Bring on the tough stuff. There’s not just one right answer.
- Why does Lester's epiphany have to be so pervy in its beginnings? Why does he have to ogle a young girl to remember what it means to feel alive? And does that whole aspect of the film affect your enjoyment of his journey toward finding more passion and meaning in his life?
- What do you make of Carolyn's role in the story? Do you hate her? Feel bad for her? What's her character's primary role/function in terms of the storytelling? Is her character fleshed out enough?
- Do you think the story is inspirational? Tragic? Both?
- The movie was originally envisioned as having a kind of crime drama-y element, with Ricky and Jane arrested for Lester's murder. Do you still see any leftovers from that idea in the plot? Do you think it was good or bad that the filmmakers abandoned that plot point?
- A lot of people praised American Beauty for its pointed critique of the American lifestyle and the country's values. Do you think that's the most important "message" that the movie has to offer? Are there any other big messages that you think are more important?
- So, about Ricky—is he awesome, creepy, scary, weird, etc.? Or all of the above? And really, why does he feel the need to show Jane his father's Nazi plate? He doesn't seem to be into fascism, mass murder, or discrimination—and neither does Jane—so why does he want to show it to her?
- The movie title is American Beauty, but how important is ugliness and/or evil to the film? What are some examples of ugliness, and why are they interesting? Is ugliness just as much a part of the film as beauty?