American Beauty (1999)

I know I’m slow but i finally watched this movie and it is breath takingly beautiful. That movie was written in such a mundane and calm way despite horrible situations, that reminds me remotely of the way Donnie Darko movie was shot. And i cannot emphasize how beautiful this movie is. I’m no expert at movies and films like Feebs is, but this movie spoke to me on so many levels and it is so BEEAAUUTIFUL. and the script, or quotes, whatever you wanna call it, is so simple, true and deep. On an irrelevant note, i have no idea where i got the impression that Johnny Depp was in this movie, that’s why i wasn’t too keen on watching it. i think i could have got this movie mixed up with Chocolat (spell??). I have nothing against Johnny Depp but i just don’t understand why he’s got most girls around the globe obsessing about his looks or his acting skills, not that his acting is bad or anything.

“If i’m running away to New York tonight, will you come with me?”

ahhh Ricky Fitts. Stalkerish, creep-like with a handy cam on him all the time, plus the fact that he films the weirdest things. Despite it all, isn’t he the ideal lover?

He gives and takes what is required of him so he’d get leeway on certain things when it came to his family. and it’s beautiful to know that the physical abuse he endures from his dad alongside with his looney mum’s depressing state, does not stop him from having all the love in the world to give. then again, it could be the pot speaking, but who knows?

and getting Wes Bentley to play Ricky was perfect. He is just so charming in his own ways and really, those eyes and his jaw is really sexy. Jane is one hell of a lucky girl. Will i run away to New York with you Ricky Fitts? HELL, YES I WILL! IN A HEART BEAT!

Jane Burnham: [turning the camera on Ricky] Don’t you feel naked?
Ricky Fitts: [looking down, grinning] I am naked.

 

this is one of my favourite scene in the movie. Chris Cooper, as Ricky Fitts’ father did a superb job, especially in this scene. his expression and emotions of how a man would feel in intense sadness and disappointment and anger is as real as it gets. Beautiful scene.

And Kevin Spacey’s character reminds me a lot of this movie, A Serious Man. I guess as a man, this is how mid life crisis feels like.

but this movie is entirely different from American Beauty, don’t get these two mixed up. In my opinion, i liked American Beauty way better because it was so much more human. A Serious Man is as human as it gets too but the movie was executed in a dettached way instead.

Lester Burnham: “This isn’t life! This is just stuff! And it’s become more important to you than living!”

Lester Burnham: [narrating] I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn’t a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time… For me, it was lying on my back at Boy
Scout camp, watching falling stars… And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined our street… Or my grandmother’s hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper… And the
first time I saw my cousin Tony’s brand new Firebird… And Janie… And Janie… And… Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me… but it’s hard
to stay mad, when there’s so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I’m seeing it all at once, and it’s too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that’s about to burst… And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can’t feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life… You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry… you will someday.

Ricky Fitts: It’s like God’s looking right at you, just for a second, and if you’re careful… you can look right back.

Jane Burnham: And what do you see?

Ricky Fitts: Beauty.

Ricky Fitts: It was one of those days when it’s a minute away from snowing and there’s this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that’s the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and… this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video’s a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember… and I need to remember… Sometimes there’s so much beauty in the world I feel like I can’t take it, like my heart’s going to cave in.

 

These quotes mean so much to me. And the movie is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. It’s the personification of all things beautiful that we forget over time: gratitude.