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This is one of my favorite movies of all time. I love the acting, the cinematography, the script, the direction, the flow, just about everything. Most of all I love the messages that you can get from this film. It teaches you to look closer.Something that most Americans don't do. As Americans we tend to stereotype everyone. Take Colonel Frank Fitts for example, he's extremely homophobic. Yet at the end of the movie you see him kissing Lester, clearly this is a man who is unsure of his own sexuality. In fact if you take a look at just about every character you will see that they aren't what they appear. At the begging of the film you would have never guessed that Angela was a virgin form the way she looked and talked. Yet the viewer is at least somewhat shocked to find out that her time with Lester would have been her first. You may think that Jane is the normal one, but look at her family its fucked up. She has some serious mental issues, she pities her father so much she thinks he would be better off dead. I have realized that the only characters from the film that seem to be a least semi normal ( if there is such a thing) is the gay couple. Sam Mendes is definitely trying to make a statement in the society we live in. Look closer..
Of course this is Kevin Spacey?s most brilliant performance to date. He nails every scene he is in. In fact the movie just wouldn't have worked without him. Annette Bening gives a great performance as the bitchy wife, she does a great job of controlling every scene she is in. I cant say enough of the performances. Overall this movie gives great insight into what life can be viewed as if you were to look closer.
Lester Burnham: [narrating] I had always heard your entire life flashes in front of your eyes the second before you die. First of all, that one second isn't a second at all, it stretches on forever, like an ocean of time... For me, it was lying on my back at Boy Scout camp, watching falling stars... And yellow leaves, from the maple trees, that lined my street... Or my grandmother's hands, and the way her skin seemed like paper... And the first time I saw my cousin Tony's brand new Firebird... And Janie... And Janie... And... Carolyn. I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... you will someday.
Ricky Fitts: It was one of those days when it's a minute away from snowing and there's this electricity in the air, you can almost hear it. And this bag was, like, dancing with me. Like a little kid begging me to play with it. For fifteen minutes. And that's the day I knew there was this entire life behind things, and... this incredibly benevolent force, that wanted me to know there was no reason to be afraid, ever. Video's a poor excuse, I know. But it helps me remember... and I need to remember... Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world I feel like I can't take it, like my heart's going to cave in.
Ricky Fitts: It's like God's looking right at you, just for a second, and if you're careful... you can look right back.
Jane Burnham: And what do you see?
Ricky Fitts: Beauty.
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