We can be thankful to American Beauty for one thing, though: sharpening our senses. After all, one of the best parts of growing up is developing a bullshit detector; learning that our own sensibilities as moviegoers evolve. People will repeatedly return to the formative movies of their youth with the ability to see the flaws and anachronisms, but still find the experience invigorating. There are some movies that quaintly don’t hold up, but retain their endearing qualities. Like, say, Beetlejuice. Then there are movies that betray, manipulate, and cheat you.
- Natasha Vargas-Cooper on American Beauty for GQ.
Game recognize game.
Or not.
This is projection:
Being unable to love someone more than yourself is the central theme of the film, but given the glibness with which it’s handled, it seems petty.
‘The fuck?
