I considered doing an Amy graphic with the Mena Suvari pool of roses poster but that felt creepy. Then I considered doing that with Paul. Also creepy. But I decided the poster is so striking that the image alone was enough to know what the movie is without even saying it.
Paul & Amy curiously ask, what was our mindset in September 1999 when American Beauty was released as a smash hit? They examine Wes Bentley’s character and his emotional core to the consciousness of this movie, Amy Fisher’s “Long Island Lolita” influence, and how this film earned prestige with a modern feel at the time, while its legacy continues to fade. Plus: Is Lester Burnham just Edward Norton without Tyler Durden?