American Beauty (1999 film) as Lester and Angela get closer, finally taking the roses—and thus Carolyn—out of the shot. Lester's epiphany at the end of the film is expressed by rain and the use of red, building to a crescendo that is a deliberate contrast to the release Lester feels. The constant use of red "lulls [the audience] subliminally" into becoming used to it; consequently, it leaves the audience unprepared when Lester is shot and his blood spatters on the wall. Pennington argues that "American Beauty" defines its characters through their sexuality. Lester's attempts to relive his youth are a direct result of his
Love Letters (1999 film) Love Letters (1999 film) Love Letters is a 1999 American made-for-television drama film directed by Stanley Donen and based on the 1988 play by A. R. Gurney. Gurney adapted his own work for the telescript, dramatizing scenes and portraying characters that were merely described in the play. Donen had envisioned it to be a feature film, but a limited budget restricted him to make a TV movie and he shot the film in only 17 days. It is his last film as of 2018. "Love Letters" originally premiered on ABC on April 12, 1999. An ambitious U.S. Senator reflects back