In the fantasy sequences, such as when Angela is in the bathtub and on the ceiling surrounded by rose petals, the accompanying music is provided by Thomas Newman's score.
Though much of the story of 'American Beauty' revolves around Carolyn and Lester Burnham's less-than-perfect relationship, the true heroine of 'American Beauty' is the Burnham's daughter, Jane, played by Thora Birch. It is through her that all of the other characters are intertwined. Apart from Lester, it is, arguably, Jane who goes through the greatest transformation, turning from an insecure doormat to her narcissistic friend, Angela, to a determined, confident young woman.
Lester Young was known for being an American Jazz tenor saxophonist. Lester Young has also been known for playing the clarinet and for his long concerts.
He refused to serve African American customers in his restaurant.
Phillip Lester's birth name is Phillip Lester.
Kelly Lester is 5' 5".
Jane
Though much of the story of 'American Beauty' revolves around Carolyn and Lester Burnham's less-than-perfect relationship, the true heroine of 'American Beauty' is the Burnham's daughter, Jane, played by Thora Birch. It is through her that all of the other characters are intertwined. Apart from Lester, it is, arguably, Jane who goes through the greatest transformation, turning from an insecure doormat to her narcissistic friend, Angela, to a determined, confident young woman.
Though much of the story of 'American Beauty' revolves around Carolyn and Lester Burnham's less-than-perfect relationship, the true heroine of 'American Beauty' is the Burnham's daughter, Jane, played by Thora Birch. It is through her that all of the other characters are intertwined. Apart from Lester, it is, arguably, Jane who goes through the greatest transformation, turning from an insecure doormat to her narcissistic friend, Angela, to a determined, confident young woman.
Though much of the story of 'American Beauty' revolves around Carolyn and Lester Burnham's less-than-perfect relationship, the true heroine of 'American Beauty' is the Burnham's daughter, Jane, played by Thora Birch. It is through her that all of the other characters are intertwined. Apart from Lester, it is, arguably, Jane who goes through the greatest transformation, turning from an insecure doormat to her narcissistic friend, Angela, to a determined, confident young woman.
In the scene leading up to Lester and Angela having sex, the background song is Neil Young's "Don't Let it Bring You Down" performed by Annie Lennox. In the scene where Angela is on the couch and Lester is undressing her, the background music belongs to the film's hauntingly beautiful score written by Thomas Newman.
1968 fire bird
Re-Animator (1985).
Kevin Spacey's character, Lester Burnham, is the narrator.
'American Beauty' most notably refers to the type of rose that grows in the Burnham's garden and is used as a motif throughout the film. Roses are seen throughout the Burnham home, the rose garden is Carolyn's chief hobby, and rose petals surround Angela in Lester's fantasies of her. It could be said that Angela represents Lester's version of the American Beauty in human form. In each fantasy scene, Angela co-exists with the rose, surrounded by rose petals when she appears as a dream on the ceiling, bathing in rose petals and even depositing a petal in Lester's mouth when he kisses her. In their real-life love scene he tells her "you are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." In the deeper theme of the movie, the characters are searching for beauty within their everyday, ordinary lives. Lester eventually achieves the same perspective that young Ricky discovered much earlier. Ricky's description, "Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it. And my heart is just going to cave in" mirrors Lester's description at the end of the movie "…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 I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life."
== First Thing that Lester Burnham Says in American Beauty== Remember those posters that said, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life"? Well, that's true of every day but one - the day you die.
It was the possibility of sex with Angela that sparked a chain-reaction of other life-altering events where Lester started taking responsibility for his own happiness. "It's a great thing when you realize you still have the ability to surprise yourself." He had been in a self-described coma for the past 20 years, living 'sedated.' It was not until he met Angela and discovered the possibility of an affair with her that he set out to improve himself (initially with the goal of wanting to look good naked.)
In 'American Beauty', Kevin Spacey's character Lester Burnham never definitely describes what his version is of the American Dream. However, there are three scenes in the movie that indicate the times when he felt most satisfied: 1. "I flipped burgers all summer to buy an 8-track…. It was great. All I did was smoke pot and get laid." 2. "Today I quit my job and then I told my boss to go f*** himself and then I blackmailed him for almost $60000." 3. "1970 Pontiac Firebird. The car I've always wanted and now I have it. I rule!"