Madison Richman
Professor Tomlinson
UW 1020
4 November 2015
Voiceover in American Beauty

“My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood. This is my street. This... is my life. I'm forty-two years old. In less than a year, I'll be dead”- Lester Burnham narrates through voiceover in the opening of American Beauty. Although voiceovers tend to be cliche, American Beauty, Sam Mendes’ satirical film centered upon American suburbia, utilizes this tool to strengthen its message. Lester, the protagonist, hooks the audience through the use of voiceovers on three separate occasions in the film- the opening sequence, the beginning of his last day of life, and the final scene. Film critics often argue the “show, don’t tell” method of movie making, but Lester’s narrations are very brief and serve a meaningful purpose. An anonymous author from Script Magazine writes in the article, “How to Show, Don’t Tell”: “A lot of dialogue can be avoided because actions define characters. What we watch characters do tells us so much about who they are and what they want.” While this is true in some cases, the author’s comments do not apply to American Beauty at all. “Showing” Lester’s actions would not create the same mood of suspense as “telling” Lester’s thoughts do. Thus, the voiceovers implemented in American Beauty work in an ironic way because “telling” actually creates mystery among the viewers. During Lester’s initial voiceover, the camera is filming from above with a bird’s eye view, showing a snippet of everyday life in American suburbia. The fact that Lester is narrating the film shows that the story is told through his perspective and that the main events center upon him. Specifically, his voiceover mimics the suburban scenery in the way he describes his life- listing facts about his everyday being while repeating “This is…” over and over again. Lester satirizes the organized nature of suburbia by making this voiceover sound neat and tidy. However, there is irony in this narration because Lester feels as though his life is actually a mess and has lost all meaning. Within this first narration, Lester claims that he will die sometime that year, which is not an event that cannot be seen until the very end of the movie. The reason why the “show, don’t tell” method does not apply to the first voiceover in American Beauty is because there is no way to show that Lester will die without giving away all the important details involving his death. If the actual death scene was shown in the opening of the movie, it would simply not make any sense. This voiceover establishes mystery that can’t help but leave viewers curious as to what is happening within his life that will lead to his inevitable death.
Lester’s first voiceover also establishes a sense of who he is as a person and gives insight into his ordinary lifestyle. He addresses the viewers in a monotone, unenthusiastic voice when talking about how his feelings for his family and where he lives: “That's my wife Carolyn. See the way the handle on those pruning shears matches her gardening clogs? That's not an accident...She wasn't always like this. She used to be happy. We used to be happy.” This reveals that Lester thinks Carolyn is now a pathetic and unhappy housewife who puts on a cover to act like their lives are perfect when it reality, they are not. His matter-of-fact way of speaking establishes a sense of mystery for the audience, making them wonder how their marriage became so dull and lifeless. Lester makes it a point that their lives were not always this way and that there was a point when he and Carolyn were truly in love. However, he points out something hidden in plain sight when addressing how Caroline matches her gardening shears to her clogs. This reveals that Carolyn now prioritizes looking prim and proper over making sure that she has a healthy relationship with Lester. Without this voiceover, the audience would only be able to see Lester as pessimistic and would not be able to understand the reasoning behind his current feelings toward Carolyn. This provides a background into how Lester was once happy with his life and how he is now struggling to get that back. He also describes his daughter Jane through voiceover in the beginning of the film: “My daughter Jane. Only child. 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.” Lester talks about Jane in a way that normal parents would not; whereas most parents would brag about how great their children are, he characterizes Jane for who she really is and does not cover this up by saying how she is wonderful or extraordinary. However, Lester’s statements about Jane are ironic because she is the only character to get over her anger and confusion and have a happy ending. Also, by saying that Jane’s anger, insecurity, and confusion never really go away, Lester discloses to the audience that he is experiencing these same emotions as his daughter. This adds another layer to Lester’s character and pulls the viewers into his state of mind.
The second time voiceover is used in American Beauty is when Lester announces the last day of his life: “Remember those posters that said, ‘Today is the first day of the rest of your life?’ Well, that's true of every day except one. The day you die.” This sets the audience up for what they have been waiting for since Lester’s very first voiceover when he says he will die. Although this second voiceover is very brief, Lester throws in a teaser that builds up the mystery and suspense involved with his eventual death. Mendes’ choice to use voiceover for this line is effective because the message of Lester’s death is conveyed in a way that is not so heavy, yet still gets the point across. Again, the “show, don’t tell” method does not apply to this voiceover because there is no way to show that this will be the last day of Lester’s life without revealing all of the movie’s final events. Also, a change in attitude can be seen in Lester because this voiceover shows his optimism and joy for life without being too dramatic. The irony of this narration can be seen in the way that Lester speaks. When approaching the day of his death, his voice is very calm and relaxed, rather than panicky and emotional. It is unexpected that Lester would speak so smoothly knowing that he will die very soon. Ultimately, voiceover is key within this quick narration to remind the viewers what has been promised to them since American Beauty’s opening sequence: Lester Burnham’s death.
Finally, the last voiceover in the film is presented after Lester gets shot by Colonel Fitts:
“I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... and then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life...You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry...You will someday.”
When the audience hears Lester’s final voiceover, the camera’s angle is flying high above the suburbs with a bird’s eye view, almost identical to the scene in the beginning of the movie. However the difference is that the camera is flying out backwards during this voiceover, showing Lester’s departure from the world. The viewers have been given the “show” part of Lester’s death, but the “tell” part makes the audience feel something. Although Lester has been portrayed as deeply flawed, his untimely death is bittersweet because he has ultimately changed his perspective on life. This can be seen in the difference in tone between the first voiceover and the last one:
“My name is Lester Burnham. This is my neighborhood. This is my street. This is my life. I am 42 years old and in less than a year, I’ll be dead”… “And I can’t feel anything but gratitude, for every single moment of my stupid little life. You have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sure. But don’t worry, you will someday.”
The contrast between these two voiceovers makes it seem as though they come from two completely separate people. Lester’s declaration of life is so ironic in the fact that it is now coming from a dead man. He is finally appreciating life as it is being taken away from him, which makes the final voiceover so deep. After he has been murdered, there is no way to show that he feels an appreciation for the beauty of life, so the voiceover serves a meaningful purpose for portraying Lester’s transformation. One IMDb critic writes, “Lester Burnham died a happy man… His last sight was that of a picture where happiness and joy were captured forever. In death, he had at last captured that for which he had longed for the most in life – happiness.” Instead of ending American Beauty with a shot of Lester lying dead in a pool of his own blood, the voiceover allows the audience to learn how glorious he thought life really was. Contrary to the opinions of critics, the voiceovers used throughout American Beauty strengthen the film’s central message. When done badly, voiceovers can be a weak film device, but in American Beauty, they are used sparingly and have an effective outcome. Lester Burnham’s voiceovers express his inner thoughts and reveal background information to the audience in a way that does not seem cliche. While revealing important details regarding his eventual death, Lester’s voiceovers create irony and mystery that keeps the audience eager to hear the rest of his story. Ultimately, not many films can find success through voiceovers; American Beauty is one of the few.