The book was published in 1961. Since its release we've also had adaptations of The Ice Storm and Little Children.

Too late.

Jack and Rose would never have ended up in CT. Rose shunned that superficiality in favor of Jack' free spiritedness.

Anyone else sick of the overly self-conscious 50s genre programs and suburbia-equals-death-of-the-s oul films? I mean, really, what is it about the middle class that elitist hollywood finds so offensive and taboo?

Also, as Yack pointed out, it is kind of hard to feel sympathetic towards those who seem to be doing economically well, are in a relationship where there once was love, and yet fail to show the moral courage, or any sort of courage, to uphold their values and strengthen their bonds.

By the way, American Beauty did not dissect the american marriage; the show was about the midlife crisis. A subtle difference, to be sure, but it is rather important, if you ask me.

As for Road To Perdition, that movie was pretty top-notch, I think. I just wish Mendes could have shown a bit more ruthlesness from Hanks' character. Also, I give full props to that scene involving Sullivan gunning down his "father."

Jackie Boy, I hear you completely. I live in Monroe now (unfortunately) to be closer to work (in New Canaan, one of the "bubble" towns), and it's fucking disgusting here in New Canaan. Every single stay-at-home-mom, who does NOT watch the kids (hello nanny) and goes play tennis, and then goes shopping driving her huge ass SUV everyday.... It's ridiculous.

I'm not saying being rich is bad - quite the contrary, it is glorious. Just don't live superficial lives. Shit, one of my fav shows is Real Housewives of the OC. If that aint Greenwich West I don't know what is.

Now, I realize that nuance and objectivity are hard things to come by at AICN and Hollywood in general, but the fact is that those skills are necessary ANY TIME culture is discussed. With that in mind, I find it extremely difficult to counter the notion that elitist Holywood routinely depicts american suburbia as socially claustraphobic, rampant with hypocrisy.

And for the record, American Beauty and Jarhead were both fucking shit. This looks amazing.

And Mori's site is sadly a piece of utter shit. I like the guy....but fuck me was that a shit move on his part.

I hope this gets Winslet her Oscar, because if the Mayans were right, time is running out.

Oh yeah there's one other thing - the simple fact of the matter is that the middle class American lifestyle expressed in suburban living is not sustainable for the entire planet. We're exporting a dream and invading other countries on a predicated future that cannot exist lest it wipe us all out.

That said, I find your positions on cultural evolution to be largely reactionary and myopic. You bemoan the "exportation" of American culture and yet say nothing of others' embrace of our ideals and lifestyles. You seem to imply that we should enjoy differences and yet rail against "homogenization" (which is really just your code word for Americanization) and yet despise our ideals, our dreams.

Your real problem, it would seem, is that you don't like America and feel that we are a nation of conformists, and what better example of conformity, in your view, then suburbia. Well, my friend, all I can say is that cultures change, evolve, grow, and even die. Even now, what you think of as suburbia is not really the suburbia generations ago. In your illogical and blind need to stop cultural absorption, adaptation, and ultimately change, you fail to see that America and the suburbs you despise have changed as well. For good or ill, drturing, you cannot stop time, stop change. To rail against that fact of sociology, of nature itself, is not only a waste of time, but it smacks of the very same sort of views expressed by the KKK, WWII era Germany, and every other fascist screwball in history. "We need breathing room, living space," they say. "Our culture is in danger of being lost," they cry. Grow up and get with the times: America is the great melting pot and its culture is based upon idealism.

The real fact is, drturing, its not our culture that you despise...its our ideals. That is what makes you an elitist. That is what makes you a reactionary...

And that is what makes you wrong.

Cultural influence is a two-way street. Unless, of course, you are some sort of Wahabi wanabe or other fascist dweeb hell-bent on holding back the sands of time. In which case, I wish you all the worst luck in the world and enjoy your thatched hut. I think I'll enjoy this air-conditioned home and order some take-out chinease. I may even pop in Rear Window, too.

Thank gawd for screeners.