Antiheroism In Film

As a last point, the subsequent paragraphs will look closer once more and résumé why in particular and in which parts of their journey the three main characters of the analysed movies can be considered antiheroes, what their lives as losers have in common, and why the viewer can relate to them. Especially at the beginning of the films, one can detect a great amount of obvious features that can be subsumed under the category ‘antihero’ such as Lester’s clumsiness, Frank’s business suit that makes him disappear in a crowd of fellow sufferers, or Brandon’s still, grey face and the lack of emotional expression in it. Nevertheless, these first-hand indicators are merely the visible consequences of their actual misery: their inability to successfully …show more content…
Since the female characters often have to face similar sufferings, for instance, one can argue that American Beauty, Revolutionary Road, and Shame do not stress gender roles as major possible sources for crises but focus on troubles concerning individual rather than collective identity and relationships. Moreover, the three protagonists are all portrayed as tragic and pitiful figures struggling to find selfulfilment despite the different historical context, zeitgeist, and surroundings. In her study guide on American Beauty, China Millman points out that “[m]any critics (and especially European critics) were intrigued to note that American public fell in love with a film that is at heart an insightful critique of modern American life” (n.p.). One could argue that many viewers might have reached all the materialistic aims consumer society has set for them and, thus, also spiritual stagnation aside of their First World problems. Just like the antiheros, they might be stretched to their limits and might have experienced and reflected what kind of influence a lifestyle of standards and appearances has on their identity and their relationships. Again, what makes stories like these interesting for the viewer is that they do not only happen in the US but in general in modern …show more content…
In fact, all of the protagonists are aware of their unhappiness from the beginning but show different degrees of fighting, denying or covering it up. Lester’s conscious resistance, for instance, increases from the beginning to the end of the film, whereas Frank’s and Brandon’s change develop less gradually. While one can observe this one significant setback in Frank’s journey induced by a safety representing job offer, Brandon steadily takes one step forwards and two steps back on his way towards a less burdened life since the sudden load of emotions he rejected for a long time simply seems too overwhelming for him. Therefore, one can consider Lester the one who has managed to eliminate most of his ballast. Regardless of who has surpassed the other in steps forward or steps back, the crucial aspect in the antiheroes’ journeys points to the aforementioned competence of reflection that has to be completed by determined action, which all of the three at least attempt to do. Kevin Spacey considers American Beauty “a story about ‘What do we dream for?’, and ‘What do we hope for?’, and ‘What do we fight for?’” (Look Closer... The Making of American Beauty). In terms of identity formation, this implies that you are what you live for, no matter if for the right or the wrong