He catches his wife cheating on him (when he probably guessed anyway) and he still gets the upper hand. It's amazing how far you can get in life without giving a shit.
Most people in Lester's situation would feel inferior compared to their cheating spouse and their lover, but because he tried and knows that he's right in the entire way without even doing anything wrong at all to her is why he wins.
Yeah, in my experience most people wouldn't get inferior, but rather really mad. But indeed, you have some people with real low self worth and they feel inferior compared to their cheating spouse.
"Janine's" performance in this scene is so underrated. Such a wide variety of feelings from a secondary character in such short time when all attention is on Spacey.
I was just on Reddit's "Pro Revenge" section reading about a guy who quit his $300k/year job to work minimum wage so that the 75% alimony payments to his brand new ex-wife would be juuuusssttt a little bit less than what she expected while he lived comfortably on all the money he saved up beforehand, and one of the comments linked to this video. It's stuff like this that makes it easier for me to get through the day.
Kevin I love your work. Midnight in the Garden, was good, but, I like American Beauty is my favorite. Especially when you tell your wife , "you don't ever get to tell me what to do again". lol
Bare in mind the reason behind this scene; the character Lester has, outwardly, the ideal suburban life. But inwardly he feels trapped and frustrated by a loveless marriage and an unsatisfying career. He escapes into fantasies of an idealized relationship with his daughter's classmate, and in an effort to emotionally regress he sabotages his job and takes on a position that is usually reserved for teenagers
Daniel Ryan He doesn't sabotage his job. The company he works for is downsizing so everyone except management must grovel for their job. He finds a personal hero in Ricky that shows him he doesn't have to stay in a job he doesn't like. He knows the shady goings on at work and gets the courage to fight back. He gets a years salary with benefits. The only thing he did wrong was not deflowering the girl on the white couch.
Kevin Spacey's deadpan delivery is so deserving of his Oscar; I'm surprised there were critics who didn't like this movie and thought other nominees should've won in Spacey's place. This is a great movie (even Ingmar Bergman loved it), and to date the pinnacle of Spacey's career.
Had that happen once. I had to beat my friend to a pulp in front of his mom. It hurt me more emotionally than it hurt him physically, but some people just deserve a beating.
This film wouldn't be nearly as good without Spacey. He really makes this film his own! Surprised there aren't a dozen more films with him in this type of role.
At the time of watching this film, it seemed to inspire my life, but oddly enough, I went ahead anyways, and spent 21 years being the old Lester…. Now. Today. “ you don’t get to tell me what to do ever again.” 😎 And I’m 46 years old now! Ok, I had to google! 1999!!!! I was 22!!! 😭😭😭😭.
This is the most mature way to deal with a cheater. No yelling. No crying. No name calling. Just simply humiliating them in the most formal way possible
Whoa! Kevin Spacey scored a touchdown with this scene. And gotta love the girl saying, "You are SOOO BUSTED!" I could not stop laughing. Kevin Spacey is a funny dude. He is an acting genius!
this movie is very cliched but kevin spacey's performance is outta this world. has anyone noticed, you can put spacey into anything and he immediately makes it better. he's like vodka.
After being cheated on: "It's alright, I want you to be happy" = What we tell ourselves "Would you like Smiley Sauce with that?" = How we actually feel.
A little while ago, for my drama class, I watched a movie of Eugene O'Neill's "Long Day's Journey Into Night" with Kevin Spacey and Peter Gallagher playing brothers Jamie and Edmund. I had forgotten they were in this together, too. Makes this scene even funnier XD
We've met before, but something tells me you'll remember me this time! LOL i love this scene! The way he talks to her and the shocked look on her face .Priceless
People saw this scene and wrongly assumed it was a comedy. The scene right after this is pretty sad and the movie itself is kind of dark. But one of the best films ever.
.."so, this makes sense". "oh, lester" "its okay. I want you to be happy. Would you like smiley sauce with that?" "lester, just stop it!" "no,no. You don't ever get to tell me what to do ever. Again." Fucking priceless. Its no wonder he won an Oscar for this role.
@MercuryMorrison1 Best line in what has to be one of the greatest films I have ever seen... and there are a lot of amazing lines throughout. A CLASSIC.
