​Lighting
(technical)
As Lester watches Angela dance, the gym becomes blacked out with only Angela and himself lit up.
They are in stylised pools of light – not created by any diegetic lighting in the school gym
This is expressive lighting that demonstrates that to Lester, no one and nothing else exists in this moment except for Angela. Hence, everything is blacked out – reflecting his one track state-of-mind.
To Lester, he is focusing on only Angela so the lights help us understand that tunnel vision.
​Lighting
(technical)
When Colonel Fitz visits Lester in the gym they a red car sits in the driveway representative of the desire that it symbolizes. It is the  lamp shade however that sends a red, obvious glow over the two men. 
This expressive lighting literally consumes both men, Lester glowing from the Colonel's perspective. When he looks at Lester he sees what he truly desires, signposted by the flooding red light.
Blue in this film as we know signifies all that stands between the characters and what they desire, inhibiting their pursuit of happiness. In this shot, the blue light is behind Lester rather than in between them, suggesting that there is nothing keep the Colonel from what he truly wants anymore.
​Camera
(technical)
The final series of shots displays both Lester's final thoughts, and shows the reactions from those closest to him to the sound of the firing gun.
The camera moves steadily from left to right, each shot blending into the next.
When reading a story we go from left to right. These final moments showcase Lester's own story, his life flashing before our eyes from left to right, slowly. This natural movement also seems peaceful and "right" as we are so accustomed to the left to right movement.
This use of camera signifies the idea that at the moment of his death, everything in Lester's mind was right. He had finally stopped and appreciated everything amazing he had without being consumed by what he didn’t.
​Sound
(technical)
The menacing, piercing and repetitive music of this fantasy sequence is an expressive use of sound. There is a four count sequence that repeats almost irritatingly, whilst a series of fast paced, short sounds circle in the background.
The music disappears momentarily as Angela says: "I've been waiting for you", however this is not a moment of silence, a menacing hum remains underneath the dialogue.
The repetitive music in this scene shows Lester's replaying of his fantasy over and over in his head. He wants to savor this "moment" and the music is representative of the going over and over. The menacing element to it suggests that what he's doing is wrong which we all are aware of. Something about the music is slightly off as well further implementing that discomfort that comes with the scene.
The moment the music stops is when Lester's focus goes straight and only to Angela. Everything else cuts out and she is in full focus, her voice cutting through the hum.
​Editing
(technical)
The moment in which Angela reaches for the root bear in the fridge is the first point of contact. As she places her hand on his arm, increased temporal frequency repeats this moment over and over in a series of short temporal shots. This is followed by a long temporal shot of the two making out in his fantasy sequence.
Again, this increased temporal frequency is Lester replaying the moment in his mind. In reality, the touch probably lasted less than a second, but in his mind he is stretching it as far as he can, savoring the touch he's been thinking about for so long.
The long temporal shot of the kiss scene is dragged out also due to the fact that we are once again in his mind. He can make it last as long as wants to without having to replay it over and over again because its only happening within his head rather than a split second connection in real life.
​Mise-En-Scene
(symbolic)
There is a multitude of hidden messages within the items and posters around Lester's desk and these include:
·       The red car
·       The "look closer" sticker
·       The "watch your step" sign
·       The blue and red scissors
·       The blue computer screen
·       The blue coffee cup
·       The mess of papers
·       The physically restraining office
We are also able to see the stain on Lester's pants and his disheveled work attire. 
This long list of objects we see on his desk all work together to foreshadow and set up the dominant themes throughout the film. "Look closer" is actually the slogan for the movie and sits on a sticker at the back of his desk, reminding the viewers to look past the obvious and see what really lies beneath the surface. The "Watch your step" sign challenges Lester to be careful of his actions even before anything influential happens, suggesting he's going to make quite a few errors of judgement. The office space itself is small and restraining, Lester looking consumed and lost within the small space. The red and blue motif that can be seen through the entirety of the movie and exaggeratedly so in this scene signifies the battle between desire and what's holding you back from what you want.
The positioning of the blue scissors in front of the red paper shows that at this point in Lester's life, he is still being distanced from what he truly wants, that blue still holding him back and trapping him within his own life.
​Colour
(symbolic)
 
Lester's reflection in the computer screen in this scene is seemingly trapped within the computer, the blue bars trapping him within
 
The blue scissors are also in front of the red envelope.
Once again in the office scene, we see hints of his being trapped in his own life. Lester here looks as if he has been literally restrained within his own computer, the lines of information replicating jail bars that are, as is quite obvious, blue. This literally shows the blue/red battle in action. The blue "holding him back" is seemingly locking him within a computer he doesn’t want to be looking at, within a job he hates in a place he despises. This is the perfect introduction to the significance of red and blue throughout the film.
Visual Composition
(symbolic)
The roses in this scene are in the middle of the table at the for-front of everyone's vision. They are also at a point where-by if one of the characters wished to reach forward and grab them they would be unable. The blue table runner and placemats however are at easy access. Jeanie in positioned in the middle of the two adults who sit looking at each other. The candles move inwards towards Janie.
The table is in the centre of the shot but not the centre of the room.
The roses being that little bit out of reach yet still at the for-front of all the Burnham's view shows that each one of them longs after something they are well out of reach of getting. Carolyn wants success, Lester wants happiness, and Janie wants to be beautiful.
Janie's central position between Carolyn and Lester shows that she and the desire are the only two things they now share in common. They've fallen out of love, never sleep together and want completely different things out of life. Yet, these two central things are the only common ground that keep them together.
On first glance, it seems as if the table is completely central, which it is in the shot of the camera. However, if you look closer you can see that the table itself is not well aligned within the room. This suggests that all of them are slightly out of line with their lives, all longing for something different and lacking the composure and "perfect" façade the house and the people within it project.
​Acting
(symbolic)
Carolyn's positive mantra that came prior to this moment and her smiley, excitable attitude has disappeared once she has closed the blinds and is out of sight. She completely breaks down within the house, screaming, crying and slapping herself in the face.
"In order to be successful, one must project an image of success at all times"
This line of the movie so accurately explains this shot. During her open house she was the epitome of sophistication and grace, even in the face of the hideous house. She maintained her determination and class until she closes the blinds, out of sight from the town and breaks down. She slaps herself frantically, shouting at herself for being weak, before taking a deep breath, composing herself and walking away to face the day with that fake smile she'd plastered on. It is the perfect example of the fake-ness of the Burnhams. They are all somebody completely different behind closed doors.
​Setting
(symbolic)
The opening and closing of American Beauty shows a wide angle shot of the town as a whole, the drab colour and repetitive, linear streets showing a boring, trapping suburbia.
This drab, trapping and monotone depiction of Lester's town sets up the idea that he feels contained within it. He is desperate to escape it as is Janie. They are both fed up with the gloomy normalcy and ridiculous expectations and make it their mission to change. Carolyn however would rather become the town. She wants the success and the high society lifestyle within the town. She wants to be respected and known by all.
This town means something different for all characters whether it's to succeed the American dream or escape it, it lays the groundwork for the series of events that occur throughout American Beauty.