American Beauty

1999 • 121 minute

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Noted theater director Sam Mendes, who was responsible for the acclaimed 1998 revival of Cabaret and Nicole Kidman's turn in The Blue Room, made his motion picture debut with this film about the dark side of an American family, and about the nature and price of beauty in a culture obsessed with outward appearances. Kevin Spacey plays Lester Burnham, a man in his mid-40s going through an intense midlife crisis; he's grown cynical and is convinced that he has no reason to go on. Lester's relationship with his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) is not a warm one; while on the surface Carolyn strives to present the image that she's in full control of her life, inside she feels empty and desperate. Their teenage daughter Jane (Thora Birch) is constantly depressed, lacking in self-esteem, and convinced that she's unattractive. Her problems aren't helped by her best friend Angela (Mena Suvari), an aspiring model who is quite beautiful and believes that that alone makes her a worthwhile person. Jane isn't the only one who has noticed that Angela is attractive: Lester has fallen into uncontrollable lust for her, and she becomes part of his drastic plan to change his body and change his life. Meanwhile, next door, Colonel Fitts (Chris Cooper) has spent a lifetime in the Marine Corps and can understand and tolerate no other way of life, which makes life difficult for his son Ricky (Wes Bentley), an aspiring filmmaker and part-time drug dealer who is obsessed with beauty, wherever and whatever it may be. American Beauty was also the screen debut for screenwriter Alan Ball.

Graderings en resensies

Couldn't believe it won Grammy award over Green Mile. It was a political thing that year. Tom Hanks wasn't pc correct. Hollywoodies losing grip on grammies choices based on flavor of the day, instead of free speech and choices, hey maybe its the union backed sag. It left me feeling like I wasted my time. The dad introduced to weed and his daughters friend,age? poor taste.

Pathetic choice! This should never have won Best Picture! The Green Mile was much better! This is all you critics ever like is boring drama and yucky romance! 😝

You have to watch it. If you grew up in America in the 90's, you will connect with the story in more ways than one. Only flaw is the superficial depiction of marriage. There could be a little more depth or realism there.