10 Things You Didn't Know About American Beauty

The family’s long-term neighbours are professionals Jim and Jim. They appear sporadically throughout the movie. Notably to ask Carolyn her rose gardening tips, to introduce themselves to Col. Frank Fitts (exposing his homophobia), and to show how out of shape Lester was when he ran with them.

The character’s and their relationship can be viewed as underdeveloped, however, this is somewhat intentional. Alan Ball stated that he wanted Jim and Jim to be the most ordinary, and even dull, couple depicted in the film.

Ball was inspired by a heterosexual couple wearing matching clothes who he encountered while writing the script. He wished for a time when a gay couple could be as equally bland. Certain characteristics of Jim and Jim were borrowed from a gay couple Ball knew, who also both had the same first name.

The Burnham’s Neighbours to the other side make a more distinct impression on the viewer. However, while Ricky and Col. Frank are pivotal, wife and mother, Barbara is a catatonic, almost spectral figure.

In initial drafts of the script Barbara had dialogue, however, Mendes chose to cut the majority believing what needed to be said about the character and her marriage was effectively portrayed through the scenes of silence.