As I delve deeper into the captivating world of cinema, I find myself constantly amazed by the intricate connections that bind seemingly unrelated entities together. The film “American Beauty,” with its profound exploration of beauty in all its forms, has left an indelible mark on me and countless others.
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
In that case, rest assured, for you shine brightly like a firework. It’s widely believed on the internet that when Katy Perry made this statement, she was alluding directly to the most memorable scene in American Beauty, excluding Mena Suvari and rose petals.
For a quarter-century now, the poignant beauty of a solitary plastic bag drifting in the wind, as portrayed by Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley), and the bittersweet comedy-drama that is American Beauty has left an indelible impact on audiences worldwide.
Additionally, it could be argued that the character of Lester Burnham, portrayed by Kevin Spacey, was meant not only to depict despair but also to evoke a sense of renewal and vitality prior to his demise, as he finds a fresh perspective on life.
At the start of the movie, Lester informs us that he won’t live past another year. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t a plot twist like in “The Sixth Sense.” Instead, we’re left wondering how his fate transpires.
In the movie, numerous concepts are explored – such as love, solitude, bonding, desire, professional drive, the American dream, among others – and it eventually garnered five Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director for Sam Mendes, Best Original Screenplay for Alan Ball, Best Actor for Spacey, and Best Cinematography for Conrad L. Hall.
Coincidentally, once again, Annette Bening was nominated for Best Actress by the Academy, but did not receive the award.
Although it received numerous awards, it was considered somewhat unconventional for a Best Picture winner due to its unique nature at the time.
Speaking on WNYC’s The Open Ears Project in 2019, Director Mendes acknowledged that the film “American Beauty” is remarkably peculiar. It’s a blend of diverse elements arriving from multiple sources.
You may not be fixated, but rather intrigued, so let us share some fascinating, far-from-ordinary insights about the film ‘American Beauty’.
The 1992 Amy Fisher scandal planted the seed for American Beauty in Alan Ball‘s head.
At the time, the author was employed at Adweek in New York. This was when Amy Fisher, who was 17 then, had a sexual relationship with Joey Buttafuoco, who was 35. The incident occurred at Buttafuoco’s Long Island home. Mary Jo Buttafuoco, his wife, was shot during this event. Buttafuoco admitted to statutory rape and served four months in prison. However, before he went to prison, the media had labeled Fisher as the “Long Island Lolita.” (Fisher, accused of attempted murder, eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree aggravated assault and spent seven years in prison.)
In a 2012 interview for the Archive of American Television, Ball reminisced about encountering a comic book featuring Amy and Joey. One side depicted a demure Amy while Joey appeared lewd and predatory. Upon flipping the comic, Joey seemed respectable and a good spouse, while Amy looked more seductive. At that moment, I recalled thinking that the reality must lie somewhere between those two extremes, and we may never discover what it truly was.
Regarding whether any parts of the movie were based on Ball’s personal experiences or drawn from his life, he pointed out that when he penned the script, he shared the same age as his primary character, Lester Burnham, who was 42 years old.
He reminisced about a time when he felt like he’d lost his enthusiasm and was determined to rekindle it. Additionally, his memories from working at Adweek greatly influenced how he portrayed his work setting. However, beyond that, there were no other significant influences. Incidentally, an unexpected emotional surge came over him when he witnessed a plastic bag being blown around by the wind near the World Trade Center in the early ’90s.
While penning his Academy Award-winning screenplay, originally a play, Ball found himself pushing back against the limitations he perceived when composing scripts for television situation comedies.
And he’d continue to do so, creating the very NSFW Six Feet Under and True Blood for HBO.
Ball’s script sold pretty quickly and when it got to Kevin Spacey, the actor could see why.
Back in 1999, I had no doubt that the script I was working on was extraordinary and distinct. It was one of the rare occasions where my initial work remained largely untouched. The studio recognized the value of the material and resisted any urge to modify a single word or dilute its essence.
Spacey assumed the character of Lester, a weary, middle-aged spouse and parent who, during their journey, apparently misplaced their direction or purpose.
In his own words, he expressed that he had comprehended the situation, saying, “I’ve grasped it, and I get it,” Spacey stated. “The idea of being stuck at a point in life where you yearn for something different…All you desire is to transform and embark on a new journey.
What eventually snaps Lester out of his rut is an uncanny infatuation with his teenage daughter’s friend, Angela (portrayed by Mena Suvari at the age of 18).
While the event served as a trigger for Lester’s significant change, it was uncomfortable then and remains so now, particularly due to allegations of sexual misconduct against Spacey that surfaced in 2017. These allegations, which he has denied and have been dismissed in both criminal and civil court.
In her 2021 memoir titled “The Great Peace“, Suvari described an instance where “Kevin led me into a compact room with a bed, and we found ourselves lying beside each other, me facing him as he gently held me close.” At that time, she recalled feeling comfortable and content due to her habit of being receptive and seeking affection, stating that the simple act of being touched was pleasant for her.
In 2021, the actress shared with Tamron Hall that she wasn’t specifically criticizing Spacey, but rather contemplating on why the dynamic between an older man and a younger woman didn’t seem unusual to her at that moment.
Looking back on it now, I found it surprising that I felt so at ease in that situation, she clarified. This book isn’t meant to place blame or accuse anyone…Instead, it’s simply my attempt to share my perspective throughout the story.
Regarding that instance with Spacey, who is twenty years older than her, she mentioned it wasn’t a situation that raised doubts for her. Instead, it seemed clear to her; someone desired or possibly needed something from her, be it emotionally, and she remains uncertain about the details even now.
For Thora Birch, who played Lester’s daughter Jane, learning of the allegations against Spacey was admittedly “traumatic” for her.
2019 found me expressing deep discomfort in an interview for The Hollywood Reporter’s “It Happened in Hollywood” podcast. However, I try to keep the professional and personal aspects of my life distinct. In essence, the pain and disappointment I experienced are not directly connected to the movie, script, characters, or the overall experience we shared. They were a deeply unfortunate and mishandled personal matter.
Birch noted that while the accusations might seem like a “blemish” on the movie, it was actually an entire group of people who created this film, and they all did so out of love for it.
As a child actress, Birch found that roles in movies such as “Hocus Pocus” and “Now and Then” paved the way for her transition to new projects, with “American Beauty” being particularly instrumental in launching the next phase of her acting career.
In 2001, she shared with Review Graveyard that she was pleasantly surprised by the variety of roles offered to her. She had initially expected only parts for melancholic, teenage characters, but instead found herself cast in a wide range of emotional depths. The characters saw her as both sweet and innocent youth and mature, experienced individuals. This diverse array of projects allowed her to transition from playing child roles to adult roles, with “American Beauty” being the film that marked this significant change in her career.
Although Sam Mendes had already directed a successful revival of “Cabaret” on Broadway and boasted over a decade of experience in the West End theatre scene, he still needed to persuade DreamWorks to entrust him with directing “American Beauty”.
In the year 2000, he achieved a remarkable feat by becoming one of only six individuals to receive an Academy Award for Best Directing for their debut film. This places him in the company of Kevin Costner (for “Dances With Wolves”), James L. Brooks (“Terms of Endearment”), Robert Redford (“Ordinary People”), Jerome Robbins (co-director of “West Side Story”), and Delbert Mann (“Marty”).
It was 20 years, however, before Mendes was nominated again, for the World War I drama 1917.
He explained to The Believer in 2009 that while he believes “American Beauty” was a movie reflective of its era, he didn’t intentionally give it a specific style. Instead, he feels that his directing style emerges organically, and he adapts it to suit the needs of the material so that it resonates effectively.
Thomas Newman’s Oscar-nominated soundtrack carried his unique style – bright, melodious yet subtly tense. It was influenced by Carl Orff’s Gassenhauer from the 1920s. Interestingly, despite having 15 Oscar nominations for scores (including The Shawshank Redemption, Finding Nemo, Skyfall, and American Beauty), he hasn’t won an award, a record he shares with the late Alex North.
In 2019, Mendes shared on WNYC’s The Open Ears Project that his initial experience of navigating Los Angeles by car, repeatedly playing the music, sparked an idea for a film about American suburban life. Interestingly, he had never personally experienced American suburbia prior to this, making it all seem unfamiliar and foreign.
A person from Reading, England, chuckled and said, “Here was a piece of European classical music that seemed to resonate with another realm and ecosystem. It genuinely moved me in a profound way.
Music has a unique ability to transcend language, as Mendes explained. One of its charms lies in its capacity to bypass words and their straightforward meanings, as well as narratives. Moreover, music is incredibly efficient at evoking feelings. At times, the emotion it stirs up might seem undeserved. On other occasions, it can swiftly alleviate emotions.
Listening to the tunes of Gassenhauer, he mentioned, “There’s an odd sense of nostalgia that sweeps over me, recalling times when I hadn’t yet embarked on my filmmaking journey. It felt like a fresh exploration.
Mendes made Spacey mixtapes to help him get into character.
In an interview with Lex Fridman on his podcast in June, the director reportedly shared that he sent him two tapes. Spacey labeled one as “pre-Lester,” which was before he started to change direction, and the other as “post-Lester.” These tapes contained different songs.
Additionally, Mendes advised Spacey to study Jack Lemmon’s portrayal from the 1960 movie “The Apartment”, where he played a timid employee at an insurance firm who discovers courage after falling in love with the elevator operator, portrayed by Shirley MacLaine.
Spacey remarked, “I’ve always felt it was clever of Sam to choose Lemmon, given how significant he was to me,” referring to their collaboration in the 1992 film “Glengarry Glen Ross.
According to Mendes’ explanation, Spacey stated that “Lemmon’s performance in that film is astounding, as there isn’t a single instance where we witness him transform. Instead, he develops, and he turns into the character he ultimately portrays due to the various experiences he encounters throughout the movie.
He marveled, “It was just a great direction.”
And to further accentuate Lester’s evolution, there were toupees.
Spacey wore three distinct wigs, he remembered, along with three separate clothing sizes and varying tones of makeup that subtly changed to reflect Lester’s growing optimism over time.
Initially, he sported a rather unexciting, lackluster wig, as the actor put it, and his makeup was quite drab and uninteresting.
At some stage, he went on, the wig underwent a transformation with subtle highlights, adding more vibrancy to it. The clothing also became snugger.
To summarize, the third wig had a radiant golden hue with hints of sunshine and rosy cheeks, and it was tailored to perfection. He explained, “We refer to these as ‘theatrical techniques.’ The spectators don’t realize they’re being subtly influenced.
Spacey acknowledged Mike Torchia as the key figure behind his outstanding physical condition during the filming of Lester’s last chapter, which included not only the later scenes but also some of the earliest ones we saw.
Additionally, Torchia, who was responsible for preparing Spacey for the 2000 film “Ordinary Decent Criminal,” found himself with a challenging task ahead.
Back in 2010, as I stepped into his Dublin abode, I was taken aback by the abundance of pasta and Paul Newman’s Sockarooni sauce neatly stacked in his cabinets. It seemed this man, Kevin, had a ritual of gulping down a hefty bowl of pasta smothered with half a jar of Sockarooni sauce and cheese each evening. One impulsive day, I decided to discard it all. When Kevin returned home, he was taken aback, almost enraged, exclaiming, “Where’s my pasta?” He was thrown off balance, asking me, “What am I supposed to do now?
Annette Bening garnered her second out of a total of five Oscar nominations for delivering an exceptional portrayal as Carolyn Burnham, the driven and high-achieving wife of Lester. Though she can sometimes be sharp-tongued, it’s important to remember that she, too, is grappling with life’s setbacks.
Instead, Bening’s performance, though clearly impressive, involved an impromptu scene where she crumpled in despair upon discovering Lester deceased, leaning against his hanging shirts in the wardrobe upon returning home.
On very few occasions have they the luxury to declare, “‘Go ahead and improvise, do as you please,’ but I distinctly recall that instance and I remember feeling a strong need for it,” Bening expressed on Entertainment Tonight in March. “I needed that moment to depict her character missing her husband. It was crucial, even amidst all the harshness surrounding her character, that she truly cherished him.
Meanwhile, she “just loved” playing Carolyn, Bening added. “She was a little psychotic.”
Bening shared an in-your-face but humorous sex scene with Peter Gallagher, who played local real estate broker royalty Buddy King.
In February, the actress shared with Deadline that she nearly laughed herself to death during the scene, and he joined in the laughter too. Since their faces weren’t visible, it didn’t matter much. What made the situation even more amusing was they set up a large screen for lighting, and the crew hid behind it as well. Peter is known for being quite humorous in real life. He’s not only good-looking but also funny – a fantastic combination. I ran into him recently in New York, and we had another laugh about that funny moment on set.
Bening found out that, besides the frequent quotes of lines from The American President by Sorkin, the phrase most often repeated back to her is real estate agent Carolyn’s resolute “I am going to sell this house today.
Wes Bentley’s major breakthrough role was portraying Ricky Fitts, the neighboring videographer with a heartfelt, marijuana-peddling demeanor who, despite his advanced years, displayed an empathy that left him somewhat enigmatic to typical high school crowds.
But when he showed up to read for the role, it was hardly in the bag.
In a conversation on Jimmy Kimmel Live in 2023, actor Bentley mentioned that Lee Daniels, his manager at the time, had encouraged him to audition for American Beauty. However, when the 20-year-old went to meet casting director Debra Zane, it was evident they weren’t anticipating him. “I wasn’t on their schedule, they didn’t recognize me…It was an awkward situation,” Bentley reminisced about the encounter.
However, “they showed kindness during the process,” the Yellowstone star mentioned, “and I landed the role after just a couple of auditions.
The title of the film carries multiple interpretations: it refers to Angela, an all-American teenage girl, symbolizing physical attractiveness; the visual beauty in the movie representing surface beauty in our world; the deeper, more profound messages represented by seemingly insignificant things like a floating plastic bag; and the glamorous image of the American Dream. In essence, an “American Beauty” is a type of rose.
The movie frequently features a flower, which is usually a deep pink or crimson color with spiky stems and dark green leaves. This particular flower was initially cultivated by Frenchman Henri Ledechaux in 1875, and it was George Valentine Nash, the Head Gardener and Curator of the New York Botanical Garden, who introduced it to America.
On the American Beauty poster, it is Christina Hendricks who is holding a rose close to Chloe Hunter’s midriff with her hand.
In 2021, the former Mad Men star shared on The Rich Eisen Show that one of his past jobs was to take part in a movie poster shoot. He admitted he didn’t know what the film was at the time. There were two models involved, including myself and another. We shot various combinations of our hands and stomachs for different versions. Interestingly, my hand ended up being used while her stomach also appeared.
She went on to say, “I took part in several jobs involving hand modeling. Being a ballet dancer, I’m familiar with graceful hand movements. These were just ordinary jobs, likely earning me around a hundred dollars. I was simply happy to have work. At the time, I wasn’t aware that it would be for ‘American Beauty.’ Later, when I saw the movie, I exclaimed, ‘That’s my hand!’
Fans of the movie “American Beauty” resonated deeply with Katy Perry’s “Firework,” as one spectator creatively synchronized the film’s iconic plastic bag moment to the song’s repeated lyrics, “I’m gonna be like a plastic bag and blow through the wind.
Occasionally, the world’s beauty is so captivating that it becomes challenging to take a breath or engage in conversation with someone.
After the movie’s release, at a gathering of friends in Melbourne, Australia, Bentley was expressing his confidence during a chat with an attractive woman. He admitted on Jimmy Kimmel Live that he believed he was making a positive impression on her, feeling it was the right moment. However, she glanced behind him slightly.
Unaware that her attention was drifting more and more towards something behind him, Bentley hadn’t noticed the plastic bag gradually approaching until it encircled his face with a gentle swirl.
The actor cracked, “It didn’t work out.”
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2024-09-15 14:20