Rating: 
Summary: True Beauty
Review: I heard the buzz behind this film before I actually got a chance to watch it. I went in a bit skeptical but ended up in complete awe. Finally, a big Oscar winner that deserved it!Sure, the subject matter can be dark and disturbing. So if a middle-aged father obsessing over his teenage daughter's friend really bothers you to the point where you can't see the truth behind the film, don't waste your time. If you're homophobic, don't bother. If you want to see one of the best films ever made, this is a must. The cinematography truly astounds. As does the directing, acting, and screenplay. This is a deep, unnerving, and truthful look into American suburbia whether we want to admit it or not. The point of this film is not to shock. In fact, the most shocking thing about it is how natural and real it feels. On top of that, it actually does make beauty apparent in places not necessarily obvious. A floating plastic bag, a dead bird, a red door. The simple things really shine through, sometimes even more so than the extraordinary events. One of the best aspects lies in its inability to be categorized. Is it a drama, a comedy? It's neither. As one of the film's trailers says, If you think a comedy can't move you... if you think a drama can't be funny... look closer. Quite simply, the best film in at least a decade.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent, light, dark, sexy and funny.
Review: The image that got a lot of people interested in this film was that of Mena Suvari lying back in a bed of roses. What endeared it to sensitive souls was its' masterly use of score and mood. Sour-faced critics and others loved its' likeness to 60s satire- its pithy put-downs & side-swipes at the suburban 'American' dream. All these things are known about American Beauty- 'The Graduate' is its' closest forefather. But I would like to look closer. Spacey and Benings' performances have been praised enough- but this is an ensemble film. Thora Birch, Mena Suvari and Wes Bentley are all excellent. What? the critics might say. Sure, they're ok at highlighting the vacuous of American youth but they're not that interesting- that's what they're thinking. This utterly fails to understand what American Beauty is about. By that criteria, the adults are just as vacuous- concerned with a sofa, their body, the car, the house, the image. It is more complicated than that. Chris Cooper's character's repression manifests itself in heavy-handed discipline. We see his wife, kind but blank, as blank as Lester Burnham is beginning to feel, just as Bening cries in quiet desperation. Ricky Fitz tries to find meaning in art and nature and, in him, Janie has found somebody who mirrors her own dark nature but who, to her, seems to have an overwhelming confidence in his own abilities- confidence she lacks for she is a suburban rebel, discontented at herself and her parents more than the world at large- she is part of the Nirvana generation. Like the others, she craves personal happiness. What we see in the film is how adults can become radical while their children are conservative and vice versa- tension rides throughout the film punctuated by violence, sex and dark humour. But those who purely see it as a damning indictment on sleepy suburban mall-going America are forgetting that, throughout, it shows you that there is beauty, emotion, and dreaming in the apparently mundane , like an Edward Hopper or Rene Magritte painting. It's intelligent, light, dark, sexy and funny.
Rating:
Summary: Nightmare on Elm Street
Review: This is one of my favourite movies ever. I think the best time to watch it is when your extremely depressed, the message sinks in more. Every performance in this film is brilliant. I especially liked Mira Suvari's performance, her character grew on me. Of course, one of the most poignant scenes is the infamous Wes Bentley scene with that bittersweet dialogue "there's so much beauty in the world, etc...." When I saw that scene, I sort of cried, it was embarrassing. But if that one scene doesn't affect you with any emotional impact, you don't have a pulse. One new tidbit I discovered about "American Beauty" after reading the credits is, Paula Abdul did the choreography for the cheerleading sequence, interesting........Everyone I have talked to absolutely loved this film, I can't imagine any bad critism. I guess some people just don't get it.
Rating:
Summary: American Beauty
Review: Sam Mendes' masterpiece "American Beauty" has it all--it begins as a hilarious comedy, and ends as a dark drama. The film opens with Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) telling us that in less than a year, he will be dead, striking suspense throughout the film as to how he might die. Lester, who works for a magazine company, introduces us to his chipper realtor wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) tending to her roses as if they matter more than life itself. Their high school daughter, Jane (Thora Birch) appears as a typical teenager..."angry, confused." We look at this family and our first impression is that they are ordinary and perfectly happy...but if we "look closely," we can see that this is not the case. Lester is cowardly, unhappy, and looking for a change. Carolyn is phony, controlling, and materialistic. And Jane feels lost in the dysfunction of the family. But soon, change blossoms in each of their lives. Lester soon falls for Jane's seductive friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari), who appears as the school sl*t, and is driven to toying with men and becoming a model in the process. But "look closer"...this is not the case. Jane becomes alienated because of Lester's lust after her best friend. Carolyn doesn't seem to notice, too busy impressing and exerting perfection. At the same time, the new neighbors move in next door...the Fitts. Colonel Frank Fitts (Chris Cooper) appears as a homophobic, violent, and controlling father. His wife Barbara (Allison Janney) tends to her husband and is completely passive. Their son Ricky (Wes Bentley) is seen to be a peeping Tom, and films beauty, which to him, can be found in everything. But look closer...these people are not what they seem. The Colonel has a darker secret, his wife is catatonic, and Ricky deals drugs, hiding it from his strict father with catering jobs. Each character seems separate, desperate in a way, but, they all come together in the end. Lester quits his job for the better, getting a job flipping burgers at "Mr. Smiley's". Carolyn refuses to be a victim of her family, takes on an affair with realtor rival Buddy "The King" (Peter Gallagher), and buys a gun. Jane slowly starts to realize that Angela is not what she seems while identifying with Ricky and falling in love. And the Colonel can no longer hold his secret in. These unraveling lives lead to a conclusion that leaves us looking closely. The visuals of the film are extraordinary...from the rose petals to Conrad L. Hall's gorgeous and insightful cinematography. Thomas Newman's score is one of the best I have heard in a long time--the inventive sounds of the drums, and the compelling beauty of the piano pieces. The performances are just as wonderful. I don't intend to be blunt, but there aren't any likeable characters in this film. The exception is that Kevin Spacey plays Lester so brilliantly, and by the end, we do not want his inevitable death to come. The young performances are all fantastic as well, getting us into the mindset of these very unusual teenagers. Chris Cooper gets under your skin as the Colonel. Annette Bening, though, gives the best performance of the film. We do not like Carolyn, and that is the beauty of her performance. If an actress can play a part so well that we hate her, she has done her job. By the end of "American Beauty", we realize, beneath her artificiality and determination for material success, how much she really does love Lester. Oscar should have gone to Annette in 2000, and Chris Cooper. The entire ensemble cast is brilliant. This is by far the most fantastic and beautiful film I have ever seen. Its two central themes entertain two true ideas. You cannot condemn what you first see, and that you have to look closely, because what you first see isn't the whole picture. And that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places in life. In a word, "American Beauty" is perfect. See it and look closer!
Rating:
Summary: A work of Beauty
Review: I've just seen this remarkable film for the first time last night and I have not been able to breathe reaguarly sense. This is that rare movie that slips threw the cracks of all the buddy comedies and inspirational sports dramas to deliver something so original and new, and at the same time as familar as the ground we walk on. This movie has no flaws. And I can assure you that is a fact, not niavety. I've never seen a film this honest and brutal and touching. I don't believe I have ever cried so hard at the end of a movie, not because a character had died, but because the last year of his stupid life was the most wonderful thing I had ever witnessed. This is a movie that will change you. This may sound overly dramatized, but I am a different person for having seen this. I miss the people in this picture. I truely miss them. Not in a clainering-for-a-sequel kind of way, but god-what-will-there-lives-be-like/how-will-I-live-without-them kind of way. Ok, enough vauge admeration, on to the actual review. This is one of those movies that is hard as all hell to pen down.
I suppose you could say it's about a middle-aged man who despertley wants to sleep with a teenage girl, a working mom sick of herself but rufuses to believe its anyone's fault but every one else,the aforementioned people's daughter who believes she is ugly and worthless until she meets and falls for her voyuristic-drug dealing neighbor and makes her realize how beautiful she truely is. But really, it is so much simpler than that. This film is about the beauty that is found in everything: a plastic bag caught in the wind, a dead bird, the face of the girl you love and even a gaping head wound. Again,I was not being over zealeus when I said this film WILL change you. So long as you can look closer and see the beauty of it, you wll with out a doubt be a different person when the credits roll. Thank you Sam Mendes. Thank you Alan Ball. Thank you Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning,Thora Birch, Mena Suvari,Chris Cooper, Wes Bentley and Thomas Newman. Thanks so vary much.
Rating: 
Summary: Simply Academy Awards' Worst Film so Far!
Review: American Beauty is one of the most overrated film in history. It's so bland and [weak]. Especially the ending is terrible leaving the audience nothing to appreciate. It is a stupid film based on a poor script but got an award because of luck.
Rating:
Summary: Twisted, funny, poignant, excellent; Spacey rules!
Review: This first time effort from Director Sam Mendes illustrates a family on the verge of implosion. Kevin Spacey leads an excellent cast, including, Annette Benning, as his shrewish ***** of a wife, Thora Birch and Mena Suvari, are also good, as well as Chris Cooper, who's ex-military father character, and who is more than a bit obsessed with his son's life, is a scary fellow. Kevin Spacey rules, as a man who wants to be happy, and through his attempts at happiness, reverting to an earlier time in his life, to impress the young hottie (played by Suvari) become a tragic, comic, figure. Benning also seeks happiness, in the arms of a fellow real estate broker, but ultimately feels unfulfilled. The rest of the cast, including a low-key, plain, mousy, performance by a pre-West Wing Allison Janney, are excellent. It's a very twisted story, but a good one (with a decent soundtrack). The special edition features a second tape with behind the scenes interviews and other features. It might be too technical for those not interested in all the details, but might make an interesting study for film students, seeing the genius of a first time (film) director. Worth its five awards.
Rating:
Summary: it is a funny movie
Review: this movie is so funny.it has got it all(dark,comedy and the real touching drama) on it.i did really enjoyed this movie from start to finish.
Rating:
Summary: The best movie ever period.
Review: This is hands down the best movie I have ever seen and it changed my life forever.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant movie
Review: "American Beauty" is one of those movies that actually deserves it's Oscar for Best Picture. There are many things about this movie that make it so good. First of all, from an artistic standpoint, it's amazing. The cinematography is awesome, and the story is very captivating. It's obviously a satire on the stereotypical suburban life, and the acting in the movie is spectacular, especially Kevin Spacey and Annette Benning. The film has its funny moments, and its very dramatic moments, and it's an extremely well-done movie. The story is very deep, and it stirs thought from the viewer when it's over, and it also has a great message: enjoy all the little things that are beautiful in life, while you still can, because they're all over the place. I definitely recommend this movie.
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