American Beauty - What it all Meant

The idea of "joy in small things" is really a reference to the joy of being. In other words, joy isn't derived from anything at all. It comes from a state of acceptance, of being at peace.

I believe this is the kind of movie that's just getting better and better to you as you get older.

People always think they want stuff but they actually want happiness. They spend their entire lives chasing after it but fail to ever grasp it fully

American Beauty is a true masterpiece. One of my favorite films of all time.

as a kid in the nineties we didn't have much money and I was jealous of the families in this movie.. Then I got older and pitied them. The beauty is anywhere and everywhere though in truth.

American Beauty and Fight Club gave such good representations of the corporate 90's

The symbol isn't just of a "rose", and while your words on that make sense, it's not what was intended. The "American Beauty" is a breed of roses, so the title refers to this breed of roses that while being pretty and appealing in appearance, is often prone to rot underneath at the roots and branches of the plant. Thus, the tagline "...look closer" tells the viewer that when they look beyond the "perfect suburban life," they will find something rancid at the root.

Lester is the focus. He's finally found beauty (the little things) but he's been enlightened too late in his life spent here on earth. Ricky shows insight into what the rest of the characters and the audience have the capability to become, enthralled with seeing the beauty in everything. This film is a great lesson in life.

This is probably my favorite film of all time. It really is the ride, the roller coaster, that makes this movie for me. The highs and lows are just...amazing. Along with the music, it really makes a viewing experience I have never matched.

I think you could possibly even add on to the symbolism. Not only are the roses a primary symbol, but in a more broader sense, the color red is represented throughout the entire film. The red roses, the front door, the red behind buddy kane's advertisements, the red car, the sweater with red flowers worn by jane, and even the red oven pan, etc. And red represents so many different things like sexuality, love, rebellion, life force, and the soul.

When it's late I get all philosophical and shit and watch videos like these

People make fun of that thing with the dancing bag...but IT'S REAL. I was walking down the street one day when a plastic bag jump right in front of me and did a miraculous dance. It was like ballet but with a bag! Then, this bag followed me for two blocks as I walked down the street! I'll never forget the look on this cat's face as he watched this bag trailing behind me as we passed by his front lawn. Hollywood isn't always full of crap (just most of the time).

The soundtrack is a masterpiece

Lester Burnam reached self actualization which means he had to die.

American Beauty was detailing the end of the nuclear family, the end of the conventional American dream, and the innocence of the American youth being replaced by a jaded pessism directed at their parents and elders.

When I was a teenager I thought this was just a cool movie, but as a grown man I think it's a masterpiece.

1: Cruel Intentions 2: American Beauty 3: Fight Club In this order, for the message behind the movie. All great movies, all have a deep thoughtful reality of people trying to cope with their life.

This movie profoundly hit me in a way I can’t even explain

Thomas Newman's "American Beauty" theme music has ALWAYS touched my soul, and makes me ACHE for something I cannot define (And I'm normally not the most "spiritual" of people) but this soundtrack just DOES this to me. So much so that driving to my mother's funeral 9 years ago, I purposely listened to it, just to reinforce its power on me. The single piano with string accompaniment is such a DEEPLY moving motif.

I just watched your analysis of American Beauty, and in going through the comments, I saw a month ago you said that you had been feeling down on yourself. Knock that crap off, buddy. Your analysis of American Beauty was MIND BLOWING. Tonight, I've been doing a lot of thinking about my relationships, life and death, notions of "God", the universe, beauty, peace, meaning... and to cap the evening off with your analysis of American Beauty was fantastic. "Taking control of a shadow or mirror self seems great, but... it involves so much turmoil. Yet there are those who live inside that state constantly, which is another way to try and escape these identity crises, but as stated, it creates a person that can be happy and sees the things other people take for granted, while on the other hand keeps them from experiencing full joy due to their split." In that one paragraph, you were able to accurately summarize my entire 'existential crisis' that I've been analyzing for the last several years of my life. You are an incredibly bright, intelligent person. You have an incredible way with words, that is "substantive" as someone else put it, and is so succinct and poignant that even I, who consider myself a word-smith, find myself envious :). Keep up the fantastic work!