Well then, if Alan Ball framed it that way then I can't really appeal to Word of God. Although I will still ponder in my private time how much of his exposition on profound moments was just press junket wankery. I can't imagine that "this film is about the pitiable and inescapable flaws of human nature in a capitalist…

I watched American Beauty back in those dark times and distinctly remember feeling that the shallow nature of American self-realisation in a highly commodified society was the whole point of the film. Weren't you meant roll your eyes at the plastic bag scene? Like all the characters were desperately searching for…