American Beauty: Power of Movies

       There are so many movies that have been created throughout decades and decades. Movies are forms of escapism and entertainment. One movie that stands out to me is the movie American Beauty made in 1999 directed by Sam Mendez. American Beauty has phenomenal artistic points/cinematography, symbolism that shows throughout the movie, and thought- provoking plots.
        Firstly, American Beauty has phenomenal artistic points. For example, it uses specific scenes to create confusion and irony. In the movie, Ricky Fitts father was hiding the fact that he was gay. When he looked through the window to see his son doing what he thought was "sexual" behavior he got angry. At first in this scene you think the father is mad at his son for doing these actions, but you later figure out in the scene where he kisses Jane's father that he is truly gay and he was more upset that his son was becoming more like him. In addition there are other scenes that express the same irony and confusion. For example, Mr. Fitts was a former military man and in the movie you see multiple movie shots where his wife sits still with absolutely nothing to say. Later, you figure out that the reason she is acting this way is because her husband abuses her. In the video, "Collin Stokes: How Movies Teaches Manhood," Stokes explains that there are a couple ways that older movies like The Wizard of Oz differ from more recent movies is that they had very little violence and few movies with female villainous characters. In addition to the video, the article "What Makes a Great Film?" the author states that a great movie must give full in depth details that make the audience focus and pay attention - this is what makes the audience think about what the hidden meanings are behind everything throughout the film. In my opinion, a great film consists of many different artistic points that make you interested the whole way through.
         Secondly, the movie American Beauty has a great deal of symbolism that shows throughout the entire film. For example, the colors and objects were used on purpose but weren't so excruciatingly obvious. An example of this is the crush that Mr. Burnham has on Jane's friend. Throughout the entire film you see actor Angela Hayes acting as Jane's friend, who is naked with only roses covering the parts that are most revealing. These roses symbolize the infatuation and new love that Mr. Burnham is having due to lack of emotion he is having in his marriage. The movie itself  also resembles the American Beauty Rose, thus adding many scenes with the rose throughout the movie. In the video, Stokes further explains by going into to depth by questioning what are people - mainly younger people, taking in from movies that show the theme "all villains must die," "Are they seeing someone who is being courageous or someone who is abusive?" In addition, towards the end of the movie you see Mr. Burnham get shot in the back of the head and his blood is dripping off the end of the table. As this may seem like a normal shot in every movie, in American Beauty this shot was even more beautifully done because everything into the background looked dark and gloomy and here you see this bright red blood - the same color as the roses that were show by Hayes character.  The article "What Makes a Great film?" the point of "attention to details" also goes along with interesting symbolism that takes place throughout the film.  Symbolism in a movie creates depth and allows the audience to get into what those symbols actually mean in a movie.
    Lastly, American Beauty is purely just thought provoking. For example, while watching the entire movie you see two marriages become distant. In the movie, Mr. Burnham is infatuated with Jane's friend, but Mrs. Burnham is the one having an affair. This affairs adds to the plot because you see Mr. Burnhams wife get noticed - something that her husband is lacking making them not see eye to eye. Towards the end of the movie you see Mrs. Burnham devastated that her husband found out about her affair, so she he a radio commercial saying she is not the victim and plans on killing her husband. Even before she gets home, another person ends up shooting her husband leaving her upset that the love of her life was gone. In the video, Stakes made a clear point that movies are showing males that it is okay to abuse women. In fact he says, "one out of five american women are abused my males." American Beauty leaves you thinking even after watching the movie.
           Having phenomenal artistic points, having tons of symbolism, and being thought provoking are all ways that American Beauty is the masterpiece that came to be.