Rating: 
Summary: Thought-provoking
Review: My initial reaction, "That was weird," has changed to "How thought-provoking." What happens when characters who struggle to live authentically cross paths with those who struggle to do anything but?Lester Burnham and the oddly compelling boy next door both discover the ability to see the true beauty in life, even in the most unlikely or mundane circumstances. Who is to be pitied more: Lester, whose life is snuffed out at the moment of pure joy and contentment, or his wife, who buys into the mantra that one must first attain the appearance of success in order to BE successful? She fiercely shuts down any intense emotion lest she be overwhelmed, and even her sexual encounters are comically farcical. "When did you become so joyless?" the soul-searching Lester asks his wife in a touching moment. Ricky's character as the boy next door is haunting. He sees life as an artist and a poet; his serenity contrasts with the stark repression of his military father and soulless mother, and intrigues Lester's daughter Jane, who possesses Wednesday Addams' moon face and dour disposition. Her struggle of self-discovery contrasts with that of her best friend, the beautiful and perfect cheerleader Angela, whose insecurities are masked by sexual bravado. This is a movie worth seeing . . . worth thinking about long after it's over . . . and a gentle reminder to live life authentically.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL! EXCELLENT CINEMATOGRAPHY AND ACTING!
Review: Great movie, wonderful cinematography and wondeful acting. Though I think there was WAY too much nudity, sexuality and not needed perverse scenes. Though, still I loved the movie, out of the movies I've seen that are up for best movie ("The Green Mile", "The Sixth Sense," and "The Cider House Rules") I think this is the best.
Rating: 
Summary: A theatrical masterpeice
Review: This movie was simply the best I've seen.....the truths in this movie and both subjective and objective, in a way that the nearest second is miles away. The reason that some have chose to persicute it is simple...either they don't understand it and therefore are afraid...or they refuse to believe that what everybody thinks about everyday America is really not the case..... An excellent movie and buy....i recommend it greatly
Rating:
Summary: Very offbeat and artistic - I LOVED it!
Review: OK, OK it's fantasy. Like the fantasies we saw in childhood watching "Father Knows Best" and "Leave it to Beaver" but the opposite extreme. The film is great at depicting the dream life people haved strived for turn sour due to our own misplaced priorities. It's dark, it's negative, it's unusual. It's also fresh, witty and entertaining... So laugh at the humor - its odd situations and ENJOY. Sure it's a depraved look at society. It's not meant to portray the typical family but to present aspects of modern family life that many people will identify with. Hopefully, few people actually have to deal with ALL the negative aspects of family life shown in this film. The artistic imaginary scenes were excellent and the humor was punchy. Music was upbeat too. I thoroughly enjoyed the film mostly because it gave me so much to think about later. Even though it's a dark comedy, it has several conflicts in the story that are playing out simultaneously. The interaction and reaction of characters is portrayed very well. It really demonstrates how a disfunctional family is infected with troubles and they inflict their feelings on each other - constantly spiralling down rather than supporting each other. It's a matter of each character being concerned with personal goals instead of family objectives and living in harmony. The sickness devours the family to the point of breakdown and resentment between its members. Throughout the movie I kept wondering what's going to happen next and what's he or she got in mind now? All that, even though from the beginning you are told how it will end. The only part of the movie I found a turn off was that it was narrated at the beginning and the audience was told the history of the situation instead of allowing the viewer to pickup the sense of dreams gone bad strictly be seeing the scenes played out. I felt like I was being spoon fed for the first few minutes and it distracted from the movie. From then on it was excellent and the ending is GREAT!
Rating:
Summary: Best film of the year
Review: I absolutely loved this film. The script is fantastic, full of crisp, crackling dialogue. Sam Mendes, directing his first feature film, made this a visually breathtaking movie that is the best I saw in 1999, and is among my all-time favorites.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: ok...i cant say anything that hasnt already been said...this film is amazing...just sit back,hold your breath, and enjoy...it will make you look at life in a whole new way...If not...you will still be saying "wow" once the movie is over...brilliant in every sense...
Rating:
Summary: Boz's Review
Review: Many people believe that the characters in this movie are considered not "normal", but who is normal, and who is the judge of normal? Some of the best acting I have seen in many years, and the conclusion was fantastic. It is a movie that really makes you take a look at your life from an outside perspective. If this movie does not win best picture and get best actor at the oscars I will be very upset. If you are tired of the same boring movies, go out and rent this movie.
Rating: 
Summary: A Terrible Commentary on American Family Life
Review: I wasted two hours and $6 one afternoon when I went to see American Beauty. I rated the movie 1 star because that was the lowest rating I could choose. The characters were all beautiful to look at. But they treated each other with such coldness and callousness that I found myself wondering how they became a family in the first place. What happened to movies that celebrated life as a family? Are there no couples who positively and effectively communicate and stay faithful to produce movies about? Do we not care that children want to see their parents dead? Do we not care when a friend attempts to seduce the parent of her best friend. Is it now acceptable for neighbors to share pot (illegal though it is)or buy it from each other? I found no redeeming features to this movie. I have enjoyed Annette Benning and Kevin Spacey in other movies, but I am disappointed in this case. And I am worried about what this country has come to that we call such themes "entertainment".
Rating:
Summary: What is the Message of American Beauty
Review: I went with my wife to see American Beauty after briefly reading some rave reviews and high ratings. I like photography and movies. The photography and acting was superb--no question. The message...well what was the message? The message is that you can make a lot of money with fabulous acting, superb photography and great marketing--even if all the characters depicted are sick, depraved, and the plot is completely unrealistic. Sure, human beings fail at times, and all of the decrepit personalities in the movie along with their actions do exist. We have middle age men lusting for young women, even Jimmy Carter admitted it. Our pornography industry is a great money maker. We have drug users that sell drugs to support their habit. We have confused teenagers. Some people are depressed. We have homosexuality. People have affairs. We murder one another. While all of the above flaws exist, they are not universal in our society whereby every two families that live next to one another will contain all of the above frailties in every American neighborhood. By omission, the implication is that these characters represent our society and exist side by side in every neighborhood. My point is that instead of being named American Beauty it should be named American Fantasy. While all of these characters and character flaws do exist; they are not all prevalent. They do not represent reality; they represent Hollywood's "artistic" view of reality. The focus is only on human flaws. This movie is flawed by its narrow pathological viewpoint of society. That the pathology and problems exists there is no question. That pathology alone represents the human condition is a lie. There is one weak redeeming value in seeing the movie wallow in pathology. It makes you immediately wash your mind of it with the first realistic view of the brighter side of humanity. Better still, instead of going to the movie simply appreciate or do anything positive for a couple of hours. You will save money, appreciate life more, and improve America's image in the global society by not exporting this fantasy as realism. You may even help prevent violence, teenage pregnancy, and drug use because those most prone for these actions will confuse the movie with reality. After all it is on the big screen, will make big money, gets rave reviews, and should win academy awards. Where is Spencer Tracy when you need him?
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Movie!
Review: American Beauty is probaly the best new movie i have seen in years. It is the athithieis of the modern american suburban family. kevin spacey was great as the downtrodden american nman and annette bening as the materalistic mom. Ending was great and a complete suprise. You have got to see this movie!
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