Friday, Jun. 17, 2011
Lester Burnham, American Beauty
Lester Burnham is a middle-aged dad in the midst of a midlife crisis. His daughter Jane doesn't sympathize. But with his blackmailing of his boss, splurging on an expensive sports car and obsessing over her teenage girlfriend, who can blame her? Still, for all his faults, he does wish he could offer a bit of fatherly advice. He says, "Janie's a pretty typical teenager. Angry, insecure, confused. I wish I could tell her that's all going to pass, but I don't want to lie to her." Well, now, that's encouraging.