It's a good film, especially for a first timer, but I'm not sure that it hasn't
been overly, and unwarrantedly, praised.
I am also concerned about its general categorisation as a black comedy;
there's very little of comedy value in this exposé of life behind the
picket fences of American suburbia. I am, also, sick to death of hearing
how the film can be viewed, and interpreted, on eight or more different
levels.
The story of just how sad, materialistic and dysfunctional the families which
populate America's tree lined, middle class environments are may be a surprise
and a shock to those who live deep inside them, but, hey, that's American's
for you, the rest of the world, and those who aren't quite so privileged,
have sussed it out already.
The story surrounding the Burnham family, Lester, Carolyn, their daughter Jane
and their neighbours, the Fitt's, a retired Marine Corp Colonel, his wife Barbara
and son Ricky, is tolerable and convincing in places, unconvincing in others.
As a tale of how people come to terms with themselves, their lives and desires
and how they must respond to their relatives and friends in order to survive
and move on it was palatable. Satirical, as some have described it, it is not.
Lester Burnham, who's getting little in the way of sex from his
materialistically obsessed wife, has his life so brought into focus, when he
finds he's having such strong desires on one of his daughter's friends, that
he suddenly starts to question what he's doing and starts to look for a way out.
Whilst he chucks in his job, blackmails his boss to ensure his financial
security, takes an undemanding job at the local burger bar, buys the car of his
dreams and starts weight training to boost his ego and physical personality, his
wife embarks on a sexual relationship of her own with her hero of real estate
sales.
Their daughter, alienated by her family, is at first repulsed but fascinated by
the boy next door, Ricky, who video tapes almost all that he sees, and embarks
upon a voyage of self discover with him.
Ricky's own life is none too happy; subject to the most intense discipline
imaginable from an ex-Army father, with a mother who's given up the will to
live, he has gained a reputation for weirdness following a bout in a mental
institution imposed upon him by his father.
It all makes for interesting interplay and a captivating story but, if one
takes a step back, it was all a bit shallow. Yeah, people are f--ked up, we
all are in some way or other, but American Beauty failed to offer any
real hope, any real solutions, only escapism which ultimately fails to
solve the problem in hand.
This is the message which so many seem to have failed to see.
Much analysis has been made into why the characters do things in the film; why
Lester throws in his job, why Carolyn embarks upon her dangerous liaison, why
Jenny gets her kit off for Ricky, why Colonel Fitt has a plate with a Nazi
Swastika on it, why his wife is so removed from the world and this analysis
will continue.
It does little however than surround the film with a type of hype and hysteria
which is almost unhealthy and is reflected by its incredible success in America
and its citation at award ceremonies.
The acting within the film is superb and by far the most inspiring aspect of the
film. Even here though, the hype bandwagon rolls on.
That Mendes has a theatrical background is nothing new in film. That he brought
his cast together so they could understand their characters and their
relationships with their on-screen partners is nothing new. If Hollywood finds
such ideas so new and innovative then it really does explain why the film is
being so highly praised.
If those reaping praise upon this film are doing so to get Hollywood back to
the ways of making good films then their efforts must be praised; a look at
poor offerings like Star Wars Episode 1 and
Lost in Space shows just how much of a kick up the
backside Hollywood needs.
Their efforts to encourage better film making does not however make American
Beauty the best film there is no matter how well it serves their idealistic
motives.
Raising it onto a pedestal as a symbol of a cause is one thing, this excess of
adulation is another.
Although American Beauty is a shallow film, it is none the less a
captivating and enjoyable film to watch. It has its highlights, it does have
an amount of humour and the acting is superb all round.
Those who have taken it as a message for all to break out of their small-minded,
self-centred little worlds we create around ourselves should take whatever
steps they need to.
Those who say that it is this breaking out which is necessary, no matter what
the cost, should think again.
There may be so much beauty in the world that your heart might explode trying
to take it in, but, there is also an incredible amount of sadness, loneliness,
despair and heartache out there as well.
We should try and make our lives better, but we shouldn't destroy them in the
process.
Whilst American Beauty tells us the story of how a small group of people
tried to change their lives, and do so very well, it is not a mantra for the
masses.
It is a film worthy of applause; it is not the manual for self-revival which
many seem to be promoting it as.
