Instead of the usual dribble you have already read countless times about the most influential film in years, I have decided to concentrate on a singular aspect: Kevin Spacey.
The opportunity to reflect upon years past in the realm of cinema is inevitable. One such reflection is the production of several Hollywood heroes over the past decade. The 90’s, in fact, saw arguably more cinematic icons come to life than any other decade before it. True protagonists such as Forrest Gump, William Wallace (Braveheart), and Jack Dawson (Titanic) brought both joy and sorrow to the screen. However, the presence and strength of the antihero cannot be ignored either. William Munny (Unforgiven) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs), both likeable yet ruthless characters, bring conflict. Each case brought success and several Academy Awards.
So where does this leave American Beauty’s Lester Burnham? His life and marriage are in shambles; he hates his job, and masturbation is the only “highlight” of his day. A self-proclaimed “gigantic loser” and a “horny geek-boy” to his daughter, Lester is hardly comparable to the aforementioned protagonists listed above. When he tells us at the beginning of the movie that he will be dead in less than a year, we don’t care; at least not yet. That is where the intelligence of American Beauty shines brightly. By movie’s end, not only do we care that Lester has died, Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes and screenwriter Alan Ball make us believe that it is a tragedy.
Lester, however, does not change into the amiable character necessary for a tragedy. He does the complete opposite, starting with an obsessive lusting for a high school cheerleader. Racy day dreams, beautifully shot by cinematographer Conrad L. Hall, although sweet and innocent, reveal his ambition of deflowering a young, teenage girl. This is just the beginning. Lester starts smoking pot, working out, listening to his old records, quits his job, and then blackmails his boss for an entire year’s salary. Every action taken is against the better judgment of his wife, Carolyn, but is in his best interest of surprising himself, a feeling that he had long forgotten. In doing so, he is even more self-involved than he was when we met him. How do you take a character like this and make his death a tragedy?
Enter Kevin Spacey. It is almost impossible to conceive Lester’s character as someone other than the now two-time Oscar winner. Spacey burns the screen with a dominance that has been unparalleled since the early part of the decade with Anthony Hopkins. It is his acting, along with the screenplay and directing, which allow the audience to see the misfortune of his death. This is the best performance of his career.
This character is neither protagonist nor antagonist. He is evil and deceitful, but he is honest and self-improving. He is not a good father, a good husband, nor a good role model, but attempts with every last breath to make his life happier. There is no doubt that Lester has many problems and flaws within his life, but we cannot escape from liking him. To answer an earlier question, it leaves him with the distinct honor of being the most admired and hated hero of the 90’s. Admired because he has avoided the labor of life that pretends to be ordinary and found the beauty within its simplicity; hated because he got to live it.
With a central character such as this, an extremely talented supporting cast, and a directing crew working with a script that aims for the heart and captivates the mind, how is it possible for American Beauty to fail?
A middle-aged man confronts the reality of his suburban life. His marriage is in shambles. His daughter doesn't acknowledge his existence. But a chanc...More at HotMovieSale.com
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