Discussion
Topic: American Beauty
I remember loving this movie, specifically for Kevin Spacey's great performance. Along with movies like Glengarry Glenn Ross and L.A. Confidential, is there anyone who is able to differentiate the artist from his past deeds? For those who liked/loved this movie, are you able to still enjoy this?
Ernie Truman
in
Classics Cinema
2 comments
Sher Free✌️ I loved this movie as well. My favorite moment was the plastic grocery bag scene, floating so ethereally and mesmerically in the fall breeze. Thought the whole film was so beautiful .. but definitely look back on it with different eyes in a cringe haze. Not specifically or solely because of Kevin himself, but for the creepy Lolita-like fixation of the character. Which I did think was creepy then too but it strikes harder now in my memory of it. I’d have to rewatch it though because I haven’t seen it since the theatrical release. I honestly don’t know if I’d still be able to enjoy it. And might feel pretty conflicted if I did. I think about this film often for these reasons. Have you seen it recently?
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Ernie Truman This movie especially because I like to think that the actors who work with this material have respect for the themes, but I don't think Spacey had that respect now, and watching it would make me wonder what he was thinking, especially towards the end. Granted, Mena Suvari was not underage, but what was he thinking about when trying to recreate that scene?
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Ernie Truman What I'm getting at is keeping the intention right. What his character does is not inherently focused on some weird need to attain and control a teenager because he solely has a thing for them. He's depressed, repressed, and suppressed and wants his old life back. Keeping this right is what helps me to understand where he is coming from in regards to the work. Is it weird? Yes. I would not suggest that forty something men go on conquests for teenagers from the local high school. In the execution it makes me wonder if he is getting off on it in a certain way. I do think it's creepy, but not in the same way it is in Lolita. There's a different context and to keep it there helps to put the work in perspective.
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Brandon Reed I hated this movie. I can't imagine I like it any less because of what's been alleged* about Spacey 🤣 I WILL say, that I can still enjoy some of his other work. Even though I follow the common behavior of remembering certain characters by who played them, I generally dissociate the character from the actor apart from that. *Note, I say, "alleged," not because I disbelieve any of the accusations, but because nothing has been proven in a court of law as far as I know, and because I don't know enough about the claims and evidence to come to my own conclusions.
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Ernie Truman Ok, but there are some people who didn't *allegedly do it (Roman Polanski). This isn't just about just Spacey, but given the number of allegations it's hard to disbelieve. The topic isn't really about what he did specifically but about disassociating the person from their work, so you can hate it and still contribute to the bigger topic. Haha!
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Ernie Truman It could. That's why I said, bigger picture everybody has done it. It's not an easy thing to understand and I don't have a definitive answer. Even music, this plays out. I'm curious to know how it works for others.
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