1999 was a great movie year, but what was celebrated then is different from what is remembered now. The Mummy was critically maligned when released in 1999 and yet it remains a major favorite to this day. The World is Not Enough was a major box office hit, but is now mocked as one of James Bond’s most ridiculous films. This dichotomy is perfectly summed up by that year’s Academy Awards, which gave the Best Picture gong to… American Beauty?
What Did People Love About ‘American Beauty’ in 1999?
The story of Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) is one of suburban malaise. Lester is unhappy with the life he’s been lead to believe he wants with the perfect house and white picket fence because it comes at the cost of a sexless marriage, a dull office job, and a wife (Annette Bening) and daughter (Thora Birch) who think he’s a loser. But Lester has an awakening when he sees and begins fantasizing about his daughter’s friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari). His obsession inspires him to remove the shackles of his day job, start smoking weed, work out, and not care what his hyper-ambitious type-A wife Carolyn thinks of him. But hovering over the film is Lester’s narration directly stating that these are the last weeks of his life. And when his death comes, Lester is mourned because his awakening has led him and the audience to a greater and poetic truth, despite all of his prior actions.
Why Is ‘American Beauty’ Problematic Now?
One of the most peculiar things about American Beauty is how huge it was for a story that seems so minor in retrospect. The majority of the movie is dedicated to a middle-aged man’s pursuit of a teenage girl and it wants us to celebrate him in the end. American Beauty might speak to the human condition, but it’s from a perspective that seems so foreign and dated. Try to look sympathetically at someone pressured by society to hide who they are only for it to come out in violence, not villainize them.
‘American Beauty’ Does Hold Some Weight
While it might be hard to look at the film in 2024, some parts of American Beauty may still resonate with audiences. While dated, American Beauty is about a feeling of being trapped in the lives the system around us demands we be forced into. It’s not unlike a fellow 1999 film, The Matrix, which takes this idea to the extreme of questioning reality entirely. If anything about American Beauty works today, it’s the idea that you can change the life you are unhappy with, not unlike this year’s I Saw the TV Glow. American Beauty isn’t nearly as radical of change, but it does rather change a sort of perspective in order to affect the world around you.
Conclusion
American Beauty is a relic of a bygone era and cinematic tastes of yesteryear. The film’s problematic portrayal of a middle-aged man’s pursuit of a teenage girl and its celebration of his awakening in the end are hard to ignore. However, some parts of the film may still resonate with audiences today, including its exploration of the feeling of being trapped in the lives the system demands we be forced into.
FAQs
Q: Why did American Beauty win the Best Picture award in 1999?
A: American Beauty won the Best Picture award in 1999 because it was a critically acclaimed film that resonated with audiences and critics alike.
Q: What is the main theme of American Beauty?
A: The main theme of American Beauty is the feeling of being trapped in the lives the system around us demands we be forced into.
Q: Why is American Beauty problematic today?
A: American Beauty is problematic today because of its portrayal of a middle-aged man’s pursuit of a teenage girl and its celebration of his awakening in the end.
Q: Can I still watch American Beauty today?
A: Yes, American Beauty is still available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
Watch on Paramount+