What Is The Message Of American Beauty?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

Simultaneously witty and depressing, “American Beauty” tells of

repressed desires and untold truths while

also being an eye-opening film, encouraging the audience to realize beauty in every aspect of life. Discovering the moral of the story is the core of the film's cult classic image.

Who is the antagonist in American Beauty?

Frank Fitts repressing his homosexuality.

Colonel Frank Fitts

is the main antagonist of the 1999 drama film American Beauty.

Why did Frank Fitts kill Lester in American Beauty?

Fitts didn't want his secret out, and since he kissed Lester, Lester now knew that Fitts was gay. Fitts killed him

so that his homosexuality would stay a secret

.

What was the original ending of American Beauty?

Everyone who has seen the is familiar with its ending:

Lester Burnham gets shot, we see the reactions of various characters

, and it is made very clear that Col. Fitz is the one who killed him. This was not Sam Mendes' original intention. Mendes wrote various scripts, working with different ideas for the ending.

Is American Beauty violent?

The movie's themes are fairly strong ranging from family drama to homophobia.

There wasn't much violence

, except for a scene where a strict military father hit his son and a scene where a character is shot (all we see is blood splatter on the wall) Sex is the main problem (obviously, just read the plot synopsis).

What do the roses mean in American Beauty?

As was said in the video, the the rose represents

the illusion of beauty; a superficial beauty

. This is because roses, although popular and expensive, are common. They're the obvious choice for those wanting to romance their significant others. They're the obvious choice if you want to appear dignified.

What's wrong with Barbara Fitts?

Barbara Fitts, Ricky's mom, is also implied to be suffering from

some unspecified mental illness

, echoing Ricky's own unspecified diagnosis, and she is shown to have very little agency over her own life. She seems to drift aimlessly through each day, occasionally nudged into action by Ricky or Frank.

Who is the protagonist in American Beauty?


Lester Burnham

, the hero of “American Beauty,” is played by Kevin Spacey as a man who is unloved by his daughter, ignored by his wife and unnecessary at work.

How old are the American Beauty characters?

Actor Age then Age now Sam Mendes 34 56 Kevin Spacey 40 62 Annette Bening 41 63
Thora Birch


17


39

What happened to Kevin Spacey?

Nearly four years ago, when

several allegations of sexual misconduct were made against Kevin Spacey

, the Oscar winner retreated from public life in search of “evaluation and treatment.” Since the fall of 2017, he's been dropped by his talent agency and publicist, written out of House of Cards' final season, and …

Is American Beauty overrated?

Even in the midst of an awards season stuffed with audacious studio releases like “Fight Club,” “Three Kings” and “Magnolia,” “American Beauty” remained the movie of the moment. … Six years to the month after its theatrical release, Premiere declared it

one of the 20 most overrated movies of all time

.

What happened American Beauty?

A

sexually frustrated suburban father has a mid-life crisis after becoming infatuated with his daughter's best friend

. After his death sometime in his forty-third year, suburbanite Lester Burnham tells of the last few weeks of his life, during which he had no idea of his imminent passing.

Is American Beauty OK for kids?

Parents need to know that this relentlessly dark picture of America and its values at the turn of the 21st century may have won a Best Picture Oscar, but

it definitely isn't for kids

. The film takes a hard, often bleakly comic look at the dissolution of the family and is full of sex, drugs, bigotry, and hypocrisy.

Is American skin based on a true story?

No,

American Skin is not based on one single true story

, although the movie borrows inspiration from real events and issues like police brutality. The film comes from Parker, who wrote the screenplay and was inspired by events in his own life.

Is there a sequel to American Beauty?

Short of the DayA bag, a man, and a story of ruthless, hilarious vengeance. My three-word, gut-punch review of the short film American Beauty 2: “Best. Sequel.

What does Angela represent in American Beauty?

The fantasy of Angela certainly inspired him to wake up and live his life, and symbolized

the kind of passion that could be his

… but he realizes that Angela isn't an appropriate object for his attentions/desires/passion. In short, he realizes that Angela was a symbol of what he wanted.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.