Rating: 
Summary: A must see
Review: I didn't know what to expect with this movie. I rented it mainly because of all the hype around it. I now plan on buying it once the rental sale price drops to about twenty bucks or so.I wasn't expecting much from this movie. I couldn't believe how pleased I was with it once I watched it. It's basically about two families. One militant and one a little unusual. A young gentleman who moves in next door becomes infactuated with his female next door neighbor. He films her constantly admiring her beauty along with his deep desire for her. Her father is bored with her relationship with his wife and finds added energy to fulfill his life when he sees a young beauty at a basketball game cheerleading with his young daughter. He starts his quest to regain his youth through conversations overheard between his daughter and her friend. He becomes friends with the young male neighbor out behind a party one night while sharing a joint. The neighbors father believes his son is having sexual relationships with his male neighbor and resents his son for it. I really don't want to give any more of the story away. All I can say is you should definately pick this video up at your local rental until the price drops and you can afford to buy it. I will say this movie is not for younger audiences. There is nudity and strong language as well as adult themes in this film. Otherwise pick it up for yourself and enjoy a great film that actually did deserve an oscar.
Rating:
Summary: A REAL MASTERPIECE OF AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHY
Review: As you have seen from reading the other reviews, there are still a lot of people who want to cushion themsleves from the real world. Then something comes along, grabs everybody and shakes up all sorts of reactions. As there doesn't seem to be that many anti reviews for other films, I can only draw the conclusion that, American Beauty must have provoked as much of a reaction in the people who hated it as those who loved it. On this point alone I would argue that this is undeniable the best film of 1999, even if you hated it! A real masterpiece of cinematography for those who look closely enough. Please, please release it on DVD!
Rating: 
Summary: The Point?
Review: I watch a movie for a number of reasons: 1. To be entertained 2. To grow emotionally and/or intellectually 3. To be challenged emotionally and/or intellectually This movie does none of the above. Why do I dislike this move? 1. I cannot identify with any of the characters, since they are all blatantly incompetent. 2. The depiction of innocence in the movie is not believeable. 3. The premise of the movie is not fully believable, due to the previous reasons. 4. The premise is also entirely outdated. The realization that middle class people can get caught up in seeking social status and their problems has already been played out way too many times. It was a waste of money at the movie theater, and it's a waste of money on a vhs tape or dvd.
Rating:
Summary: A Great American Movie
Review: I thought that American Beauty was the best movie that I have seen in my lifetime. It kind of turns a mirror on the American people and in some ways it's quite ironic. It is hilariously funny at parts and it caught my interest from start to finish. It is selling for a lot of money, and have you ever wondered why? I would like the people who don't like it to give me an e-mail and tell me why. Maybe it's because they are too scared to look at themselves.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Film I've Seen All Year!
Review: First I'd like to say that this movie is nothing like anything I've ever seen before. Maybe that is what sets it above all the rest. It could be the excellent acting, it could be the complex storyline, and it could be the wonderful direction. I can't decide. I will warn you that if you do not watch it with an open mind, you will hate it. It is basically about a family man who falls for one of his daughter's beautiful friends, which eventually leads to his mid-life crisis, and ultimately his death. I feel comfortable telling you he dies because in the first ten minutes of the film he tells you that he is going to (he is the narrator the entire time). Needless to say, this film deserved every Oscar nomination it received...
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing New
Review: I was not impressed with this movie despite its rave reviews. The topic is nothing new. The treatment of the movie's serious theme did not grab me. Ok to pass an idle afternoon away. There have been just too many dysfunctional family movie themes, and I'm bored to death. For instance, it is similar to The Story of Us. Americans have a way of going over and over their own neuroses like a broken record. Just like the endless reams of Vietnam war movies and books. At some point, you've got to snap out of it, and move on. The movie did not change my life nor improve my outlook. Would like to see a newer, fresher and more original movie.
Rating:
Summary: Waste of Time
Review: My husband and I were really interested to see this film. What a waste of our time! With all the hype about this film, we kept waiting for something really good to happen. The plots are disturbing. The only good thing about the film were the cinematography and the fact that it finally ended after 2 hours. We rented the film before buying it....I immediately took it off my wish list! I recommend that others skip this film and find something fun to do for the two hours!
Rating:
Summary: Americas's Gem
Review: I knew this film was going to be Oscar material when the lady sitting behind me in the theatre walked out in disgust due to the opening shower scene.The second clue was another lady who sat through the two hours plus and was crying after the tragic finale ! This film (almost like no other) has evoked various emotional responses in different people on all different levels . This is the kind of writing and directing that is so profound it leaves the viewer in almost a dazed state of awe. A film that can contain a strong element of dark humor and biting sarcasm along with drama and tragedy is a rare gem; American Beauty is this gem ! The reasons why some viewers found this film so offensive was beacuse it either hit too close to home or they have never come across anyone in their lives who were as human as these characters. Just because the Joneses or the Smiths next door have the "American Dream" does not mean that there were not certain "sacrifices" made to achieve that dream. In other words, what lengths do we as an American society go to to achieve the ideal American financial and perfect family status. There is a difference between sacrificing free weekends for overtime at a job to send your kids to college versus sacrificing your morals or your mother to spite a famiy member or acquaintance.The only other tongue-in-cheek message American Beauty may emit is maybe we shouldn't get too friendly with our neighbors !... As for the abundance and wealth of talent, Spacey, Benning, and Birch are the film's treasures as well. Well desrved Oscar Mr. Spacey. If you're looking for a film with a clean and traditional formualaic story,predictable plot, and feel good ending--THIS IS NOT IT !
Rating:
Summary: Sadly, a realistic film.
Review: I'm going to buy the DVD version of this film which I saw on the big screen. Kevin Spacey deserved his Oscar (for this and other films). There are incredible moments in this film...such as the one where Annette Benning falls on her dead husband's suits in an agony of grief; and beautiful haunting shots like the plastic bag blowing in the wind. Annette Benning and Peter Gallagher are very fine actors and both gave outstanding performances. My ex-husband's wife looks like Annette Benning and she sold real estate for awhile. My friend's wife sold real estate and she had an affair with a builder..in one of the houses under construction at the time. My neighbor worked for the CIA. His kid was "the" drug dealer on our block. We have a relative who died from a drug overdose. One of our neighbors shot another neighbor because he was messing around with his wife. I left my ex-husband who was a Marine because he insisted on keeping loaded guns in the house. Gee this film sure captures life in a middle-class neighborhood in America.
Rating:
Summary: Mediocre
Review: I rented this movie expecting an insightful piece commenting on the state of American suburbia. Instead I wasted 2 hours of my evening watching an average piece of drivel not really worthy of my time. I am not complaining about the portrayal of underage sex or the use of drugs or even the fact that Hollywood portrays every ex military person as a closet homosexual homophobic. That is so common in movies today that it doesn't really affect me. What bothered me is that the script was so contrived and formulaic. I have heard so much about the beauty of the words and the complexity of the story and how you don't see the end coming. Please, you know at the beginning that he is going to be dead and you know that the killer will either be his neurotic wife or the psychotic marine next door. And the phrases that I hear everyone quoting sound like they came off an Oprah episode or a Hallmark card. Kevin Spacey and Annette Benning did give excellent performances and I did find myself laughing at parts of the movie. If this movie hadn't won Best Picture and Best Screenplay, I might be a little more lenient with my criticism.
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