American Beauty- Movie Meaning and Ending Explained

Published:

Updated:

American Beauty- Movie Meaning and Ending Explained

Disclaimer

As an affiliate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. We get commissions for purchases made through links on this website from Amazon and other third parties.

When watching “American Beauty” it is important to understand the movie’s meaning and ending.For those who are unfamiliar with this film, the plot follows a man named Lester Burnham. He has lived an uneventful life until he meets h is beautiful neighbor, played by Kevin Spacey.

The two begin a sexual relationship and eventually marry in the movie’s final scene. It is said that they had been lovers since they were children and planned to get married after they finished high school.

American Beauty- Movie Meaning and Ending Explained

Movie Meaning of American Beauty

American Beauty 1999 is a crime thriller film released in 1999. Sam Mendes directed this movie and it was written by Alan Ball. The story follows Lester Burnham, an advertising executive who suffers a personal tragedy that causes him to reassess his life and career.

He begins to yearn for a simpler time and sets out to find the meaning of happiness in the small town of West Point, Pennsylvania.

Some people who have seen the movie may have a positive or negative opinion of it. Some people may find the movie to be interesting and engaging, while others may not enjoy it as much. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide whether or not they think American Beauty is worth watching.

The Ending of American Beauty (1999)

The Ending of American Beauty (1999)

The ending of American Beauty (1999) is a heart-wrenching and beautiful story that has been praised by many. It follows the life of Lester Burnham, who is a man in his mid-thirties who is struggling to find meaning in his life. He meets an older woman named Carolyn, and they start a relationship.

However, things take a turn for the worse when Carolyn reveals that she is married to another man and has been for years. Lester starts to doubt himself and his own sanity, and he eventually decides to end his life. However, he changes his mind at the last minute and decides to go on living.

Many people have interpreted the ending of American Beauty in different ways, but the most common interpretation is that it reflects Taoism in some way. Taoism is a philosophy that emphasizes balance and harmony between people and nature, which may be why many people believe that the ending of American Beauty reflects this philosophy.

How was American Beauty 1999 made?

There are many ways movies are made, but the process of making American Beauty 1999 started with a screenplay written by Alan Ball.

Next, the director, Sam Mendes, was brought on board to helm the project. Mendes is known for his work on such films as Road to Perdition and Revolutionary Road. Mendes then assembled a talented cast that included Kevin Spacey, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, and Annette Bening.

The final step in making American Beauty 1999 was to shoot it in locations all over California.

Key Characters of American Beauty

Mena Suvari

Mena Suvari

Mena Suvari plays the role of Carolyn Warner, Lester’s wife and Carolyn’s sister. Lester is in love with Mena but she is married to another man. Mena Suvari does an excellent job portraying the conflicted emotions that Carolyn feels towards her husband.

Thora Birch

Thora Birch

Thora Birch plays Jane Margolis, one of Lester’s friends from childhood. Jane has a crush on him and helps him cope with his feelings for Mena. Birch does an excellent job portraying the innocence and naivete Jane.

Kevin Spacey

Kevin Spacey

 

Kevin Spacey plays Lester’s boss, Randall Winston. Winston is a ruthless corporate executive who is obsessed with achieving success at any cost. Spacey does an excellent job portraying the coldheartedness and cruelty that Winston displays throughout the movie.

Annette Bening

Annette Bening

 

Annette Bening plays Betty, Lester’s boss at the beauty salon. Betty is a demanding and opinionated woman who challenges Lester to be more creative. Bening does an excellent job portraying the conflicts that Betty faces in her life.

Wes Bentley

Wes Bentley

Wes Bentley plays Russell Brand, one of Lester’s friends from college. Russell is a drug addict and alcoholic who has lost his job and his home. Bentley does an excellent job portraying the despair that Russell feels in his life.

Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes

Sam Mendes directs American Beauty 1999 and does an excellent job directing the film. Mendes allows the characters to develop gradually throughout the movie, which helps to create a believable storyline.

Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper

Chris Cooper plays Ray, one of Lester’s friends from college. Ray is a Republican who has left his conservative lifestyle behind to pursue a career in music. Cooper does an excellent job portraying the conflicts that Ray faces in his life.

Pete Gallagher

Pete Gallagher

Pete Gallagher plays Lester’s father, Harry. Harry is a retired army sergeant who is struggling to adjust to life after serving in the Vietnam War. Gallagher does an excellent job portraying the disappointment and nostalgia that Harry feels in his old age.

Ara Celi

Ara Celi

Ara Celi plays Lester’s mother, Edna. Edna is a stay-at-home mom who is struggling to balance her responsibilities with her own needs. Celi does an excellent job portraying the conflict that Edna faces in her life.

Michael Clarke Duncan

Michael Clarke Duncan

 

Michael Clarke Duncan plays Randy, one of Lester’s friends from college. Randy is a drug dealer and felon who has been forced to leave his hometown and live in hiding. Duncan does an excellent job portraying the desperation and violence that Randy feels in his life

John Cho

John Cho

John Cho plays Doug, one of Lester’s friends from college. Doug is a struggling artist who is trying to make ends meet by working as a graphic designer. Cho does an excellent job portraying the creative energy that Doug feels in his life.

Lambert Wilson

Lambert Wilson

Lambert Wilson plays Dwight, one of Lester’s friends from college. Dwight is a wealthy business executive who has become disillusioned with life and its responsibilities. Wilson does an excellent job portraying the narcissism and entitlement that Dwight feels in his life.

Important events of American Beauty

Teenage Daughter

Teenage Daughter

The movie is about a teenage daughter’s life. There are many teenage girls in the world who have a problem with their parents when they fall in love with a high school boy or someone else suddenly.

Because of this, teenagers sometimes tend to like to hide them and cheat on their boyfriends that they married as well before getting into any kind of serious relationship later on while still having sex; this makes them eliminate all kinds of sexual diseases such as HIV/AIDS.

Lester Burnham (Kevin spacey) is an advertising executive who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter’s best friend. Lester and Carolyn live in their nameless suburb of what appears to be an unhappy married life.

One can easily assume that they are not having the richest relationships either on or off the surface as it were if you are asking for others’ points of view on this matter.

The teenage daughter speaks her mind mostly. She imitates manners in style as she makes fun of the mom and dad who are always busy on their cell phone. With this, we see that teenagers’ bad habits might be a form of rebellion against parents’ control over them.

Teenage girls usually wear less or no make-up to defy any interference from their mothers or fathers when it comes to what they wear (remember: perfect skin can only come with great genetics).

Cheerleader

 

The story revolves around a man who is getting older and his daughter. His wife gets sicker every day, but what he doesn’t know is that his daughter cheats on her boyfriend and then comes home with another guy one night while the other guy’s father watches them have sex in front of him.

He starts to become obsessed as many fathers do with their daughters when they think others are having inappropriate relations with their daughters or wives/girlfriends.

Life Crisis

American Beauty is a 1999 indie drama film written and directed by Alan Ball, starring Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham. It tells the story of his life crisis after finding out that life has passed him by.

The film examines themes related to mid-life crisis, such as sexual fulfillment in middle age and the discovery of true love; life’s passage; banality versus creativity in everyday existence; both within its characters (such as their perceptions of themselves) and through references to popular culture icons.

American Beauty- Ending explained

The ending of American Beauty (1999) is a heart-wrenching and beautiful story that explores the meaning of life. It is also a philosophical movie that discusses topics such as beauty, love, and morality.

At the end of the movie, Lester Burnham has finally found happiness in his life. He has finally realized that he is not perfect and that there are things in life that are worth fighting for. He has also come to terms with his past and understands that it is what makes him who he is today.

Overall, the ending of American Beauty (1999) is an emotional and thought-provoking story that will leave you feeling inspired and grateful for all the good things in life.

Conclusion

This is a movie that has changed the way we see life. It’s a very thought-provoking movie and I think it will be more talked about in the future. I would recommend this movie to everyone. This movie is the story of how our lives can change with the slightest thing happening in our lives.

The main character, Lester Burnham, does not realize what he’s doing to his family until it’s too late. The story goes on and shows how people around him are affected by his actions as well. This is a great movie to watch if you’re looking for something different from all those Hollywood movies out there.

FAQs

Where Can We Watch American Beauty?

American Beauty is available to watch on DVD and Blu-ray. You can watch it on respective platforms at your local retailer or online through various streaming services. Netflix has made the film available to watch online and has also created a series spin-off called “American Beauty: Reign.”

Is American Beauty Dragon Fruit Self-pollinating?

It is not currently known if American Beauty dragon fruit is self-pollinating. However, scientific experimentation should be able to determine this information in the future.

How Old Was Thora Birch When American Beauty Was Filmed?

Thora Birch was approximately 27 years old when American Beauty was filmed. She did an excellent job in her role and is definitely one of the highlights of the film.

What Was the Movie American Beauty About?

American Beauty is a drama that focuses on the psychological effects of suburban life on a young man. It tells the story of his journey from innocence to adulthood and examines the ways in which he deals with personal issues, such as loneliness and isolation.

About the author

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Latest Posts

  • How To Test A Chainsaw Ignition Coil: The Easy Way Chainsaw ignition coils are used to start the chainsaw engine. They do this by allowing the spark plug into the gas supply of the chainsaw. A chainsaw ignition coil can get damaged over time, which can cause it to fail to spark. Failure of a…

    Read more

  • All About Of Photo Retouching – Everything You Have to Know

    All About Of Photo Retouching – Everything You Have to Know

    If you have ever wished you could take your photos to the next level, photo retouching is the perfect solution for you! With easy-to-use tools and a wealth of options, you can make your photos look glossy, fresh, and perfect for any occasion. Whether you want to remove blemishes, brighten up your teeth or add…

    Read more

  • The Admiral Roaring Currents Meaning and Ending Explanation

    The Admiral Roaring Currents Meaning and Ending Explanation

    Recently, a friend told me about the upcoming movie “The Admiral: Roaring Currents.” The film’s premise is that an ex-Navy SEAL and a billionaire inventor attempt to build a ship in the 19th century using new technology. What was interesting to me was the protagonist’s name – Admiral Tom Barrow. I had never heard this…

    Read more