It stars Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham and is a dark satire of the American Dream, exposing:

suburban emptiness performative success midlife crisis hypocrisy behind “perfect” appearances

It famously explores how image, power, repression, and self-deception rot beneath a polished exterior — which is why people often reference it when talking about false narratives, performative victimhood, or moral collapse.

The most iconic piece is:

🎵 “Any Other Name”

Minimalist piano and marimba Sparse, slightly unsettling, reflective Became instantly associated with quiet disillusionment and false perfection

Other notable tracks from the score:

“Dead Already” – ironic, darkly playful (often used at the start) “Power of Denial” – tense, psychological undertone “The Final Push” – fragile, exposed, emotionally raw

Thomas Newman’s style here mirrors the film’s themes:

surface calm underlying emptiness things not quite adding up

That music is often used now as shorthand for “the mask slipping” or the hollowness behind appearances.