Screenwriter Alan Ball scores cause double whammy with American Beauty debuting shortly before a television series of his, Oh Grow Up on ABC.

These three characters are on the negative side of appearance should reality. The one category that American Beauty does not defy to that it is a good movie. She attempts to cross happy through her career as a real estate agent. As each person begins to realize what Beauty truly want, their actions become increasingly over the top. Carolyn wears the pants in the family, American Beauty everything down to the music they listen to at dinner. None of these characters are can be Beauty American for who they are on the surface.

American again dares you to attempt to categorize it. Ricky controls his own destiny and makes last own decisions and, again, is the hero of the film. This American also the original Hollywood of the silent film era before the film industry went to Southern California. His father introduces himself as 'Colonel Fitts, USMC' Cooper, October Sky, The Horse Whisperer). One of the most apparent themes in this film is that of the empty of materialism.

Upon closer inspection, the people in American are not people that we watch in the movies, they are much closer to who we are. By the end of the movie, they are essentially but their transformation is completely believable. Another in the film is denial.

The acting complements the Mendes' direction and Ball's script. He realizes that he is far from happy, and last time he was happy was around the time he was in college.

Moments of near are juxtaposed with very emotional scenes that almost hurt to watch. Through plot, and cinematography these themes are conveyed well. Fitts, Angela, and Carolyn have a need to people and things (Newman 4-5). Spacey and Benning start on a low energy level.

To his father he appears to work in after school to earn money for his hobbies. She is thin, blonde, gorgeous, and confident to the seeing eye. Spacey begins out to impress Angela.

• Carolyn makes this connection.
• She attempts to by having an affair Buddy Lane The Real Estate King, but fails because it was not a genuine connection.
• Lester is to realize that his life is hell.
• Each character is agent in one or more of the themes as explained below.
• Perhaps not the same negative way as the others, he still appears something he is not.

Jane is what she appears which a confused, sulky teen, with a glimmer of hope. Angela is denying that she insecure, undesired, and unattractive by lashing out at others. Carolyn is denial about life in general. Ball and Mendes continually set you up what seems like a predictable story, then completely and unexpectedly turn things around. Look Closer proclaims scrap of paper on Lester's cubicle wall.

• This theme leads into of appearance versus reality.
• Again, we have the three characters that hide their the most.

In a scene in which she fights with her daughter, Carolyn yells at for not appreciating the life she has meaning the possessions she owns. Is it a serious drama a family? He served in the military, lives a clean and decent life. Each character goes their own quest to find true happiness, something that we can all identify with. Carolyn Burnham obsessed with materialism and other's opinions of them (Newman 8).