American Beauty - What it all Meant 

I can agree with that.

Thank you. I could phrase it a dozen different ways, but this is the essence. Whatever you want to call it, it's as Lester says at the end, letting it flow. If you try to hold onto it, beauty, you'll never have it. Just be.

That’s so true very wise

You're right. And even though joy can come from outside of yourself, from moments that show themselves to you, you have to be in a state of acceptance & peace like you said to not just receive it but welcome it.

Which if anything, goes AGAINST the American ideal. That's the brilliance. We're always told to strive, compete, & never settle.

Yeah, it hit me really hard in high school, but now I know more people that are like these character

Thank you for sharing your insight, Mate :")

Floren Nakajima exactly what I thought! when i first saw it, I was 12 years old and thought it's boring. I'm 18 now (i know i'm still very young) and i've watched it at least 5 times at different age and every time it's so cool to think back how I used to think about that film. absolutely fell in love with it at 17.

So right. I just rewatched it at 24. I remember watching it in my teens and sneak watching it when I was really young. It’s such a great movie.

Like wine.

Pure happiness is when you're a child i reckon. As you get older you just have snippets of fun.

@@some_randomninja Pure happiness as a concept doesn't exist, I don't think. Ups and downs are inevitable in life, no matter how healthy, wealthy, and full of love your life is. The idea that you all you have to do is obtain this one thing, then you'll be happy forever, is just impossible. Happiness is a feeling, an emotion, not a lifestyle. The way I see it, happiness comes in waves, and you really have to be present in the moment to accept the opportunity to ride that wave when it comes by. That's how you fully appreciate the ups, now as for the downs... I think it helps if you find a way to enjoy the times in between those waves happiness, or atleast come to terms with them instead of letting yourself feel stuck or worse, actually causing yourself to be stuck by giving up and settling into the cesspool instead of continuing to try climbing out of it. The "bad times" we go through don't have to be the "worst times." Finding a way to still enjoy things and letting yourself love the people in your life as well as seeking comfort in them, is the best way to use the downtime. But a lot of people just say to themselves "well this fucking sucks" and they sit in that shitty attitude, and that only makes it worse, and last longer. What's worse is when they fully give up. Then... you could lose years of your life, or for some people, they never find a way out of that, and are lost forever from that point. Long story short, try and find new things in life to love, and appreciate the things and people you already love, because surrounding yourself with good people is really more important than you'll probably ever be aware of.

Happiness is a byproduct

@@Meisterling calmness is an inate quality of the mind and its often mistaken as a hole that needs to be filled with stuff like phones, cars,etc

​@@Jack-rk7jc The great misstep of evolution occurred once homo sapiens gained consciousness. Before, we acted on instincts of hunger, sexual reproduction, and survival. However, with the addition of consciousness, humans now spend the entirety of their brief existence searching for the elusive feelings of "happiness" and "love". Although some may feel they have obtained these imagined emotional states, in reality, they have merely released certain chemicals in their brain. Despite the darkness and nihilistic nature of our futile existence, we somehow manage to get out of bed everyday.

Martin Dean He's probably American, we don't use the "u" in such a way.

You know shit is good when you say film instead of movie

why? it's not really a feel good film. by the end of it you feel like there's no point to life. what's good about that?

@@olegdepapa the fact that this film was able to evoke that particular emotion for you is skillful in itself.

i slept on this film and been watching clips definitely watching soon

Hell yeah....

i hear that!

Amen brother

Joe Urban I feel you bro. Peace

MWAH me too

Office Space and the Matrix are also good ones.

What about Glengarry Glen Ross. Loved that one too.

And American Psycho

+Sue Donym isn't american psycho about a bunch of 80's yuppies

Genuine//Imitations It was a perfect, graphic and somewhat comedic critique of corporate (mostly Wall St workers) in the 90s. A beautiful portrayal of the superficiality and meaninglessness of that lifestyle.

It's not only the rose it's also the color red like when the camera focuses on the red door near the end

Thanks, I didn't know this but it makes a lot of sense!

Everyone has a different perspective.

@ Yummy Sounds. I would agree with this. This movie is what you choose to make of it IMHO. I tried to articulate to someone why "American Beauty" is one of my favorite movies of all-time and I just couldn't put my finger on it. Of course, it's a scathing indictment of modern American life at the surface, but it's more of a philosophical movie to me. As Sam Mendes (the director) said "It was amazing that a movie where the pivotal scene is a dancing plastic bag, was embraced and understood so greatly." The "Plastic Bag Scene" and Spacey's monologue at the end, make that movie for me personally. Just pure beauty. No pun intended. Beauty and happiness are fleeting in life and not even Rickey's video camera could hold on to either.

CinephiliacProdction Excellent

Check out Revolutionary Road !

jason antigua I will!

Even though Revolutionary road is a great film, it doesn't match the greatness of American Beauty

I totally agree. This is my alltime favorite drama and I've been watching it at least once a year since I had seen it in the cinema when it first came out.

One of my all time favorites too. It cannot be matched. The soundtrack is so thought provoking along with the great drama and filming. I love questioning the image of beauty and how people present themselves in society. This movie is definitely one that can be watched over and over again, as it provokes new thoughts each time.

Daniel Miller also anger and hate

You forgot the blood at the end.

The soul is represented by red?! In what philosophy?

Of course, Tyler Durden when he is introduced wears white because the narrator is still sort of processing the very being of Tyler, when he realizes he wears red, the aforementioned colour. But in the end he wears black, the color of project Mayham to show his true self

Good! Keep at it

I know right? It's 3 AM on a Friday morning and here I am pondering the meaning of beauty.

Roy Boy that's me every night join the club dude

r/iamverysmart

Same, when my mind is too tired to keep up the facade of controlling everything I tend to turn toward this sort of stuff.

PROVEN FACT VIDEOS you were probably smoking that same stuff Ricky Fitts was

There is a whole life behind things, Search "Truth Contest" and read the top entry called The Present. The truth will set you free

Grace Ful if it was so true no one would need a book to know it

User name checks out

I thought it was cool

Thomas newman should've won the Oscar

@@paperchasindude6578 FACTS

Who knew such simple keys could evoke so much emotion. One of my favorite movie soundtracks ever. So much peace and calmness it brings me.

Had to get that mf on vinyl

Why “he had to”? Nevertheless it made me think also of the movie “A single man”, when Colin Firth’s character reaches the same catharsis and ends up the same...dead...

True. He was complete.

Wake up, Donnie

Wild, a similar thing happens in _Panic_ with William H. Macy

Reminds me of Vanilla Sky a bit. He wakes up the moment he realises he's experiencing a manufactured dream.

I know I'm late with this reply but you sure said alot there. You're on to something. I absolutely respect the narrator's analysis but in my lowly opinion he is too detailed. I think he may have gone off on a couple tangents. What I got out of the movie is seeing a family 👪 who have lost their way and , believe it or not , they actually still love eachother. They just don't have the tools to be reconciled to eachother. I believe deep down they don't want to fracture or split up. They want to be a family but they are searching in every wrong place to find happiness , but happiness alludes them. They basically have the American dream but what good is it. The American dream deceived them and has basically destroyed them. This accurately reflects thousands of American families right now. Look at all our material success and it robbed us of our heart and soul. Families are wealthy but lost. They're lost.

Couldn't the same be said for the hippies of the late 1960s/early 1970s?

@@qwertasdcfghjklmo24z not sure . The hippies back in the late 60s were not trying to overthrow or degrade the traditional family unit nor traditional marriage.

Donnie Darko and the Matrix will round the list off... late 90s they were opening the veil for us.

@@jimmycrackcorn1603 The Matrix? How and why?

The aesthetic of the real world...the crappie clothes and shitty food. The cast seems to yearn to go back in to save others. But they are always dress very autrutrisric, as if they are most posh, for a mission. It seems they have to "dress up" their egos, never manifesting the same things they see daily in the real world.

All 3 came out in 1999! Along with Office Space.

dont forget office space

Same

Yeah, I feel you there.

Same here…

Same for.. I'm looking for other movies which give same feel

All I can really say is thanks. Not to diminish what you said in the slightest, but every once and a while I'll get a comment or email or what have you like yours that helps to alleviate the sort of petty depression I fall into. I appreciate it so much.

+What it all Meant there is no depth without pain my bro. I'm in the same boat as you! Thanks for video my man 📹 peace ✌

@@WhatitallMeant just wanted to say thanks for this video. This was a great review for a classic film

Love this movie love your channel

It works well! another great deconstruction, it seems i missed out a few things from this classic. Much appreciated.

Very straightforward while still keep in the unique way in which you deconstruct something. Feels very specific and clear. Great job!

+Donte Newmy Hopefully, I'm going to try to have A Clockwork Orange out by next week

Brilliant mate, no BS just straight to the point with using the perfect clips to back up your points. There was nothing wrong with the previous format however this seems a lot better

Yeah, but look when it was made. They sure aren't making any good movies any more.

whats so great about it?

Made by a Brit though

@@kasdfg776 what do you mean? Parasite came out and won oscars. Your name came out and received praise

There are no coincidences

Where were you for the past 17 years? this movie was released back in 1999 lol.

blooduhz Just never got around to seeing it! I actually hadn't even heard much about it until some friends suggested it to me.

Synchronicity is the word you are searching for

ITs about a guy trying to bone a underage girl. There nothing complex about it.

Well thank you! Glad I can be that for you.

bro, you just got an admirer.

IKR! people don't care about the meaning of the movie anymore these days..

a rich analysis for a film rich in meaning. cant get any better

Oh yeah, if these were reviews/retrospectives rather than thematic analysis, you better believe that section would have been much longer

What it all Meant I want this to be straight to the point. This was a clear step up, literally. I got to about 7 minutes and had to pause the video because of so much essential information being tossed my way, I mean that in a good way. Your critical writing has evolved and the dead pan delivery was in full effect. Perfect balance of objective analysis combined with subjective observation. One: too many titles, way too many. Your potential for tight structures really showed in this video, so I would suggest dividing your analysis into 3 parts and a conclusion. This will allow you to have the title, Part one: whatever, Part two: whatever, conclusion etc. Movies have 3 acts and a conclusion, why not film essays? Having so many titles is unnecessary. You begin with an opening statement about how the film is about identity and beauty. Just keep talking like normal, giving us context and then... Part one. I saw a title for tone, cinematography, music, and your normal sentences on screen all before 2 minutes of video😬 By dividing the essay into parts, this will allow you to discuss all of those elements in between and still be able to thread the character arcs, buzz words, etc. And you can place those titles into different parts, more organization. That allows the viewer to say, "I think I'll study part 2 for now before moving on." Imagine that. Two: you really kept it consistent with your examination of the themes of identity and beauty. There was also this nuance where you showed a character talking about seeing a dead homeless woman and how sad she looked. Then you cut to a dead Lester with a smile. You allowed me to catch that on my own without beating me over the head. Perfect. Be careful with your wording. "Subtext is apparent through the lens of everything else thus far." By not saying what type of lens (spiritual, existential, identity) this sentence becomes abstract. Always be conscious of appropriate modifiers. You're a writer. "Trying to force an identity is as problematic as having none at all." Perfect!!!! Three: you're almost there, super sayain level 1000. Just keep grinding. This was your best format thus far, so happy to see you experimenting even though you have to deal with your other life, independent from critical work. Seriously consider the division of parts. It's gonna let you expand on textual threads and visual continuities in whatever film you're examining and thread those different elements within your overall essay. I'm about to rewatch this bro because it's so good. Take care

bob polo I'll keep ALL this in mind for my next video. Especially the bit on the subtext phrasing. Structure is key to clarity, so if I can continue to improve on that, I'll take any suggestion. Sorry I can't reply to everything specifically. Just know I'm taking it to heart, appreciate the time taken to type it up, and have no time at the moment.

Thomas Newman "Any Other Name".. The track suits the film perfectly.

I love Thomas Newman. My favorite is The Orchard from Phenom

Same it's so brilliant

Whats the name of the track?

@@eadams1057 The track is called "Any other name" by Thomas Newman

@@Mindzinsuk thanks

Happiness do not remain constant throughout the life span but vary from one stage of life to another. ;)

Can I ask you, IF you don't mind of course, and you are still using this account, given that this comment was written 6 years ago.....has your opinion changed? Did you find Lexie....in all her glory? You must be around your 30's now... I don't even know why I went through this rabbit hole on YT watching a video about the movie, then scrolling down the comments. Your comment related to me in a way that I was holding my breath and watching the screen for 20 minutes before I pressed reply. I'm just curious. I'm a female, with sort of completely different experience than yours in regards to my parents life, but the sentiment is the same still...

Paul y Lol!

You might want to watch more movies.

Thanks! I'm glad I could do something actually meaningful for you.

+Davide Giacon Thanks! I'm glad it affected you.

Death is imprisoned by life, just as life is imprisoned by death. Freedom only comes from being at peace with the state in which you are already in.

no, acceptance is

Lol this movie is stupid the blonde was the only normal one

@@xzaviermalibu6276 you sound like the blonde lol

too late in life lol...but you're still alive, so there's that.

that's terrible.

How's The Single Life

@@westkanye4005 lmfaooooo

That's awful you abandoned your marriage because you saw a movie? Did you make it to the end? He realized his life wasn't that bad.

Glad you decided to! And I will, A Clockwork Orange is next

Well thank you very much! I've been kinda down about my work recently, so it's great to have such nice words sent my way. I've been thinking about doing some "teaching" videos to show how I analyze or break down any given piece of media. Just stay tuned.

Please do so! I have just recently come across your channel, and, while I enjoy your videos tremendously, there are only a limited amount of films one man can analyse. I always feel like I am missing out on half the fun due to my limited ability to break down films and discover its (hidden) messages and themes. Teaching your viewers a tool set to do so themselves would be perfect.

I agree, very insightful break down.

Maybe soon

you seen it trippy movie

Really impressive work, Sir! I am looking forward to listening to more!

Thank you for transcription :) I am French and I had difficulty distinguishing certain words!

Leah M cray cray! Nearly exact same as me and exact same top favourite movies 😂

Well this is late. But hope things are better for you these days.

Stacey Xtra yasss just watched it and i'm so confused

This film reminds me of Lolita too!

Which version? Irons?

What does it mean

​@@bluemoo7611To put it into Layman's terms: Modern Life is Rubbish.