Lester Burnham is the protagonist in American Beauty. He is 42 years old and lives a meaningless life. He has no relationship with his daughter, the love is gone between he and Carolyn, and the magazine company he writes for is firing people. "Both my wife and daughter think I am a gigantic loser... I have lost something. I am not exactly sure what it is but I know I didn’t always feel this... But you know what? It’s never too late to get it back," says Lester in the opening scene of the film. Lester openly confronts his lack of importance in his life and to other people.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Ricky Fitz
Ricky Fitz is not the protagonist in the film, however is an important character. He is son of an ex marine and moves into the house next to Lester and his family. Ricky's father is very hard on him (because of his nature of being a marine) and because Ricky used drugs. Ricky still does and sells drugs behind his fathers back. Ricky at first is considered very weird. He is quiet and is caught watching Jane from his window at night. Even though Ricky still deals drugs, his father still controls him in many ways.
When the gay couple from accross the street walks over to meet the Fitz's family, Mr. Fitz., ex marine, is taken back by their openness of their sexuality. Later, the marine says how he hated their openness, and Ricky replies in defense of the gay couple. The marine is shocked and says," excuse me?" Ricky then says mean and nasty remarks about gays like his father. In the end of the novel, Mr. Fitz accuses Ricky of being gay. Tired of his fathers accusations and dictatorship over his choices, Ricky lashes out and says he is gay, even though it is not true. Ricky is finally taking responsibilty for his actions.
When the gay couple from accross the street walks over to meet the Fitz's family, Mr. Fitz., ex marine, is taken back by their openness of their sexuality. Later, the marine says how he hated their openness, and Ricky replies in defense of the gay couple. The marine is shocked and says," excuse me?" Ricky then says mean and nasty remarks about gays like his father. In the end of the novel, Mr. Fitz accuses Ricky of being gay. Tired of his fathers accusations and dictatorship over his choices, Ricky lashes out and says he is gay, even though it is not true. Ricky is finally taking responsibilty for his actions.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Wife and Daughter
Carolyn, Lester’s wife, on the other hand, is a driven real estate agent. She works hard to make her homes appealing to customers, however fails to actually sell them. Unlike Lester, she tries to make the best of her situations. Her motivations are money and fame, and the important things in her life are materialistic. Lester and Carolyn's relationship is pretty much over. They do not love each other, they do not get along, and ultimately they do not interact with one another. However, Lester does not leave/divorce her until he catches her cheating on him with a powerful local Realtor. Lester's decision to finally leave her makes him happy. At the very end of the film, Mr. Fitz asks Lester, "Your wife is with another man, and you don't care?"and Lester replies saying no with a grin on his face.
Lester's daughter, Jane, is a quiet girl with only one friend, Angela, who is perfect and all the guys want. Jane is the ugly friend who lacks a true role model and despises her parents. The first dinner scene is a good example of the father - daughter relationship of Lester and Jane: Lester tries having a conversation with his daughter, but she shuts him down, saying he hasn’t talked to her in months and she walks away. Lester follows her and instead of apologizing, he insists that it is her fault for not coming to talk to him. Negligent of his choices made to not spend time with his daughter, Lester blames her for why they do not speak. Both are difficult, but Lester has dismissed his daughter for so long that she no longer cares to speak to him. This scene shows one aspect of Lester's life that lacks importance. He does not care how his daughter is doing throughout the whole movie until right before his death. Finally, Lester asks Angela, "how is my daughter doing?" which shows he finally cares.
When it comes to family, Lester's decisions cause him to be miserable. He does not take responsibility in his actions, which ultimately push his wife to cheat on him and his daughter to abandon him. It isn't until the very end that Lester takes responsibility and makes a few differnt decisions, like not sleeping with his daughters friend, Angela, that brings him out of his depression. At the end of the film, Lester's choices allow him to finally see the beauty in his meaningless life once again.
Lester's daughter, Jane, is a quiet girl with only one friend, Angela, who is perfect and all the guys want. Jane is the ugly friend who lacks a true role model and despises her parents. The first dinner scene is a good example of the father - daughter relationship of Lester and Jane: Lester tries having a conversation with his daughter, but she shuts him down, saying he hasn’t talked to her in months and she walks away. Lester follows her and instead of apologizing, he insists that it is her fault for not coming to talk to him. Negligent of his choices made to not spend time with his daughter, Lester blames her for why they do not speak. Both are difficult, but Lester has dismissed his daughter for so long that she no longer cares to speak to him. This scene shows one aspect of Lester's life that lacks importance. He does not care how his daughter is doing throughout the whole movie until right before his death. Finally, Lester asks Angela, "how is my daughter doing?" which shows he finally cares.
When it comes to family, Lester's decisions cause him to be miserable. He does not take responsibility in his actions, which ultimately push his wife to cheat on him and his daughter to abandon him. It isn't until the very end that Lester takes responsibility and makes a few differnt decisions, like not sleeping with his daughters friend, Angela, that brings him out of his depression. At the end of the film, Lester's choices allow him to finally see the beauty in his meaningless life once again.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Beauty In a Meaningless World
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Sartre argues that one rather happily embrace the meaninglessness of
life, enjoying the associated freedom, or remain in a depressed state. Lester does just that. He blackmails his boss, buys a new sports car, smokes marijuana, constantly works out, and dismisses his wife. Tbe freedom to choose what to do, and to actually do it, is the beauty Lester was missing. Cars, drugs, or muscle do not bring forth the beauty. He takes something of his meaningless and finds a way to make it meaningful to him. The audience catches the first glimpse of beauty from Lester at the end of the film when he says to his wife, "In life, there's just stuff, and you cant let it be worth more than living." This quote demonstrates the affects of the different choices Lester makes from the begining of the film. His change in choices allowed him to feel the essence in his very meaningless life.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
notes
• Opening scene, someone asks daughter if she wants her dad to be killed. Daughter confirms. This mysterious voice says then that he will in fact kill her father. The voice’s tone seems happy and completely willing
• Lester at 42 years old, admits that his life is consists of nothing – emptiness.
• Lester’s life is falling apart – love is lost with his wife, his daughter despises him, and he is on the brink of losing his job.
• Lester tries conversing with his daughter, but she shuts him down, saying he hasn’t talked to her in months as she walks away. Lester follows her and instead of apologizing, he insists that it is her fault for not coming to talk to him. Negligent of his choices made to not spend time of his daughter, Lester blames her for not talking.
• Lester’s wife on the other hand, a real estate agent, is a driven woman. She works hard to make her homes appealing to customers, however fails to sell many houses. Unlike Lester, she tries to make the best of her situations.
• Lester and his wife go to see their daughter cheerlead at her schools basketball game. Why? His wife forces Lester because she says they need to support their daughter. At the game, the mom is cheering for their daughter, while Lester is fantasizing about another cheerleader, a friend of their daughters.
• The friend says, “there’s nothing worse in life than being ordinary”
• When the gay couple walks over to meet the new neighbors, the Mr. Fitz., ex marine, is taken back by their openness of their sexuality. When the marine says how he hated that, his son, Ricky, replies in defense of the gay couple. The marine is shocked and says excuse me? The son then says mean and nasty remarks about gays like his father.
• The wife starts to flirt with the head realtor in the area and schedules a lunch date with him.
• Lester smokes marijuana with Ricky who is working at his wife’s work party.
• Lester hears his daughter’s friend, Angela, who he fantasizes about, say she would sleep with him if he worked out (in a joking tone). Lester hears this and immediately runs to the garage and starts working out with weights.
• Lester gets in an argument with his wife, in which he says he feels his is worthless to her.
• Lester buys more drugs from Ricky, and works out more and more.
• “I’m just an ordinary guy with nothing to lose” says Lester as he tells off his boss.
• Lester’s wife sleeps with the head realtor after their lunch date.
• Lester wants to work at a fast food place. He wants a position that “has the least amount of responsibility”
• Ricky films a plastic bag flying around in the wind and says it’s the most beautiful thing hes ever seen. – a bag simply dancing in the wind, telling him that there’s nothing in life to be afraid of. So much beauty in the world that sometimes he cannot take it, which makes his heart feel like its going to cave in.
• Lester flips out at dinner and says he is sick and tired of being treated like he doesn’t exist. Lester is finally saying and doing whatever he wants, only because he is tired of being meaningless.
• After Lester flips out, their daughter calls them freaks and now Ricky, who was originally the freak, is normal to her.
• Lester tells his wife that in life there are just stuff, and you cant let it be worth more than living.
• We learn that Lester’s daughter just wishes that she was as important to him as her friend Angela is. She claims he is doing psychological damage – needs a role model.
• This is when we learn that the voice from the opening scene, is Ricky, who asks if she wants him to kill Lester for her. Which she agrees too. However, as they continue to discuss the matter, she says that she is not serious.
• Lester catches his wife cheating on him.
• You’re only a victim if you chose to be a victim?
• Ricky stands up to his dad and is kicked out of the house
• Angela who seems perfect is the most ordinary
• The homophobic ex marine kisses Lester
• Lester nearly has sex with Angela, but doesn’t – he stops himself.
• Lester says he feels great and finally feels beauty again. And then his wife shoots him from behind.
• Lester at 42 years old, admits that his life is consists of nothing – emptiness.
• Lester’s life is falling apart – love is lost with his wife, his daughter despises him, and he is on the brink of losing his job.
• Lester tries conversing with his daughter, but she shuts him down, saying he hasn’t talked to her in months as she walks away. Lester follows her and instead of apologizing, he insists that it is her fault for not coming to talk to him. Negligent of his choices made to not spend time of his daughter, Lester blames her for not talking.
• Lester’s wife on the other hand, a real estate agent, is a driven woman. She works hard to make her homes appealing to customers, however fails to sell many houses. Unlike Lester, she tries to make the best of her situations.
• Lester and his wife go to see their daughter cheerlead at her schools basketball game. Why? His wife forces Lester because she says they need to support their daughter. At the game, the mom is cheering for their daughter, while Lester is fantasizing about another cheerleader, a friend of their daughters.
• The friend says, “there’s nothing worse in life than being ordinary”
• When the gay couple walks over to meet the new neighbors, the Mr. Fitz., ex marine, is taken back by their openness of their sexuality. When the marine says how he hated that, his son, Ricky, replies in defense of the gay couple. The marine is shocked and says excuse me? The son then says mean and nasty remarks about gays like his father.
• The wife starts to flirt with the head realtor in the area and schedules a lunch date with him.
• Lester smokes marijuana with Ricky who is working at his wife’s work party.
• Lester hears his daughter’s friend, Angela, who he fantasizes about, say she would sleep with him if he worked out (in a joking tone). Lester hears this and immediately runs to the garage and starts working out with weights.
• Lester gets in an argument with his wife, in which he says he feels his is worthless to her.
• Lester buys more drugs from Ricky, and works out more and more.
• “I’m just an ordinary guy with nothing to lose” says Lester as he tells off his boss.
• Lester’s wife sleeps with the head realtor after their lunch date.
• Lester wants to work at a fast food place. He wants a position that “has the least amount of responsibility”
• Ricky films a plastic bag flying around in the wind and says it’s the most beautiful thing hes ever seen. – a bag simply dancing in the wind, telling him that there’s nothing in life to be afraid of. So much beauty in the world that sometimes he cannot take it, which makes his heart feel like its going to cave in.
• Lester flips out at dinner and says he is sick and tired of being treated like he doesn’t exist. Lester is finally saying and doing whatever he wants, only because he is tired of being meaningless.
• After Lester flips out, their daughter calls them freaks and now Ricky, who was originally the freak, is normal to her.
• Lester tells his wife that in life there are just stuff, and you cant let it be worth more than living.
• We learn that Lester’s daughter just wishes that she was as important to him as her friend Angela is. She claims he is doing psychological damage – needs a role model.
• This is when we learn that the voice from the opening scene, is Ricky, who asks if she wants him to kill Lester for her. Which she agrees too. However, as they continue to discuss the matter, she says that she is not serious.
• Lester catches his wife cheating on him.
• You’re only a victim if you chose to be a victim?
• Ricky stands up to his dad and is kicked out of the house
• Angela who seems perfect is the most ordinary
• The homophobic ex marine kisses Lester
• Lester nearly has sex with Angela, but doesn’t – he stops himself.
• Lester says he feels great and finally feels beauty again. And then his wife shoots him from behind.
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