I see another writing trick used that I think works very well.

That is, the action description will sometimes take the POV of the audience. Instead of giving what the characters are feeling, the action instead is describing the visceral feel that the audience should have from this scene.

LOST, JJ Abrams scripts, most modern TV stuff, CALIFORNICATION do this a lot.

It's generally used in places where the events occurring are rather over the top and otherwise unbelievable. The writer wants these events to be like this, but feels they have to hold the reader's hand a little bit to make it believable.

The screen has a way of flattening out over-the-top that the page doesn't.

Shane Black, Charlie Kaufman, Lawrence Kasdan, and a handful of modern screenwriters have it as a tool in their screenwriting arsenal.

Thanks Scott for your advice. I've been cautious to use psychological writing in my scripts. I think I'll start using it when I find it difficult to express emotions any other way. I'll read some of the "Lost" scripts and see what James is referring to. Again thanks.

Reading the American Beauty scene without the psychological writing, the scene is strong enough that you could excise it and not lose the mood of the characters or of the scene. Sure, it helps bolster the moment, but Lester's and Angela's external reactions as written are plenty.