loved it

Rating: Null/10 (11 May 2004)

The film, American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes, tells the tale of the ideal American family, well at least on the outside. Living in suburbia, with a white picket fence, two cars in the garage, two parents in the home, a teenage daughter, friendly neighbors, the only thing that seems to be missing is a dog named Spot. But there is a whole lot more going on then what appears on the surface. This nuclear family is really based on false images. On the exterior Carolyn is the perfect mother however her character is dealing with an unhappy marriage, disappointment as a mother, and failure as a successful real estate agent. Her husband, Lester, has become indifferent to everything in his life. His loss of drive in life is transformed when he decides to make changes in his life. Jane, the daughter, is also miserable due to her absorption of society's concept of what is beautiful. Unsupported by her parents, she finally finds acceptance and the feeling of love from her new neighbor. There are a plethora of other characters in the film, including Ricky, his parents, and Angela. Angela, Jane's alleged best friend, symbolizes society's image of beauty. She fits all the stereotypes set by America's media, blond hair, blue eyes, thin, and sexually active. Jane's new neighbor, Ricky acts as a stimulus in the film. His vision of beauty counteracts to the predetermined notion of what image beauty which is accepted by society. The film unites the dramatic with dark comedy. It depicts the false assumptions that everything is ideal when you are at a certain economic level, and a part of white America. Unhappiness is not biased to race or economic status, and artificial exteriors are often misleading. The film is entertaining and enticing to the audience, yet also reveals how characters handle Berger's concept of surveyor and surveyed. Each character feels the pressures of being viewed a certain way by society, internalizes it and changes their behavior accordingly. Angela lies about her sexual experience, Jane is saving money for a boob job (which she obviously does not need), Carolyn makes everyone think she has everything together, Lester continued to work in an unsatisfying job, and Ricky hides how he really makes his money from his parents. All these acts are the character's response to knowing they are being surveyed, watched, by society. The underlying theme in the movie is what a sham it is to have one idea of what beauty is. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.