The Film American Beauty Essay -- Movie Films American Beauty Essays

The Film American Beauty In life, everyone must make choices. Choices give an individual the freedom to decide the path which they will follow. In the movie American Beauty, each of the characters has a choice he or she needs to make. The main character, Lester Burnham, is faced with many choices that could either lead to his ultimate felicity or draw him further into his despair. Carolyn Burnham, Lesters wife, is faced with a loveless marriage that exists only because she does not possess the willingness to break the cycle. This cycle involves protecting their daughter by staying married. In reality, children of a marriage such as this are often the biggest victims of this sham. Jane Burnham is Lester and Carolyns daughter. She is caught between the two of them, and her decision is to tune her parents out. Ricky Fitts, the boy next door, makes his choice of discerning when to cooperate with his father. Rickys dad, Colonel Fitts, makes his choice of finally admitting of his sexual preference. Angela Hayes, Janes friend, makes her choice of losing her virginity to Lester. Each character has to learn how to deal with his or her own problems. Lester Burnham is in a state of despair. Lesters strangle and monotonous voice introduces the audience to his daily routine of life. At the age of 42 he has develop sympathetic to everything. He realizes that his family life is the pits as he becomes aware that both his wife and daughter consider him a gigantic loser. He feels they are right about this. He believes he has lost something and that he did not always feel this sedated. Lesters disheartenment is symbolic in the car scene. Lester sits slouched down in the back seat with a look of emptiness magic spell his daughter sits up front next to his wife, who is driving the car. Carolyn drives the car just as she drives the family, especially, Lester. She has evolved into the decision-maker and leader of the Burnham family. Sitting in the backseat, Lester avoids further conflict with his wife, leading him to become an even unhappier and more desperate person. Lesters life at work is no better than his life at home. After fourteen years at a job, that is viewed by Lester as nothing more than being a corporate slave at a media marketing magazine, Lester is asked by an efficiency expert at work to write a memo justifying his position. In Lesters ... ... Health 29 June 200111-26.Berardinelli, James. A Film Review, American Beauty. September 15, 1999. Online accessible http//movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/a/american_beauty.html.Drug Statistics. October 2000. Online Available http//www.usdoj.gov/dea/briefingbook/page15.htm.Ebert, Roger. Review, American Beauty. September 14, 2001. Online Available http//movie-reviews.colossus.net/movies/a/american_beauty.htmlFamily Violence Statistics. September 18, 2001. Online Available http//www.soundvision.com/domesticviolence/statistics.shtml.How to Survive Infidelity. September 14, 2001. Online Available http //www.marriagebuilders.comMarijuana 13551. January 22, 2001. Online Available http//www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/marijuana.html.Nationwide Trends 13567. February 15, 2001. Online Available http//www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/nationtrends.htmlPayne, Robert. spiral Review, American Beauty. September 14, 2001. Online Available http//www.reel.com.United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Marijuana Facts Parents Need to Know. Publication No. 98-4036. November 1998.