is alive and well, and is not in jeopardy whatsoever. Yes, this is the message we send, knowing damn well, our schools are failing to educate our children, our children themselves are not applying themselves, parents are ignoring their children and blaming the schools, schools are reporting that parents are abusing their children hence affecting the child's ability to learn--all this mind you while "Hollywood", and "Musicwood" constantly go against the very politics our politicians claim is the fabric of the American culture. In short, our shit stinks...and no other movie has done such a great job at revealing some of the bullshit behind the bullshit.
The movie dives into all things that make Americans, Americans and does so with such clarity it's no wonder this movie did not sweep the Oscars. American Beauty is nothing short of extraordinary. It is hilarious and heartbreaking. The writing is great. The acting is great. The directing is great. And yes, if you haven't gotten it by now the movie is great.
So, if you have not seen this movie, do yourself a favor and see it. If you have seen it, and do not own it, do yourself a favor and add this modern day classic to your library. |
