When thinking of movies that made a mark in history, American Beauty definitely comes to mind. The 1999 film is still remembered today for exploring the search for deeper meaning in life and shining a light on male vulnerability. Wes Bentley was one of the actors who gained the most from the project, and ever since, his work has been highly praised and in demand.
What’s most interesting is that even after 25 years, he’s still closely associated with it. The actor is currently part of the cast of Yellowstone, one of the most popular series today, but what many people don’t know is that American Beauty played a key role in landing him that part. It seems Bentley is still reaping the rewards of the film to this day.
Wes Bentley’s Career Is Still Influenced By American Beauty
When Wes Bentley started making a name for himself in the film industry, he had no idea just how quickly his life would change. The actor appeared in a couple of 90s films like Three Below Zero and Beloved, however, American Beauty was just around the corner, ready to take his career to new heights.
Playing Ricky Fitts, a drug dealer and neighbor to protagonist Lester Burnham, Bentley’s career took off from there. Sam Mendes‘ film earned recognition for its plot, which explored several aspects of humanity, making each character stand out in their own unique way, often unintentionally.
Bentley delivered one of his best performances in the film, leaving a lasting impression on many. In a recent interview with MovieWeb, he shared his perspective on the experience and how it continues to influence him to this day:
American Beauty was an experience that… it’s like a storybook in some ways, because it was just that out of nowhere fame… more than you could ever even dream of as a young actor. The cultural impact in 1999 of that movie was huge. It was in the music, it seeped into every fabric, similar to Yellowstone. It’s even how I got Yellowstone.
The film won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2000, marking a big win for DreamWorks as well. The production company invested heavily in marketing, aiming for exactly that outcome. (via Los Angeles Times)
The previous year, one of Steven Spielberg‘s best films, Saving Private Ryan, had been snubbed, and DreamWorks was determined to get revenge. In the end, their efforts paid off, helping American Beauty not only win the Oscar and other awards like the Golden Globe but also secure its place in cinematic history.
Bentley openly shared that he looks back on American Beauty with great fondness and pride, even admitting that many of his job offers today come from that role. According to him, “Most jobs I get are from someone who was like, ‘I remember you from American Beauty and I liked you, and I’ve always wanted to hire you,’ and then here we are 25 years later.”
Wes Bentley Opens Up About His Character’s Challenges In Yellowstone
The second part of Yellowstone‘s fifth season has just premiered and is already breaking ratings records in the United States (via The Wrap). But what about Jamie Dutton? Bentley sat down with Fox News Digital to share his thoughts on the character and reflect on his journey with the series since the very beginning. (via Geo News)
The actor admitted that being part of the project was incredibly rewarding, especially because of the challenges it presented:
I love challenges, and, as an actor, I’ve had great challenges in my career, but I’ve never had one like this. And every scene that Taylor [Sheridan] wrote was some cathartic, emotional, you know, challenge. And I find it really rewarding to get to work on things that are difficult to achieve, and I hope I did it pretty good.
When it comes to his character, Bentley admitted that he doesn’t fully identify with Jamie, but acknowledges that the role influences him as a person. He finds it intriguing that Jamie carries so much baggage and complexity in his pain, which pushes him to constantly try to understand him better.
In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the actor revealed that “every single scene is literally the hardest scene I’ve ever had to do.” He also admitted that playing the “most hated person” in the series became demanding, but he emphasized how grateful he is for the experience.
American Beauty is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Yellowstone is available for streaming on Peacock & Apple TV.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
