American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes Essay - 877 Words

â€Å"American Beauty† is the 90’s film version of a satire about the ideal American dream of living in suburbia. It was preceded by â€Å"The Graduate† in the 60’s, the â€Å"Stepford Wives† in the 70’s and â€Å"Ordinary People† in the 80’s. â€Å"The best films about the suburbs are inherently going to be those that peel back the veneer made of clean lawns and nice cars to investigate the real emotions beneath the surface, whether tragic, comic, wistful, or some mercurial mix of all three.† (Web Design Schools, 2008) In American Beauty the characters may look like ordinary people living in idyllic suburbia but at the same time you see the pain, frustration and regret that they’re dealing with. The cinematographer uses several techniques to convey the theme of†¦show more content†¦The camera never shoots them together to emphasize that they are not equal. Angela Hayes is the stereotypical High School tee n depicted as â€Å"pretty and popular†. She is Lester’s fantasy. She usually has full length shots in scenes where she appears as seductive, sexually savvy and the perfect blond. The cinematographer uses mense en scene when he places her in the center of the cheer dance at the basketball game. The camera focuses on her as the center of the group, perfectly executing every provocative move and puts Jane awkwardly behind her struggling to keep up. In another scene the camera shows the audience a full shot of Angela showing off for Ricky and his video camera but very soon the camera changes places with Ricky’s camera to show that he is admiring Jane in the reflection of her mirror. Even though Angela is depicted as the beauty in the scene, the camera allows Ricky to show us who he believes is beautiful. In reality Angela has low self esteem. Angela’s insecurity is portrayed in one of the final scenes when she is about to have sex with Lester. The camera flows over their bodies and the viewer anticipates the culmination of their desires but reality hits like a cold shower as the camera closes in on Angela’s face. The savvy seductress has become an apprehensive girl with too much make up flowing down her cheeks and a fearful look in her eyes as she tells Lester thatShow MoreRelatedAmerican Beauty : An American Film Directed By Sam Mendes1527 Words   |  7 PagesWhat does one think when the word beauty is heard? Some may think about physical attraction, while others may have their own perception of what defines beauty. American Beauty (1999) is an American film directed by Sam Mendes. The characters throughout the film experience their own idea of happiness, or the beauty in America, in different ways. For Lester, it is an uncontrollable desire to have sex with a young girl named Angela that is friends with his daughter, Jane. 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In American Beauty Mendes uses the voyeuristicRead MoreOf Mice and Men and American Beauty Essay1435 Words   |  6 Pagesinsights into the American Dream are offered through the novella Of Mice and Men and the film American Beauty? In your essay you must consider the influences of context and the importance of techniques in shaping meaning. Of Mice and Men, a 1937 novella by John Steinbeck and American Beauty, a 1999 film directed by Sam Mendes, offer various insights into the American Dream and are both contextually driven. Both texts present the possibility of different pursuits of the American Dream and portrayRead MoreDeath of a Salesman and American Beauty1220 Words   |  5 Pagescrash and thinks that he solved his family’s problems, which is success in his eyes. Lester Burnham is the main character of the movie, American Beauty, and his life like Willy’s is spiraling out of control. His marriage â€Å"hasn’t been a marriage for years†¦ as long [he] keeps his mouth shut† (Mendes).On top of that drama he falls in love with his version of the American Dream which is to have a sexual relationship with a high school student, Angela Hayes, who is best friends with his daughter, Jane. Lester