American Beauty

In the course of the twentieth century, the suburbs have come to take a larger and larger place in American society. They have been held out as a model for the best American society has to offer and even a particularly morally-worthy way of life. By and large, most Americans have accepted this view as evidenced by their desire to move to the suburbs when they can afford to. But the suburbs have always had their critics. The 1999 movie "American Beauty" presents a particularly caustic view of contemporary suburban life, illustrating how it includes some of America's most prolific social problems - teenage Drug use, working parents and teen sexuality. In analyzing the movie's five main characters, this paper focuses on the gap between the ideal picture of suburbia and what many critics believe is the reality of suburban life. Paper Masters can compose a custom written research paper on American Beauty that follows your guidelines.
American Beauty Characters
The movie "American Beauty" has five characters whose portrayals go against the ideals said to be found in the suburbs and the idealized images of typical suburban residents. Primary among these characters is:
- Lester Burnham, a suburban husband.
- He has a wife named Carolyn
- Daughter named Jane
- Their neighbors are an ex-Marine called Colonel Fitts and his son named Ricky.
Lester Burnham, played by Kevin Spacey who won a Best Actor Oscar for his performance, is a forty-something man who is worn out and worn down by suburban life. In an early scene, he makes fun of his wife pruning shrubbery in the front of their good-size, attractive suburban home. It is not long into the movie before a stereotypical suburban scene, activity, and character are exposed as shams. Lester' wife Carolyn is dressed up as if she were a fashion model to trim some shrubbery in the front of the yard near the street. Lester's comment in a voice over it that it is no coincidence that his wife's gardening gloves match her dress. This remark of Lester's suggests the lengths to which suburbanites will go to conform to the conventions of suburbia. The suburban housewife is supposed to be fashion conscious and concerned about the appearance of not only herself but her home and property to maintain the suburban norm of keeping up appearances. Thus the criticism of being superficial that has often been leveled at suburbia is made by the movie.
Related Research Paper Topic Suggestions
12 Angry Men - 12 Angry Men Research Papers discuss the film that focuses on the primal emotion of anger. You can have a research paper written on the legal aspects, moral delemas or sociological concepts exhibited in the story.
A Beautiful Mind - A Beautiful Mind research papers look at a true story about John Nash, a man who had schizophrenia, and comparing the movie and the disorder.
Amelie French Film - Amelia French Film research shows you the proper format for writing a research paper on the French film Amelia.
A Thousand Acres - A Thousand Acres research papers review the film with Jessica Lange and Jason Robards.
Chocolat - Chocolat Analysis Research Papers explore a sample of an order placed on the contrast and comparison of Chocolat the movie and the book.
Dead Poets Society - Dead Poets Society research papers discuss the film, starring Robin Williams, about an English teacher at a conservative, aristocratic boarding school who inspires in his students a love of poetry.
Death In The Seventh Seal - Death in The Seventh Seal research papers discuss the Ingmar Bergmar film that explores the Black Plague.
Don juan demarco - Don Juan DeMarco research papers discuss Francis Ford Coppola's film in which Johnny Depp believes he is Don Juan.
Easy Rider - Easy Rider Research Papers look at a film about three college guys that ponder questions about life in the 1960's.
Film Kingdom of Heaven - Film Kingdom of Heaven Research Papers delve into an example of an order placed for a film analysis that requires two full length professional reviews of the film.
Good Will Hunting - Film research papers are seldom summaries of a plot but rather an in depth look at the value of the film.
Ides of March - The Ides of March research papers discuss the film that is based on a play written by Beau Willimon and follows the life of a political staff member that is assisting a new Presidential candidate on the campaign trail.
Maltese Falcon - The Maltese Falcon research papers examine scenes from the film The Maltese Falcon.
Memento Analysis - Memento Analysis Research Papers discusses how to write a research paper on this suspenseful and complex crime story.
Misery - Miseryresearch papers explain the film based on the novel by Stephen King about an author that is in an accident, and saved by his number one fan, who becomes violent.
My Sisters Keeper - My Sister's Keeper Research Papers discuss a book written by Margaret Moorman about her life in dealing with her mentally ill sister later on in life.
Mystic river - Mystic River is not a fairy tale, and unlike fairy tales, it contains some basic ambiguities that remain unresolved.
O Brother Where Art Thou - O Brother, Where Art Thou Research Papers look at a film about three escaped convicts who set out to find buried treasure.
Philadelphia Story - Philadelphia Story research papers discuss and explain the story of the film, especially the importance of the opening scene of George Cukor's classic movie.
Pretty Woman - Pretty Woman Research Papers discuss a movie about how the different social classes in society are treated.
Primal Fear - Primal Fear Research Papers look at a movie about a young man who viciously murdered a priest.
Ron Howards Cinderella Man - Ron Howard's Cinderella Man film review and essays on Ron Howard.
Rules and Mad Love - The Rules and Mad Love research papers explores the points of intersection and divergence between the popular self-help book The Rulesand the 1995 film Mad Love.
The Constant Gardener - The Constant Gardener Research Papers explore the unethical practices of multinational pharmaceutical firms, the exploitation of impoverished populations, and the corruption of Kenyan health officials.
The Daughters of The Dust - The Daughters of the Dust Research Papers illustrate the connectedness of African Americans in their traditonal customs and their emergence into the blended society.
The Piano By Jane Campion - The Piano by Jane Campion research papers discuss the film and its plot and symbols.
The Red Violin - The Red Violin Research Papers explore a story of a violin that seems to touch the lives of everyone that it comes in contact with.
Two Forms of Performance - Two Forms of Performance Research Papers and delve into an example of how to order a paper on a comparative critique.
Unforgiven - Research papers on the Unforgiven discuss the 1992 film directed by Clint Eastwood.