A philosophical examination of one of my favorite films

Rating: 10/10 (20 July 2008)

This was probably the first film I had seen in youth that was "honest" in a unconventional sense. I saw it on a wide screen and it was just astounding. The cinematography, the music, the timing, the acting, everything seemed like it had come from up on high as if this were some divine power's look at a unhappy group of people desperately trying to make sense out of their lives. It builds up throughout the film bringing itself to an almost mystical catharsis.
What I like the most is how straightforward it is in presenting the dilemma: who are you? That is something each character must figure out. The problem is seeing whether or not who you are is conducive to living or merely surviving. Most people think they are living but they are not. That is what Lester Burnham comes to realize thanks to his new neighbor and his infatuation with his daughter friend. I also love how comfortable it is with the anti-heroes of the piece. We find ourselves rooting for them even though we probably wouldn't in real life. And that is the beauty of cinema, allowing ourselves to look through the eyes of a total stranger and discover ourselves in them.