When I saw American Beauty for the first time, I was in grad school for screenwriting. I'm not sure why this is important. I suppose in carving out my own identity in a new town, I had assumed the role of pretentious asshat wannabe screenwriter hack. I don't have many friends from that period.
The side effect of being a total dick is this: Starting with American Beauty, I became particularly attuned to well written films, especially the kind that makes me throw up my hands during the credits, both in joyful celebration of a perfect film and deflated recognition at how much I still have to learn. So maybe American Beauty helped ground me somewhat.
Back then, of course, I focused too much on the music; director Sam Mendes uses music to provide character contrast, and as a transitional mechanism across major story points. In no way is this groundbreaking (I hadn't seen Easy Rider yet). Mostly, I just felt validated that someone else liked "The Seeker."
I always write to music. During that period, I wrote my master's thesis to Moby's Play album, which I kept on repeat and drove the neighbors batshit. Imagine my delight when, struck with a new idea a few years later and ready to go back to the old writing routine, I put on Play and spent the next few hours pissed off because every song reminded me of a commercial and bumped me out of whatever groove I found. I'm not sure why this is important.
American Beauty challenged me to write better, to think in layers of meaning, to see arcs more clearly but learn to hide them from everyone, and to recognize that maybe outlining is a good idea. But none of that happened right away. I'm still learning from this one.
Even though I've spent 10 additional years writing (read: trying to write, getting frustrated, not prioritizing enough, repeat) and studying writing, I still feel that same challenge. I still feel that same joy at great films, and I still feel deflated at how much I have to learn.
I need films like this to keep me hopeful and uneasy. I need both to think straight. I need both to keep me moving.
Great review. This movie came out when I was still an immature little podling so I should probably give it a go now that my tastes allow for movies like this.
ReplyDeleteI think you and I follow the same steps
1 Try
2 Get Frustrated
3 Do something else
Layers of meaning - yes! This is a great film to study.
ReplyDeleteParadoxically, I consider realizing how much there is to learn a mark of wisdom. It means you know enough to know you don't know it all (Too Yogi Berra-esque?) It leaves you open to knowing more.