I was 19 years old when this movie came out, and I remember laughing at Lester. I stand before you today as a 43 year old completely sympathetic for his desire to be young again.
i try to tell my parents this but all they're interested in is what pays the most, which i can understand. lester here was employed in a decent job for at least 15 years before deciding to jump the ship. i want to earn money but i dont want to be depressed in the process of doing so
This scene's brilliance lies in how half of the audience is thinking "Salary to minimum wage?! What an idiot." and the other half thinks "Good for him, he'll be happier."
***** Well said, people who whine about some people getting higher wages whether they deserve it or not obviously have not worked in said restaurants. It's tough, work, and every year, with more and more politics going into it, it's only going to get harder.
+Adam Zupancic I'm young. I work for Burger King. I like the job, it is humbling and also teaches me a lot. Not the best kind of work, but it's honest labor.
GIven the context of him just blackmailing his former employer for like 1-2 years worth of salary, it doesn't really leave much room for interpretation, let alone should anyone be that stupid to assume this is a downgrade for the guy, given his "finding happyness" theme.
I remember being so unhappy at a job that I was looking out from a window of my very nice office and watching the guy blowing leaves and I was 100% envious of his job.
i was in a perm job at John Lewis head office for 7 years. i'd train up christmas temps who helped us write website copy when it was busy. i was always jealous how they rocked up and clocked off, no stupid meetings to attend etc. I eventually quit and became an hourly temp, then a contract consultant. Now i earn so much more than I did before, way more than my manager then and feel so much more free. The day i quit, i appreciated life so much more.
I totally get this. I recently quit a job I went through hell to qualify for and took a job with a considerable pay cut and it has changed my entire outlook and attitude on life. I even sleep better now. My dad once told me that if you're working a job where you value a weekend like you do a vacation that you're not working in the right place. Regardless of what ever you're being paid. He was so freaking right.
@@as52343Because vacations are (should be) longer than weekends. If you’re looking forward to the weekend as you would a vacation, it means you’re overworked.
@@as52343 you're supposed to enjoy your work, find meaning in it. If you have a job where you don't wake up most days looking forward to do it. And eagerly wait for the weekend. You are in the wrong place and are overworked
I was 29 when this movie came out. Now I just turned 51 and this movie hits me more than ever. Life is beautiful and short, too short to be miserable and grow old before your time.
I left the corporate sector for good in 2011. All it did was give me high blood pressure and too many gray hairs. Last few years I've been a substitute teacher and it's literally been night and day. Found something fulfilling for ME and I'm not out here doing some awful push button job at the hope some woman who might eventually take half my stuff might think I'm worth fleecing down the line. It's amazing how success is drilled in our heads, but not happiness. It took most of my adult life to realize HAPPINESS IS SUCCESS.
This particular scene really resonates with me. It's like you go through high school and university, not even that for many, and then BOOM, you're on your own, life changes completely almost overnight. Suddenly you go from being a kid to being expected to be a success by everyone around you. If, like me, you're still single at that point, suddenly the race is on to find a partner on top of it all. You're likely not even 22 years old, but suddenly everything you've ever known has gone out the window and you are under immense pressure to succeed on your own two feet, when really there are many who only want to be in the position of least possible responsibility until they can figure out what it is they want from life because they genuinely are not ready for what's suddenly befallen them. For some, this extends into mid life, or even late life. This pressure to be a success or to please those around you is incredibly damaging for some people. It's that pressure that killed my best friend ultimately. He wasn't ready for it, and neither was I. I don't plan on following the same path that he did, but I understand why he did it. It's like it's a crime to be scared of life changes nowadays.
Your comment really resonates with me. I'm 27 years old, and everyone is around me has either gotten: -Married -Had children -Both or is planning to -Have found their career While I am not even in a relationship, nevermind a long term one and I have no idea what I want to do because there's so much choice and I don't know where to begin. There are days where it really mentally drains me, to feel so 'out of touch' with humanity just because I'm not doing what everyone else is. The only solace I have is that these very circumstances allow me to do anything I want, so I have established many limetime goals (which do not include having a family) to not only provide me with a reason to live but also with a source of accomplishment that goes beyond the status quo. May you have a life that fulfills you without having to fall in with the rest of society's expectations.
Same here man... i was spoil by my parents, didn't have contacts with anyone and was overly protected. I tried to kill myself after my first failure at college, society doesn't prepare you to be confident, responsable and ambitious about your life (it tries but if you live in a shell, nobody is going to get you out you can die by sadness they don't care). I'll die eventually so whatever, i'll keep studying and being sad all the time because fuck it but that's not life. The saddest part is that people who didn't do college don't understand why students are so unhappy, they think we like to study, to pass tests and prepare our life but we just suck it as long as we can to have a degree than we live our shitty life for the rest of our shitty days... i fucking hate the social context... we're not prepared to be happy, we fallow a simple path then it's everyone for himself, regardless if you need guindance or disciplin or confidence... or maybe i'm just a pussy i don't know fuck it anyway, once i'm an engineer, i'll just do a simple job and earn my salary and that's it until i'm retired and then fuck it i'll wait until i die
You're probably too young to appreciate that Spacey's character wakes up to find that everything that he's been trained to do in his life, is to work hard in order to support a woman, namely his cheating, nagging wife. So he rebels against society, and society is that woman.
Tobias Davies Hey man, I hear you. I'm 25 years old, single, never been in a serious relationship(not even planning anytime soon) and mostly everybody I know from has done the same thing as the peers you know. I'm working towards a degree right now, but right now I'm taking some time off to accomplish and truely immerse myself in my passions such as becoming a better basketball player, martial artist, playing a ton of video games, learning what I want to learn instead of abiding by some stupid academic standards set by some public or private so called higher education system and becoming a better person. Sure my passions are "stupid" in regards to what my peers and society thinks, but I wake up everyday the happiest I have ever been in my life because I'm living for my passions. It's not because I have some dumbass degree, a ton of money, marriage/family, or a "career." I will have those things someday (except the ton of money lol) and you will too man, but for right now just do what YOU want to do and what makes YOU happy. Good luck my friend, I know you will find success no matter what you do.
Love how Spacey just carried himself like a total smart ass during the interview because it wouldn't matter anyway. He knew that he probably could have stood up in the middle of the interview and taken a massive shit right there on the floor and he still would have been overqualified to work there,
Tony Parsons “Overqualified” is one of the stupidest things in modern times. From a business standpoint if a person value 9 is willing to take on a job difficulty 4 for a wage 3...why the fuck shouldn’t it take advantage immediately? It’s like one going to a dealer and refusing an offer for a Ferrari at the price of a Corolla...why?? The idea is that a person value 3-4 is “more suitable” or simply “more slavable”?
@@ClaudeMagicbox In certain fields, the view would be that the "overqualified" person would quickly become feel underchallenged and get bored, start slacking of and then quit very shortly. While you "invested" time to train that person to the job expecting her to stay a "reasonable" amount of time. At least that's the grand theory.
@@ClaudeMagicbox Because the overqualified person is the one that's most likely to leave quickly for something better. So you have someone that's been trained up, given tasks, participating in projects, etc. and then they jump ship with little notice. Why should they be worried? They're getting a job that will actually pay them more. Then the company has to scramble to find a replacement. Also even in your example, there's a good reason why someone wouldn't buy a Ferrari for the price of a Corolla: and that's the high cost of the Ferrari. It may not cost as much to get it on the onset, but there's a myriad of other costs associated with a luxury car like that including insurance, maintenance, expensive gas, etc. So if all you can afford is a Corolla, then you shouldn't get anything more expensive than a Corolla. Don't take such things at face value. There's a reason why such terms like "overqualified" and "too good to be true" exist.
I've basically sleepwalked through life without a plan. Went to school, did well; went to University, got a Degree. Walked into a relatively well-paying job. Am I happy? Not really. I feel like most of us are processed along a conveyor belt, into a mind-numbing job in order to keep the system working. Sometimes I long for a job with less responsibility. Money isn't everything, I'd happily take a pay cut if I was able to live a less stressful life. One day I may just do that.
That day should be today. But you have been socially conditioned to be led by your fear and as a result you are probably never going to break free until you retire. By then you will regret it all. Depressing I know, but that is probably what's going to happen.
DesDrukStiv I did take my own advice. I quit my office job and now I deliver mail. It's 110% better than meeting hourly deadliness and dealing with passive aggressive people over the phone.
***** The problem for most people is the pressure of society. It's fucked up to think that working in McDonalds probably generates more stigma than being unemployed.
I was also 19 when this movie came out, thought it was hilarious. Now, being 41, after living through a shitty marriage and a shitty job, I can honestly say, this movie is such an eye opener. I am so glad both are gone now (marriage and job) and now I do the things that I like. This is what you should do kiddos. Do the shit you like and be with people you like.
yeah awesome living alone in your 40s as a bachelor manchild with nothing going on no family no wife. looks like an express route to the shotgun-in-mouth retirement plan
@@WebMentorCR he’s just jealous he doesn’t have the balls to do whatever he wants and is stick with social stigma. Good for you man, as long as you live under less stress and more happy, people’s opinions don’t matter.
@@kevzenevze9893 That's not a fair thing to say, we live in a corporate feudalist society, sometimes one is forced to play by the rules until they snap.
The line, I want a job with the least amount of responsibility, always resonated with me. I was food service manager for 45 yrs. Hated it but it was my "trade." I retired at 62, screw that 65 or 67 BS. If you can afford it, do retire at 62 and enjoy knowing that every day is like having a day off when you were working. No responsibility. Not having a boss is the greatest feeling ever.
@@FUCKINGENIOUS I mean... he has more money then people in normal jobs would earn in several lifetimes. I think he will be ok. As for his "lifestyle" and public image there are always alternatives and solutions.
@Dan Smith Listen, the guy got money. Probably more money then you will make throughout your entire life. You can be salty all you want, but that's just facts. I don't support whatever bad stuff he has done, but you claiming i am "defending" him cause i'm saying he can live out his life without having to worry about money just sounds like you being salty... and that's ok i guess. Can't really blame you.
After a lifetime of jobs with lots of responsibility, taking work home, negotiating, managing people, I totally get this. I think I'd be happier stocking shelves at Trader Joe's. Do your work and leave at the end of the day without taking any problems home. It would be bliss.
I quit my job and took up forklifting on weekends, 3 12 hour shifts followed by 4 days off, I feel free now, no more stress, pop music in and go to work, sometimes less is more.
I was in the army with a bloke who'd apply at MacDonald's while on leave. He'd give people free stuff at the drive through, make massive burgers and other good stuff just for shits and giggles.
the nicest segment of the film 0:53 "I am looking for the least possible amount of responsibility" ... the simplest way of life ... a real rebellion/revolution
@@wearebillionyearoldcarbon9563 I followed the plot, and I got all the dynamic forces in the story when I first watched it. However, in my 20's I wasn't married, I wasn't tie down to a long term financial plan... the undertone of the story(life is shorter than you think, don't trade your happiness) resonates with me now.
Got it 26 get it more now. YOU don't get it because you can't even spell FORTY!!!!! Just because you get older in life doesn;t mean you get any wiser that for sure lol!
You know I understand the premise of the movie but here is the reality of life. Most jobs that pay well kind of suck. The reason that jobs suck is because Corporate America has unrealistic goals. It's all about making more money all the time. If you can't do that for your company you get fired or they lower your salary. I worked for a company for 10 years and every day my boss said the same thing. We need more sales. Really? Wow. You're a genius. I can't believe you could figure that out so easily. Of course there is one small problem and that is every other f----- company wants the same thing. So then comes the economic crisis and you have to sit there and listen to all this shit that you HAVE NO CONTROL OVER WHATSOEVER and no one ever blames the SYSTEM, they blame YOU. So I understand Lester's frustration with the system, but the fact is that unless you want to seriously downgrade your standard of living, you have to play the game and that's the way it is.
Well said my friend. I used to be a car sales representative working from 9 to 9 every day and I ve made my Boss a wealthy man. Now I my job is a Shuttle Bus driver and I am very happy and without f.. stress
The goal is quite realistic, these companies are bringing money in hand over fist even in the worst of times. What's unrealistic is the idea that people can both maximize profits and act as rational human beings at the same time in a system that isn't under the control of people-it's under the control of money.
Agreed! With most of all. Because "downgrading" is in their terms or system standards. But you can amaze your self with amount of well being and sometimes healthier lifestyle you can get with a simpler less polluting life
I watched this movie for the first time when I was 17.I was more or less Ricky's character,except I didn't sell pot.What's crazy is even then I understood Lester's character and his decisions because I saw my parents going through the same thing-the relentless pressure of corporate America,maintaining a house,keeping the cars running- and they told me all the time to prepare for it,and I knew they were right. The world seems like this new,beautiful thing when you're young ,and it gets replaced by this dull resignation to all the boring responsibilities of everyday life....no wonder so many of us want to break out of the system.Alot has changed-if anything life is harder and more oppressive than in 1999- but American Beauty still resonates and is probably the best film of it's era.
I saw this with my future wife in the theater...I understood it, I laughed with Lester but she hated it. Less than ten years I was living Lester's life but I got out fortunately.
I saw this film again last night after a 15-year hiatus. Man, it's amazing how time gives you a much deeper perspective on movies. This film was at turns LOL Funny, sad, shocking, Sick, and Very Real ! And that's what makes it so relatable, especially if you grew up in the burbs, you know people are not what they seem and everything is always about appearances. Kinda sad what happened to Kevin Spacey in real life cuz he was the heart of the movie. I related to the Ricky character a lot played by Wes Bentley. I thought he would be a big break-out star after this movie, which didn't exactly happen. Everytime Ricky was onscreen, he just totally grabbed my attention. His performance was riveting. This movie def worthy of the bagful of Oscars it won, incl Best Picture.
I'm 27, and I don't have to be 40 to understand the man & his motives. Literally anyone sick of that corporate shit might lose it someday but he did it formally & with style. Lol 😂
aside from starting your own business how can someone in their 20s survive without working a corporate job? even with a corporate job. the price of housing is ludicrous here and if i dont want to be a rent cuck and live in the city i have to kip in my parents' house, which i personally dont mind but not much in the way of personal freedom
@@missingno88 stfu eren and go back to fucking up marley this friday. Edit: aot jokes aside here, the hypocrisy of you to say that. Given how high the cost of living everywhere is now, no matter what country & most corporate workers are being underpaid.
Yeah, remember this movie was made over 20 years ago, When personal relationships and average salaries were paradise compared to today... so it was kinda a shock to many people that ( at that time) believed marriage and a decent corporate were the key to a happy life... These days, you have the " great resignation movement" and stuff, but back in the days, American Beauty was exploring uncharted territory...
I’ve been trying to score a part time gig at Target just for some extra cash and this is exactly how I am treated just cuz I’m a professional accountant in my regular job. It’s like yes I know I’m overqualified but I am not looking to run the store. I just want a no brain easy job with very little responsibilities
That's what I have and I love it! I'm a janitor at DTE. I set my own schedule, have peace and quiet in some areas and lots of company in others, and everyone is really friendly and fun. I have an amazing crew. They pay peanuts, but the job is so easy and stress-free. I also teach piano, and that's where the big money is. I could always expand my piano business and supplement somewhere else to make even more $, but I honestly love my cleaning job. It's probably the best job I've ever had. I look forward to going to work every day. I will bawl my eyes out if this job ever ends.
I am a teacher 10 months. I tried to work a camp gig this past summer. I thought “I’ll be active, I’ll make some money, I get to teach some cool stuff to kids”. The moment I put my foot in there the owner wanted me to run the place, no extra pay for extra responsibilities. I didn’t last there. No matter hard you work the owners always want more from you.
This scene is so brilliant because (for me at least) it really illustrates, perhaps more than the other more obvious scenes, his rebirth (a really corny word, but whatever)...I'm specifically referring to the first part here, as he's driving, getting high, and singing his ass off. It's like he's finally gotten back to the electric, vibrant part of him that was dormant for years, and that he truly believed had simply disappeared. Spacey conveys so brilliantly that total euphoria of belting out along to a great song, a bliss urged on by his obsession with Angela, and just letting go. Once he sees himself in Angela, it's as though everything else falls away, and he's free. It's a moment more poignant and incandescent to me than, say, the first time he sees Angela in the gym and his face literally drops with that shock of recognition and almost unbearable beauty assimilation. I've had a lot of conversations with people over the years about how obvious and simplistic this movie is, and in some ways I can understand this argument. But I don't think it detracts from the movie at all. The obviousness is almost necessary in a strange way, and drives home even further the pain of losing your drive and passion and feeling irrevocably trapped in a life that has become totally alien to you. It paints this with very broad strokes, to be sure, but also there are moments (such as this one, of him in the car) that are complete gems, and that, again, illustrate so very well that the things that resonate the most in life can be the most seemingly insignificant moments. (Not to sound corny). This is one of my favorite movies of all-time, flaws and all. Sometimes "flaws" can make works of art even more profoundly beautiful.
Jennifer Majewski Don't get yourself too excited, as I'm still not sure if such a feat is physically possible. Or did you mean you considered it funny? I really hope it's the former.
Wow Jennifer. Great synopsis. I'm using this video in a Public Speaking class presentation I'm giving with my group for a speech we are giving entitled. Overqualified Employees in the Workforce. Never before have I read such a profound no bullshit movie review. Rock on with yo bad self!
Love reading the comments of how so many people understand Lester here. I definitely understand him, at 39 here. I wouldn't say I'm miserable, but I remember watching this movie a couple of times between age 16-19 and laughing at this scene. I thought "Omg you quit a high paying corporate job to go work at the counter/drive thru of a fast food restaurant??" (which I worked at from age 18-20). But omg now I SO understand it...and it makes me long for those days again. Of course, when I was living them, I hated them lol. Making 5 bucks an hour and feeling trapped in a dead end job, not know what I wanted to do, where to go, etc. But to the young ones of that age again...enjoy those days. Don't feel pressured to know what you want out of life at 18...0r 20...25...even later than that. Cause simplicity can bring happiness. Now I totally understand that someone who is truly stuck in a low paying job, barely able to survive/make rent is a very different situation than this. It's like Rachel's mom in Friends wanting to leave her husband and have Rachel's life of waitressing, living in an apartment with friends (and says how she'd be doing that with money which is very different lol so true). But then I think....where I am now (working in a salaried corporate job and not living paycheck to paycheck)....I longed for that when I was younger. But like everything...you compromise on things. You trade some happiness & fulfillment for money/security. I'm 9-5 chained to a desk where all management cares about are numbers, and it can be soul sucking. It would be great if people like me could take 6-12 months off every few years and work these simple jobs to strive what we're after. However what we're after is different now than what it was originally. At 18-20 working in fast food, I used to fantasize about "making it" and what the world and life could hold for me. I remember Kevin's line in The Life of David Gale quoting a philosopher "we are only ever truly happy when daydreaming about future happiness..." Wow. So anyways...sorry for such a long winded response but yeah that's my feelings on this.
He means he's over-qualified. I have a BA and MBA and was out of work for a year. Companies don't want people who will quit in a week when the *real* job comes along.
The irony of life and work. I used to be 16, working in retail and hating it. The arrogant customers, the boredom of menial, repetitive tasks. Now I'm 33 and have a good, 'higher-up' job in IT, but I sometimes long for the days of less pressure, the lack of focus required and the ability to forget about work when you leave for the day. I guess what I'm saying is; be happy in your job, no matter what you're doing, and if you're not then look for something else. Don't focus on money.
No one would pay for napkins if you sold them seperately in a restaurant, even if it is just a take out restaurant. But everyone pays for napkins because they are included in the price of your menu. So.. everyone pays for napkins. You just don't know it because it's calculated into the total price of the meal without telling you.
I have a friend who is a theoretical chemist that graduated with his Ph.D about 15 years ago. Brilliant individual whose specialty was differential geometry on manifolds. When he graduated, one line of application was molecular geometry in drug design. His education was paid by a large pharmaceutical company as a contract in employment. Unfortunately, this was around 2008, during the housing market crises. He couldn't find a job. However, several banks wanted to hire him to do economic forecasting in the derivatives market. The banks utilized his skill set in advanced mathematics and paid him handsomely. However, he was working 80-100 hours a week. After 10 years, he accumulated more than 5 times the wealth when compared if he stayed in scientific research. Unfortunately, the stress took an enormous strain on his health. Dealing with the large sums of money, he realized what errors could mean for banks and their clients. What does he do now? He wanted to do a job with mindless work. He applied to several fast food companies and couldn't even get an interview. He moved to Houston and applied at a coffee shop without putting his educational background. He's been working there for the last four years. He's enjoying his life now. According to the owner, he's the most outstanding employee they've ever had. They've wanted to move him into management but refuses any more responsibility. He works 20-30 hours a week, reads books, does a lot of hiking; and does research on the side. He is the happiest individual I know. He doesn't live a lavish life style and enjoys his days more than anyone else. This scene, in the film, really resonates with him.
The meaning of life is just to be Alive, It is so plain and so obvious and so simple. And yet, everybody rushes around in a great panic as if it were necessary to achieve something beyond themselves. -Alan Watts
The thing is, many people do achieve things beyond themselves. Whether it's superficial like being a famous actor or musician that influences society, or something more grounded like making strides in important academic or professional fields. These things are achievable by some, and it's depressing to realize you're actually just one of the more unimportant cogs in this machine.
This was filmed at Carl's Jr in Canoga Park. I used to go there in the 80s to mid 90s. I can't tell you how excited I was when I watched the movie and saw this!
I wouldn't call it 'discrimination'. It's just like in the army. You need to be a certain age to do a certain type of job. The reasons may be ranging from utilitarian (the job is physically consuming) to cosmetic (can't have old people working in a hip looking place). But they serve a practical purpose for a business. It's not discrimination if it's a job requirement.
Well, since there was no bona fide occupational requirement that I could not fulfill, nor were my qualifications even evaluated, it is indeed discrimination. Discrimination based on age is illegal. Think about what you are implying? You can't have old people working someplace because they aren't hip? That is highly subjective and opens up any class of people to discrimination. Your argument is also flawed because if you check the job announcements for Starbucks, it does not state anywhere that you must be within a certain age to work there which is a legal requirement if you are going to require certain qualifications for a specific job. Of course Starbucks is smart enough not to put anything like that in a job announcement because it would be a violation of Title 7 USC . Unfortunately for them so is the part of the application where they ask the date ranges that people were born in. The bottom line, Starbucks doesn't live up to their image of the progressive, socially responsible corporation that they project. Its just a marketing gimmick. Sadly it works. Having trolls on staff probably helps too, but I'm sure you would know more about that than I do.
Scott Shadrick Look, I'm not talking legality here. And I understand where you're coming from. I'm not trying to troll you. But I can also understand the conpany's side to employ youngsters for such temporary jobs. They're cheap, flexible and replaceable. Such factors decrease as age increases. Also, in the end it's a profitable corporation. They probably have reasons backed by data for doing what they do.
Everyone "discriminates". I discriminate the fat women from the skinny women when it comes to dating. Because guess what? Skinny women are more valuable to me. Criminalizing companies from their freedom to choose who they want to hire is fucking stupid, and you can hardly prove that the intent of companies doing that are from "racist, "sexist" or whatever "ist" motives. That's life, and no, its not fair.
Obviously Starbucks is not going to hire people over 35, and even if there are applicants they can find another cause to eliminate such applicants, that they can express in the way it fits them the best. If their HR staff has preferences for younger people it´s going to work out smooth because most applicants are going to be young people anyway. Also for the most people visiting such places are going to be quite rude to anyone over 30 working in such places behind counters. I mean Starbucks or any other place is not going to revolutionize working policies. If you are over certain age and still working at a superstore check out or coffee shop you are considered a failure, a loser, it has been this way for a long time and it´s the same now. No matter if McD does some gimmick for 6 months showing how valuable older people are working for them, it´s already a social norm who can and who can´t work at certain jobs. It won´t matter if you´re a hipster going against social norms.
nordhorny, is "nordhorny" your real name or your pass time? If nordhorny is your actual name, my condolences. If nordhorny is your pass time, you may need to scale back the hours you play Skyrim.
You watch this when you’re 20 and think, “Yeah, I have my entire life ahead of me. I may be broke and no decent job but I have my youth and my dreams.” Then you hit 40 and you have a good job, plenty of cash and think to yourself, “What happened to those dreams?”
Agreed. I dropped out of college in the mid 90's to tour in a band across America for 5 years. Not one single regret. I knew that opportunity would never come again.
Oh I forgot, I'm not allowed to be a Kevin Spacey fan anymore. Never mind a lifetime of incredible work and talent. Someone said something on Twitter, so by the rules of Neo McCarthyism he's now dead to me. Courts of law be dammed.
I know huh? I LOVED Kevin Spacey's work. And now we find out in his personal life he's a creep and predator... It makes you feel dark inside. Like somehow since you loved his work you're some how sullied by his evil deeds in real life.
Eh. He admitted it, so there's really no reason to doubt it. But you can still like the movies. I like Michael Jackson's music, but he was a pedophile. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a courageous individual, but he was a womanizer.
You make your own pressure. Ignore the outside influences and find something you are good at, enjoy doing and pays reasonably well. I didn't find that thing until 34 and couldn't be happier with life.
Similiar but better scene is where his neighbor kid just quits his catering job on the spot and inspires(reminds) spacey of our own empowerment. Kool stuff
Grew up watching Office Space & American Beauty... never subscribed to the 9-5 mantra... and been much happier because of it. You don’t have to do what society tells you, you have to do. Too many fall into this trap.
That "Free Napkins!" line on the menu board is a classic play on the growing absurdity of inflation. It's only a matter of time before even fast food restaurant napkins will have a price tag on them, with the rate that prices continue to rise.
Say hello to the $15/hour minimum wage. "INFLATION" Coming to a fast food joint, bookstore, gas station, movie theater, supper market, liquor store and many other locations near you soon.
I saw this movie again last night and it really resonated this time. The whole thing about growing up in suburbs and keeping up appearances while having Sickos as neighbors we might not even know about. I also think this movie resonates more now that we've been thru Covid bc it changes your perspective. Everybody now wants to be more like Les in the movie and less like Carolyn.
I’m a woman and never would’ve wanted to be Carolyn. When this movie came out in 1999, I was 41, going through a divorce after 21 years of marriage and a mid- life crisis. Man did I relate to this movie and character of Lester.
Fellas, Our lives are full of chapters. Don’t sacrifice future stages of your life by trying to re-live closed chapters from the past. Life is short so enjoy the present and smile about the past. Remember the past “good ole days” weren’t as amazing as you make out in your head. Lester realises this right before his end
A colleague of mine was a great manager, very intelligent, hard working, long hours but treated like shit. He took redundancy & is a mailman now. He absolutely loves it.
This happened to someone I knew. He was a successful restaurant coordinator for fine dining restaurants and made like over 200k a year. Then one day, he was taking a shower and had a break down. He then called his work and said he quit, went to the burger joint across the street and flipped burgers for a couple of months. He was so happy.
"Yela Dart" awesome comment! I'm 40 and still stuck, and I really don't think I will ever figure out what to,do,with my life. I've felt this way since High School, I knew I had no idea what I wanted then and I still don't. Guess I'm just a,loser, but whatever I love,your comment, and this movie of course is a masterpiece.
Damon0306 you think when you grow up you'll figure everything out, but it turns out that you're the same person you were when you were a kid, it's just now people expect you to have answers instead of questions.
I was only three months old when I saw this and I don't remember much but after watching it again it makes sense! Yesterday was my 92nd birthday and I thought of this movie when I blew out the candles.
Awesome job by whoever the guy is who's playing the interviewer. That perplexed look on his face to start the shot, as well as all of his other facial expressions had me in stitches throughout this whole scene.
What a magnificent scene!! A 40-something Kevin Spacey is so chipper to apply for a job flipping burgers. And this 19-23 years-old manager is not sure how to respond to the fact that someone old enough to be his Dad is asking him for a job.
