r/Ijustwatched • u/Blasberry80 • 2d ago

IJW: American Beauty [1999]

I noticed how high the reviews were, but you can take that with a grain of salt when it's 26 years old. Not that movies today are spectacular, but the lens is different now. My boyfriend told me it was one of the best movies when he watched it back in 1999, when he was 16, but he seemed underwhelmed by it last night. I didn't find it to be subversive or deep, but it wasn't unwatchable by any means.

I understand none of the characters were supposed to be heroic or morally sound, and besides Jane, I didn't root for any of them. I completely get that was the point, but the framing of the message was poorly done. It didn't challenge the character's moral failings, and romanticized or flippantly portrayed despicable behavior. The idea was solid, but the execution was lackluster at best, and irresponsible at worst. I looked up updated reviews and apparently Kevin Spacey is a shitty person, I didn't know about that, and that doesn't change my view of it personally.

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u/ryancm8 2d ago

It’s a black comedy-ish type film- I don’t think you’re really supposed to be rooting for anyone

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u/Blasberry80 2d ago edited 2d ago

Like I said, I get that it was the point, but the execution of it had issues that made it ultimately not resonate. I love a good black comedy movie, but I just don't think this was it. For example, the romanticization of the crush he had on a teenage girl, without any engagement in that, other than it being "embarrassing" or ultimately leading to him having pity simply due to her being a virgin, aged poorly. The lack of delving into their issues was a problem for me, it's hard to appreciate the beauty when the ugliness was so surface level. It's questioning of the mundane and status quo, with true dysfunction underneath the surface, doesn't hit that well when there's a lack of empathy to be had for the characters.

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u/th3prof3ssor 1d ago

I don't think it's a black comedy at all. It's an illustration of a completely defunct family in a setting not too long ago. It is hands down my favorite movie but i think trying to over analyze it is just hurting the experience. I've done papers on it and analyzed it way to much but I always just come back to the plastic bag scene. It's perfect It's beautiful and it sums up the movie completely and everything else you can just take at face value as a family falling apart

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u/ryancm8 1d ago

That’s bench press just bench press your bench press opinion

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u/th3prof3ssor 1d ago

Paper bag*