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Discussion: American Beauty
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Post: 41535621_1 created on Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:29 amPosted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:29 am
I recently watched American Beauty for the first time, a movie I regretted not seeing sooner. I thought the concept, the direction, cinemtography, the acting, soundtrack, EVERYTHING....was absolutely brilliant. There's just one thing I was unclear of, and I was hoping someone might have an answer/theory.

Towards the end of the film, when Lester (Kevin Spacey) is about to have sex with Angela, Angela says "I'm sorry, this is my first time"... Angela, of course, is notorious for being a huge whore around school. Was she telling the truth to Lester, meaning she developed a reputation as a slut to cover up the fact that she's a total prude? Or was she lying to Lester as a means of teasing him and making him even more determined to fornicate? It's something I haven't quite decided yet, because I think both sides could be valid. What do you think, gaia?
 
     
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Post: 41535621_2 created on Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:35 pmPosted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 4:35 pm
 
Angela was clearly a virgin who lied about it up until that moment. I think that fact and his sobering reaction to her confession was meant to be poignant.
     

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Post: 41535621_3 created on Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:27 amPosted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 3:27 am
I just thought it was her finally telling the truth, but I haven't seen in a long time. 'Tis something I will ponder when I see it again.
 
     


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Post: 41535621_4 created on Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:50 amPosted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:50 am
 
Everyone thought she was a slut, because she acted like she was, and she talked about how she knew this photographer... You know how 16 year olds think. Really? I think she was being honest.
     

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Post: 41535621_5 created on Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:39 amPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 1:39 am
She was serious when she told him she was a virgin. She'd only been pretending that she'd had sex so many times before because that was what she thought was cool.
 
     
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Post: 41535621_6 created on Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:45 amPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 3:45 am
 
That movie was a huge part of my high school experience. If you liked it, check out Road to Perdition - same director, cinematographer, and composer. I'd never actually considered the fact that she might be lying, because the actress played innocence so convincingly.

Now that I consider it, I have to say she was telling the truth, and here's why: she didn't sleep with Lester. All of her behavior up to that point had been with the aim of teasing Lester into desiring her, but when she confesses her virginity it's an act of self-sabotage - he ceases to desire her. If she'd been continuing to tease him, she would have drawn him back to her again. So I'd say no, probably not lying.
     
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Post: 41535621_7 created on Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:08 pmPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:08 pm
Alrighty, then, the scene is finally more clear to me. Thanks everyone!
 
     
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Post: 41535621_8 created on Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:13 pmPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:13 pm
 
Yep, Angela was definitely playing up to her friends at school. Only when confronted with the situation with Lester did she feel like she had to be honest.

I loved American Beauty, but regarding the previous comment, I thought Road to Perdition was, whilst not dreadful, a real bore.
     
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Post: 41535621_9 created on Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:57 pmPosted: Mon Jul 07, 2008 11:57 pm
Virgin; No doubt about it. A lot of American Beauty was about how the truth is often different than outward appearance. Angela had the appearance and reputation of a slut, but wasn't.
 
     
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Post: 41535621_10 created on Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:10 amPosted: Tue Jul 08, 2008 10:10 am
 
I heard that the character Beauty from the anime/manga Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo was named after the movie "American Beauty".
     
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