There are certain scenes in films where the director is able to bring out the true character of an individual. In American Beauty‚ directed by Sam Mendes‚ the director places two scenes in the film which are shown to have a contrasting effect. Lester Burnham (played by Kevin Spacey) shows a marvellous act through these two scenes where his attitudes are different in each one‚ due to the life changing events he comes across‚ altering his attitude. In this essay‚ four elements will be analysed to compare
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Dream‚ is shown as futile and unsatisfying through the costume and outward appearance of Carolyn Burnham‚ the voiceover and body language of Lester Burnham and Lester’s flashbacks at the end of the film. In American Beauty Carolyn’s
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opposite. In the film American Beauty it seems as though the Burnham ’s live a happy life‚ but after viewing the film it is the exact opposite. The personalities of the characters may seem predictable‚ and some of the actual are shocking. Just because things look good from the outside‚ does not always mean that it is good on the inside. In the film the Burnham ’s live in a nice neighborhood in a beautiful house that is well kept by the wife Carolyn. Everything seems normal and almost like a perfect picture
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texts looks at the illusion one lives during the pursuit of achieving the social norm and the sacrifices the individual makes to achieve this goal. The two main characters featured in Death of a Salesman and American Beauty‚ Willy Loman and Lester Burnham; experience the pressures from social expectations in pursuing and achieving the American Dream. These characters pursue similar dreams of social respect and image which is highlighted throughout the play and in the beginning of the film. Image and
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reveals that she wants her father dead. The image portrayed around her is constructed as an evil‚ unaffectionate youth. The next scene is of a high angle shot‚ with a voice-over narration. The voice-over goes to explain that this is Lester Burnham ’s speaking and he is already dead and the following is a construction of the relevant events. This scene holds relevance for two reasons. First it constructs an image that the young teenager in the previous scene is the killer. And as we will
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society. Films either re-enforce particular values that we as viewers believe are important in society; or they challenge the values that we believe in. American Beauty is set in an upper middleclass white neighbourhood. The film revolves around Lester Burnham‚ a man who is struggling in an emotionally vacuumed marriage and living a predictable and tedious life. American Beauty both reinforces and questions particular social values that include success‚ family life‚ and being true to yourself. It is the
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As the film American Beauty‚ released in 1999‚ comes to a close‚ Lester Burnham final arrives at peace as he realizes the beauty that is depicted in the title. Be as is may‚ he is suddenly met with his ultimate demise‚ but not before his penultimate realization. Although this film is coming upon nearly two decades old‚ the cinematography cannot be undermined‚ nor can the message as it becomes ever increasingly relevant in today’s society. For that‚ American Beauty is the quintessential movie that
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to think about when watching a movie and they are all shown superbly in American Beauty. American Beauty is narrated by Lester Burnham‚ the husband of Carolyn Burnham and father of Jane Burnham. He informs the audience that he has less than a year to live but in reality he is already dead; and the whole movie looks back at his life through his eyes. Lester Burnham is a 42-year-old who is unhappily married and is despised by his wife and daughter. Behind the red door of their home‚ the family is
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characters have created controversy along the film The Graduate. Benjamin Braddock‚ the major character seems to be trapped on his decisions toward his future‚ willing for realize something different. In addition in the film American Beauty‚ Lester Burnham relates his life which just and the opening sequence he states that he will die in less than a year. Lester’s statement creates controversy within the audience. How will he die? Where will he die? Accident? this could be questions created on the
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as he played the role of Lester Burnham in the 1999 film American Beauty. His rule was "When you’ve got nothing to lose‚ you might as well risk everything". Lester Burnham and his wife‚ Carolyn‚ portray a perfect lifestyle to the naked eye. Everyone sees Lester as a man with a perfect high-paying job and a perfect family that lives in a perfect neighborhood. But things are most certainly not what they appear. Lester hates his life. He is hated by his wife‚ Carolyn‚ and only daughter‚ Jane. Lester
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