American Beauty Flaws

In Sam Mendes’ Academy-Award winning film American Beauty, life in American suburbia is portrayed. The tagline of the film, “American Beauty…look closer”, is the perfect way to describe the film. This means that American families are not always what they seem on the outside. Almost every family has issues, some more than others. These family flaws are displayed impeccably in American Beauty. These flaws are shown especially through the characters in the film. Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey’s Academy-Award winning role) is going through a typical midlife crisis: he buys a red sports car, quits his job, claims that his life is a bore, and becomes attracted to his daughter’s best friend. Lester’s actions are particularly disturbing to his wife Carolyn (Annette Benning’s Academy-Award nominated role) and his daughter Jane (Thora Birch). Lester claims “both [his] wife and daughter think [he is] this gigantic loser” and he believes “they’re right”. In Sam Mendes’ Academy-Award winning film American Beauty, the secrets behind the American family are shown through each of the characters in the film. First of all, American Beauty shows the Primary Plot of Transformation through Lester

Happiness is often the goal in American culture. Although, most of the characters throughout the film do not seem to be happy, they are all in pursuit of happiness. Americans often forget the things in life that truly make them happy. Lester often criticizes Carolyn for forgetting what their life used to be like, when they were young and free without responsibilities. Lester tells Carolyn that the Italian leather sofa “is just a couch”. Carolyn is known for putting on a front showing that success equals happiness, even though she is truly in misery. Carolyn cries when things do not go her way, and she gets angry and blames herself. Carolyn tries to hide the things that are ruining her, which is harmful for her