I remember the first time I saw American Beauty, I was still living at home and I was about 19. I grew up knowing it was a critically acclaimed film that my parents did not enjoy. My father once told me that the only reason it won best picture was because the writer was gay. He also said that the reason he didn’t like the film was because it portrays homosexuals as being perfect. I am happy to say that I have grown up to view things differently than my father. After seeing this film for the first time I didn’t understand it much. I knew the overall plot and most of the reasons for the characters actions but I don’t think I fully got the whole film. The other night I viewed American Beauty for the third time and I think I actually understand it now.Obsession with beauty is probably the most important aspect of the film. Angela is the driving force behind the emphasis on beauty within the film. Her character has been brainwashed by society to believe that people will only like her if she is beautiful and sexy. Countless times throughout the film Angela is talking about sex, guys and modeling. At one point in the film Ricky comes up to talk to Jane and after he walks away Angela says, “what a freak, like he didn’t even look at me”. At the end of the film, Ricky and Jane eventually break this move towards narcissism. All the comments and messages about self-beauty and self-image brought across in the film are constant bashes and remarks about mainstream America. This theme is included in hundreds of films but I feel it’s so harsh and in your face in American Beauty that it ends up being extremely effective.
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