Rating: 
Summary: Uncompromising Character Study
Review: Souls are bared and individual vulnerability is exposed in this film in which the dysfunctional family becomes the norm, and a man at last confronts the fact that his life is simply not as it should be, and determines to do something about it. "American Beauty," directed by Sam Mendes and starring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, rips the facade from a typical American family to reveal a not-so-typical family after all. Or are they? For who among us, living in this finely woven tapestry that is modern American life, can really define "typical?" Or for that matter, "normal?" In what is to be the final year of his life (though he doesn't know it), Lester Burnham (Spacey) finally acknowledges to himself that he is in a loveless marriage, has a dead end job, and has for some time (too long) been a mere observer, rather than a participant, in his own life. His wife, Carolyn (Bening), a fledgling real estate broker, disdains him, and his teenaged daughter, Jane (Thora Birch), accords him nothing but disrespect. He has a new neighbor, Colonel Frank Fitts (Chris Cooper), a U.S. Marine who is the virtual embodiment of the "Corps," with a wife, Barbara (Allison Janney), he has disciplined into a trance-like state of existence, and a teenaged son, Ricky (Wes Bentley), who sees beauty in the least likely of places. It's a stylized, thought provoking film in which Mendes lowers the mask and raises a mirror to reflect the true nature of a society too often willing to cast the first stone while refusing to first seek out the detritus in it's own eye. Devoid of stereotypes, the characters herein represent a realistic and concise cross-section of individuals who form, not only the periphery, but the core of that very same society. And though personal experience and frame of reference will go far in determining how accepting a viewer may be of this picture of urban misalignment Mendes presents, there is no denying the reality of the attitudes and situations represented here. To deny this depiction as accurate would merely be a turning away from the truth. Once again demonstrating that he is one of the finest actors around, Kevin Spacey deservedly won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Lester. It's a finely tuned expression of a middle-aged man, not just in crisis, but lost in soul wrenching turmoil. Many may find it difficult to sympathize to any great extent with Spacey's Lester, but regardless, they (as well as those who are able to sympathize with him) will at least be able to identify with him. For in Lester we find all of the variances and complexities that make up this journey we call life. And Spacey captures it all, from Lester's apathy and ambiguity, to the emotional peaks and valleys of his epiphany, with a truly memorable performance. Annette Bening, also, turns in one of her best performances, for which she was nominated for Best Actress. She shines as Carolyn, a woman repressed and frustrated who hides her discontent with hyperactivity and denial, and puts on a mask of pretentiousness that is so animated at times that it's nerve-wracking to watch. But it's a great piece of acting, through which she certainly brings her character to life. Giving a performance that demands mention, as well, is Wes Bentley, who achieves an introspective depth with his character that establishes what a tremendous ability he has as an actor. This is one young man from whom we can expect great things in the future. The supporting cast includes Peter Gallagher (Buddy Kane), Mena Suvari (Angela), Scott Bakula (Jim), Sam Robards ("JB"), Barry Del Sherman (Brad) and Erin Cathryn Strubbe (Young Jane). A cutting-edge character study, "American Beauty" is a probing and revealing contemporary fable that is uncompromisingly honest; probably too honest for some. It's a film that refuses to allow the viewer to take an "ignorance is bliss" stance, and instead insists on a truth that lays waste to hypocrisy and self-righteousness. For when you're forced to stare into a mirror, there is only one image you're going to see staring back; and whether or not you like what you see is going to be entirely up to you. And therein lies the real impact of this film.
Rating:
Summary: Simply Beautiful
Review: There are so many reviews already, so I'll skip the plot synopsis, since that is not really the most crucial element in this film. American Beauty was simply astounding in its vivid portrayal of clandestine lives hidden behind locked doors, the hidden loveliness in the world and its subjectivity, and the importance of happiness, no matter how insignificantly caused in people's lives. The performances were great, especially Kevin Spacey, a great actor who truly deserved his Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Lester Burnham. Spacey was very charismatic and immensely likeable as the everyman, and it was very easy to sympathize with his feelings. Annette Bening was absolutely frightening as his control-freak wife Carolyn, and the other supporting actors excelled as well. Highly recommended viewing. One of the few movies in recent years that I would consider to be great.
Rating:
Summary: Would you like smiley sauce with that?
Review: This is a great film, and It's my favourite Spacey performance in his illustrius career. It's packed with wit and inginuity. I look forward with baited breath at what Sam Mendes has in store.The last "great film" made recently with the possible exception of Crouching tiger. A must see.
Rating:
Summary: GET THIS MOVIE!!!!!!
Review: You've read the other detailed reviews so I won't rehash all that here. I will simply say that this movies IS simply one of the best FILMS EVER MADE!!!!! GET IT NOW! IT WILL CHANGE THE WAY YOU SEE LIFE!!!!
Rating:
Summary: I still can't forget it...
Review: Kevin Spacey was the man for the job... the job of playing a middle-aged man in the thick of mid-life crisis. Lester Burnam (Kevin Spacey) is having trouble with his wife (played by Annette Bening) and daughter (Thora Burch) and yearns for peace. When the delinquent son of the next door neighbor makes an impact on Burnam's daughter, things are lining up for disaster. The boy is violent and has a mysterious way of making money. And he is about to change the Burnam's life forever. Add to that Lester's sudden preoccupation with his daughter's 16-year-old, best friend, and you have all the angst, drama and suspense you could ever wish for! The script, written by Alan Ball, was beautiful and dramatic without being overdone, and Sam Mendes direction is superb. Lester's "silly little life" will make an impact on yours... a great movie!
Rating: 
Summary: Shallow, platatudinous Hollywood garbage
Review: SPOILERS ahead, I guess. Does anyone remember the time when movies didn't need to pat themselves on the back for independent thought (not that there was independent thought here)? American Beauty, like Fight Club, is like so many recent ironic and condescending movies that more or less tells the audience: "if you don't like this film, you're one of the shallow people we're talking about. Time to reevaluate your life." There's nothing in this movie that is original, brilliant, thought-provoking or cutting edge. It's another Hollywood movie that acts disillusioned with american society and pop culture, while being the apotheosis of it. And can we please leave suburbia alone? Generalizations about middle-class familes and suburbia are no different from broad generalizations about black people, rich people; or for that matter, ANYTHING. The characters here are supposedly fleshed-out human beings, not the one-dimensional cardboard cutouts we've come to know so well. The truth is, they're not complex characters, they're just, instead of one-dimensional, two-dimensional. That is, they each have a twist; and the twist serves to undermine our expectations, so the filmmakers can say, "ah, look, you've misjudged the characters! You are closed-minded." But we aren't closed-minded; the movie is simply manipulative. See for yourself: The homophobe (military man!) who turns out to be gay (as we find out after a long string of questionable coincidences). The--how shall I put it without getting censored--prurient slattern cheerleader who turns out to be--gasp!--a virgin. Meanwhile, the weird people are supposedly interesting. "We're freaks! You're boring and you know it!" says the daughter to the cheerleader (who DOES know it...there's nothing like a bitter filmmaker getting his revenge on the popular people in high school). Freaks, are they? Both the "freaks" in this movie are perfectly attractive individuals. One's a pothead, whom all my female friends think is the hottest guy around, and one's a cheerleading "freak," who wants breast enlargements, despite having enormous breasts, whom all my guy friends think is the hottest girl they've ever seen. Couldn't they have made one of them, at the very least, slightly obese? And couldn't they have been INTERESTING? I thought it might be a joke when the pothead, Ricky, or whatever his name is, Billy, Larry, whatever--starting talking about how the bag floating around was the most beautiful thing that he ever saw...well, that, and a dead bird he saw (intense, man). I thought it was maybe a little dig at potheads and their sometimes questionable rants...but they chose to end the movie with that image (I also saw an interview with the writer where he said that HE himself saw a bag floating in the wind, and it inspired the movie...man oh man...) Meanwhile, in the background, if you look kind of closely, you'll see find the hidden "look closer"s taped to the walls, like Where's Waldo comics. This is supposed to give the movie depth, I guess. None of the performances are subtle. Kevin Spacey is detached and ironic, and everyone else is yelling the whole time. The dialogue is unrealistic, though occasionally funny. All in all, a pretty underwhelming and bland experience. Please don't fall for it.
Rating:
Summary: I cant believe anyone would give this movie anything under 5
Review: Ok, first, let me start off with how disgusted I am with some of my fellow amazon reviewers for giving this movie 1 star because they thought it was too controversial. The movie is brilliant. I think from reading the reviews of other intelligent people, you already know incredible this movie really was. However, for whatever reason, whether it was because it was too blunt in the way they expressed american life or whatever it was, you must at least give kudos to the acting and cinematography. I am also surprised at how a couple of people had no cons to complain about and wrote nothing but compliments only gave the movie 4 stars. This movie deserves all the stars in the world. The man was lusting for a teenage girl... is that really that far removed from the way men really think? I also saw a reviewer put a con of the movie as "the girl was weird"... what the hell does that have to do with good movie making? One reviewer was right. Intelligent people find this movie outstanding. Morons find this movie "horrible, too weird, yucky, ME NOT LIKE, TOO BRILLIANT FOR ME SMALL BRAIN". I'm sorry... after watching american beauty get the ratings it deserved, 1 star reviewers started popping up.. i tried to resist flaming but I just could not. Ooh by the way, get this movie! I have it, I've watched it countless times, each time no less enjoyable than the last and I still watch it. (P.S, Kevin Spacey is the man)
Rating:
Summary: My Favorite Film
Review: I could easily max out the Amazon review guidline of 1,000 words,flinging supurlatives left-and-right,but I'll spare you,and leave it at this:This is my favorite movie,I think it's beautiful.The entire cast is perfect.I've never been moved by a film as much as when I saw this one.Needless to say,the DVD release was a big event in my life.I watch it at least once a week.I highly recommend it to anyone reading this.
Rating:
Summary: American Beauty
Review: American Beauty is one of the best movies i have ever seen. Everyone should see this great movie.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty in every way, shape and form.
Review: Hollywood has always gone out of the way to portray life in the big city, or on the countryside, but the suburban lifestyle remained to be explored in greater detail. "American Beauty," a script written by Alan Ball, would become the most praised film of 1999, exploring the ups and downs of suburbia through the eyes of one man. As boasted in the movie trailers, "American Beauty" proves that a comedy can be serious, and a drama can be humorous. The film contains a large cargo of controversial issues, from drug use and dysfunctional families to homosexuality and sexual relationships that span two different age groups. In a time period where so many people are too timid to discuss these issues it is refreshing to see that a movie which is widely available to the general public is carrying all of these issues among its lines of dialogue and sweeping camera shots. Director Sam Mendes keeps the movie going at its own unique pace, bringing the characters to life with a top-notch cast and a superb crew. Kevin Spacey is the ever-drab Lester Burnham, a typical suburban male who leads a monotonous, routine lifestyle with his domineering, real-estate wife Carolyn, and his emotionally-distanced daughter Jane. A typical day at work and a family dinner are among the many aspects of life shown through Lester's eyes. When Carolyn and Lester attend Jane's cheerleading performance at a school basketball game, Lester is suddenly thrown into a world of sexual fantasy when he lays eyes on his daughter's friend, Angela Hayes. This begins his descent/ascent, and is soon working out to build up his body for his new love and smoking joints he gets from his teenage next door neighbor. He quits his job, blackmails his old boss, and begins working as a short-order cook at a fast-food restaurant. This is perhaps one of the most controversial films ever. But, it is also one of the most hauntingly realistic and powerful movies that has ever moved audiences to feel such emotion for life and connection to the characters it portrays. Each scene has its own way of making us believe in the emotions that Lester is experiencing, and very soon, we are in his world, going through the life that he is living, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, and sometimes bewildered by his actions. To be able to feel that deep a connection is the mark of a truly great film. Kevin Spacey makes the most unbelievable character in history, bringing such hilarity and laughter to the screen, while at the same time making sure the audience knows that his character is being totally serious and sincere in his actions, and not doing it for mere attention. Annette Bening is wonderful in her role as Carolyn, who is the strong yet very fragile wife of Lester. She has a wonderful knack for showing her emotion, whether it be happy or sad, at all times of filming. The teenage actors, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari and Wes Bentley, are superbly rendered here, making the teenage aspect of the story realistic and memorable. The film has a great deal to offer for all age groups who watch it. It deals with real-life issues in a reality-based setting, with characters who can easily parallel people in real life. It is no wonder that the film received the awards it did; it is a truly remarkable masterpiece that will be remembered by all for years to come.
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