Do not misconstrue this film. It's simply a social, satirical film

Rating: 8/10 (15 February 2003)

Spoiler Alert! I watched American Beauty for the first time last night, and I had mixed feelings about it. I was disgusted with the movie, but at the same time deeply moved. I hated the movie, but also liked it at the same time. It's very hard to describe how I really feel about the movie. One thing about American Beauty is sure. It is thought-provoking and disturbing. Sam Mendes was bold to create a movie that defied the moralistic messages and "happy endings" usually found in the best movies such as the Shawshank Redemption.
In my opinion, I believe American Beauty is a satirical movie that depicts the personal problems that can wreck an American family in our society. The thing that baffles me the most is how so many people on this site have said that the characters in American Beauty are all characters we can identify with. Are you kidding me? Sam Mendes never meant for these characters to act as the most ridiculous, base people that can exist in our society. We SHOULD NOT be able to identify ourselves with these pathetic characters.
Look at Lester for example (Kevin Spacey). He represents a father who has absolutely no responsibility or direction in his life. He is a father who lives a life of debauchery and pleasure (shown by sexual passion toward Angela). He is a father who shouldn't even be called a "father" since he dosen't care a tad bit about his wife or daughter. Next, we have Karolyn (Annete Benning).
Karolyn represents those people who have no stability in their lives. These are the people who are too systematic, materialistic (shown by the "Don't spill you beer on this $4000 couch" incident), and shallow at the same time. She is too obsessed with success and the American Dream, that anything less will surely depress her.
Let's analyze Angela (Mena Suvari) next shall we? Angela, a prideful cheerleader, represents those people who are excessively obsessed with self-image, self-worth, and significance. She's only friends with Jane because she can feel good about herself (since she's "supposedly" prettier and more sexualy active than Jane is"). She rants on about her potential to be a model and even lies about her "active sexuality" in order to build herself up.
Haha, finally comes the Kernel (or Rikki's dad, played by Chris Cooper). The Kernel represents those people who are unreasonably stubborn and act as "CONTROL FREAKS." These people like Rikki's dad only see things their own way and they dictate other people's lives. In fact, the Kernel is so freakin oppresive that he shows no love to his wife, and later, we find out that he's gay (not surprising why).
Like I said, I do not know how people on this site say that they can identify themselves with Kevin Spacey's character, Lester, or Mena Suvari's shallow chracter, Angela. For Heaven's sake, you're not supposed to be! Man, if you can relate to them, I'm kind of concerned about you. These are farcical characters that we're supposed to laugh at while we watch the movie.
Keep in mind, that I haven't talked about all the characters. There are two characters (Thora Birch's role, Jane....and Wes Bently's role, Rikki) whom I respect very much. I respect Jane because she grows up so much in this movie. In the beginning of the movie, she also cares too much about self-image and always depends on her shallow friend, Angela for advise, but as the movie progresses, she learns that self-worth cannot be found by what society tells us that it can be found in (sex, popularity, drugs, money). I feel sorry for Jane since she has horrible, pathetic parents and she has every right to criticize them, because they don't give a d*mn about her. Fortunately, Jane does meet someone she whom she can relate to (Wes Bentley) and we hope they can live happy lives.
The most significant character in my opinion is Wes Bentley as Rikki, a son of a repressive father. Rikki is not a perfect character (he lies, does and sell drugs) but he has true emotions and sees beauty in things that most people don't. He fully appreciate's God's creation while everyone else is ignorant to it. He finds beauty in simple things, a dead bird, a floating plastic bag, and even Jane (whom most people do not find beautiful). I believe Jane and Rikki are the two real and focal characters in this movie.
While everyone else is mentally breaking down, these two chracters have self-worth and composure. They have something to hope about. I think too many people take this movie to far and misinterpret it. This is not a movie shwoing us the truth and realities of American families (if it did, we would be feeling insulted). Instead, it's a satirical movie that pokes fun at people who we would hope not to be like (I sure do hope you people think the same too!).
What a weird and disturbing movie, but at the same time, a beautiful movie.... man, this one is a fun movie to talk about.
A good, but not brilliant movie (movies like Godfather, Shawshank Redemption, and the Green Mile surpass this one). I give this one 8 out of 10 stars.