The 1999 film "American Beauty" directed by Sam Mendes tells the story of Lester Burns played by Kevin Spacey, a middle age American man living in suburbia who hates his job and is going through a mid life crisis. The movie is rated R for strong sexuality, language, and drug content. His wife Carolyn played by Annette Bening who's having an affair cares more about her career then she does for him and her family. His daughter Jane played by Thora Birch is the typical "I hate my parents, life life sucks" teenager. The movie is narrated by Lester's character. "American Beauty" is about finding yourself in a world of uncertainty.

"American Beauty" is partly a satire on the American life. It shows that the "American dream" is merely that...a dream. The movie shows that nothing is quite as perfect as it may seem. It also shows that even though someone's life may look perfect, it usually isn't.

Every character in American Beauty is on that quest of finding themselves. Lester Burns realizes that his job, although it's a money maker does not make him happy. He quits his job and decides to work at a fast food restaurant where he actually enjoys his work. He finds himself attracted to his daughter's best friend Angela played by Mena Suvari and finds out from eavesdropping that it is mutual and she would have sex with him if he was a little more built. After working out and finally about to have sex with her at the end of the movie he backs out realizing that it's not what he really wants.
Lester's daughter's best friend Angela has a reputation of being a whore. She however brought it on herself in a desperate cry for attention. In reality she is a virgin. Although she is a jerk throughout most of the movie, you find yourself having sympathy for her by the end.

"Where is Lester's wife throughout all of this?" you may be asking yourself. Well, she's on her own mission to find herself and is having an affair with a fellow real estate agent Buddy Kane played by Peter Gallagher who like herself, is consumed by his career. Lester tries to make his wife realize that there is more to life than money and her career but she remains unchanged. His wife is one of the few characters in the movie who in the end still doesn't seem to realize what is important in life.

Lester's daughter Jane hates her family and the way things are in her life. She feels as if she's living in the shadow of her best friends popularity. She finds herself attracted to her new next door

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