Rating: 
Summary: Spectacular
Review: "American Beauty" touched me like no movie has done before. When I first saw it, I was so wanting to break out of my mundane little life. I was so bored. And like Jane and Ricky, I was craving love and affection. The message of the movie is something I have always believed but sometimes forget. Life is beautiful. Be greatful for every moment of it. Open your eyes and look aroung you. There is probably more beauty around than you realized. And if this incredible, spiritual message weren't enough, the movie is hilarious. I mean, who hasn't wanted to quit their job and blackmail their boss? The shooting script is great. It can satisfy me until the movie is available to purchase. Everyone needs to go see this movie. I hope they get it. The scene where Jane and Ricky watch the bag is one of the most sad and beautiful things I have ever seen. I love this movie. I also highly recommend the score.
Rating: 
Summary: Facile, far-fetched, and false--"American beauty" fails
Review: "American Beauty" (** 1/2 out of four stars) This is the most over-rated film in recent years. I admired the work of director Sam Mendes (whose real talents are in culling the genuine emotions from his actors. He's a great stage director, and "Cabaret" is still the greatest achievement that his name is connected to) treats his actors like ACTORS--something most directors can't fathom doing. He is a very direct man, with no time for just "playing the part." He ensures that his actors "live the part." The screenplay by Alan Ball, however is so facile and unintentionally sit-com-esque, that the story generates nothing more than a slight buzz of intrigue at the film's opening lines, but fades into a perfectly packaged product, tidy and ultimately supercicial. Kudos to Kevin Spacey, for doing his best Kevin Spacey impersonation yet, and to the three young actors who fare better. Epecially Ms. Birch and Mr. Bentley, whose onscreen chemistry and devotion crackle like fire and glow with the intensity of the human heart. The talented Allison Janney as Mrs. Fitts is underused and overlooked, which is a shame, as she is vital to any production she's a part of. Colonal Fitts, played well by Chris Cooper is the worst-written role in a while. I found his army-type closet-case too dated (what, was he supposed to co-exist in 1955, while the rest of his family lived in the nineties?) as a character, and his motivations never felt more than plot-driven devices. And of course, the secondary cast, especially the homosexual neighbors were so under-written, they were nothing more than walking, talking props. Annette Bening saved this film from itself by appearing to be the only one of the cast who realized that she was in a long, commercial-free sitcom. I think she even waited between lines for the laugh track to kick in.
Rating:
Summary: Spectacular
Review: "American Beauty" touched me like no movie has done before. When I first saw it, I was so wanting to break out of my mundane little life. I was so bored. And like Jane and Ricky, I was craving love and affection. The message of the movie is something I have always believed but sometimes forget. Life is beautiful. Be greatful for every moment of it. Open your eyes and look aroung you. There is probably more beauty around than you realized. And if this incredible, spiritual message weren't enough, the movie is hilarious. I mean, who hasn't wanted to quit their job and blackmail their boss? The shooting script is great. It can satisfy me until the movie is available to purchase. Everyone needs to go see this movie. I hope they get it. The scene where Jane and Ricky watch the bag is one of the most sad and beautiful things I have ever seen. I love this movie. I also highly recommend the score.
Rating:
Summary: A guaranteed Academy Award winner for Best Screenplay
Review: A truly remarkable script for a movie that, to my mind, is one of the two or three best movies of the '90s and by far the most life-affirming. The best way to describe "American Beauty" is simply to say that it shows how life is too short to not go after what you want -- but how life is also too short to not appreciate what you already have. And as Kevin Spacey/Lester Burnham says at the end, if you don't understand what I mean by that, you will someday.
Rating:
Summary: "American Beauty Proves to Be Beautiful Once Again"
Review: After seeing this brilliant film, I picked up a copy of the shooting script. I had hoped it would contain the original ending but it is instead a word for word copy of the lines from the film. Which is not a bad thing. After seeing this movie which won five Academy Awards including Best Screenplay, I could pick up the script and "watch" the movie over and over again in my mind and invision the talented actors appear on screen while I read. Even if you haven't seen the film, the script is an excellent tale of suburbian lifestyle that is delivered with a darkness and humor that is hard to dislike. It is a perfect literary work for anybody because there is at least one character that the reader can totally relate with. Discover the beauty of "American Beauty" which challenges us to "Look Closer."
Rating:
Summary: Incredible.
Review: Alan Ball is a genius. He crafted a brilliant screenplay that extracts the escence of humanity. Just read it, you'll see.
Rating:
Summary: A nearly flawless screenplay
Review: American Beauty is a terrific example of a well-written screenplay, the kind that we don't see too often these days. Taut and well-developed, it is easy to see how such a terrific movie was made. The script is simply that good.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible.
Review: American Beauty is an absolute must-read for any fan of film or screenwriting. Alan Ball has crafted what can easily be called a picture-perfect example of what a script should be. Ball dares to give each character time to themselves, where we see them intimately and vulnerable: Carolyn in the house she's showing, Lester stripping down in the garage, Jane at the mirror critiquing her body. In this manner we are able to instantly define their struggles, and what makes them tick. The story develops naturally and comfortably. Not once is any scene or momemt neither predictable nor unrealistic. Most often with screenplays there is something lacking--usually the added visual elements that demonstrate the script. With American Beauty it reads clearly on its own; the genius of the director, actors, cinematographers, costumers etc. merely elaborated on the prevalent themes. American Beauty is my favorite film and screenplay of all time. It is pure cinematic genius.
Rating:
Summary: Cinematic genius in the palm of your hand
Review: American Beauty is an absolute must-read for any fan of film or screenwriting. Alan Ball has crafted what can easily be called a picture-perfect example of what a script should be. Ball dares to give each character time to themselves, where we see them intimately and vulnerable: Carolyn in the house she's showing, Lester stripping down in the garage, Jane at the mirror critiquing her body. In this manner we are able to instantly define their struggles, and what makes them tick. The story develops naturally and comfortably. Not once is any scene or momemt neither predictable nor unrealistic. Most often with screenplays there is something lacking--usually the added visual elements that demonstrate the script. With American Beauty it reads clearly on its own; the genius of the director, actors, cinematographers, costumers etc. merely elaborated on the prevalent themes. American Beauty is my favorite film and screenplay of all time. It is pure cinematic genius.
Rating:
Summary: The most brilliant screenplay of the past decade
Review: American Beauty is possibly the greatest film of the decade, at least, and without a doubt the best film I have seen in my sixteen years. I don't know if that's naive or what, if I've missed the grandeur of some great epic, but this film absolutely blew me away. It is infinately profound and affecting, and it is beautiful and poetic on a tremendous scale while maintaing subtle, understated nuances. The writing is flawless, in a word. The performances in this masterpiece of American cinema only accentuate Alan Ball's wit and depth. I cannot begin to fully describe how deeply this film affected me and how ultimately perfect it is; you have to see it for yourself. And it's OK if you don't understand what I'm saying right now. You will someday.
|
