notes on characters
Carolyn finds her release through sex and guns. Lester finds his
through marijuana and working out. Ricky's mother finds hers through
Valium. Ricky finds his through finding and filming beauty everywhere
he can.
Ricky's father is so desperately trying to do the right thing, but he just does not have the tools. He reminds me of Henry Wingo in Pat
Conroy's Prince of Tides: 'Henry Wingo would have made a fine
father, had he not been such a violent man.' He truly believes that
he is saving his son from a taint that he passed on to him.
true youth
One reason American Beautyis so effective is that the two young
girls look like young girls -- their faces are still round with
baby fat. It's the same reason Fast Times at Ridgemont
High worked - Jennifer Jason Lee looked like a 15-year-old, and
seeing her character get pregnant and have an abortion, you
realize just how young a 15-year-old girl is.
The scenes with Lester and Angela were creepy and tense. And they
worked.
happiness=death or, I told you so!
I still think it is highly relevant that at the moment Lester realizes that he is happy, he dies! And my therapist wonders why I cannot envision what comes after happiness!
Of course, according to Terry Pratchett, the part where your life flashes in front of your eyes is your life. What comes after is the part where your life flashes in front of other people's eyes.