Rating: 
Summary: The perfect combination of disturbing and beauty
Review: I dont have much to say about "American Beauty" beyond the fact that everybody should watch this, it is amazing and will change the way that you view the world forever. It is an intimate portrait of two families who live next door to each other, seen sometimes through the eyes of their two teenage children, and sometimes through the eyes of the narrator, Les, who is experiencing his second teenage-hood after he quits his job to go work at a fastfood restraunt. But inside all this, "American Beauty" is a dark look into the American culture today, how we treat other people, how we treat ourselves, and how all of these things can come back to haunt us in ways that we can only have imagined.And if you love this movie as much as I do, you must watch "fight Club", "Dogma", "Being John Malkovich" and "The Talented Mr. Riply". I am still not exactly sure how so many amazing movies all managed to come out in the scope of under a year, but they did all the same...and I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite. They all deserve 5-stars, and I trully believe watching one makes watching the others so much better!
Rating:
Summary: Stunning!
Review: AMERICAN BEAUTY was awarded the Oscar for Best picture last year, and with due cause. It is an incredible movie about the disintegration of a marriage, and some have gone so far to say that it is a study of the disintegration of the American family. The directorial debut of Sam Mendes(Broadway's Cabaret Director) is one that will be remembered for years to come. Alan Ball wrote the original screenplay, winning an Oscar for his efforts, as well as an Oscar for Mendes. The story focuses on Lester and Carolyn Burnham. While their daughter seems to hate both of them, it seems as though they begin to hate each other, although Lester attempts reconciliation to no avail. Lester(Kevin Spacey) becomes infatuated with his daughter Jane's(Thora Birch)friend, Angela(Mena Suvari). Meanwhile, Carolyn(Annette Bening) begins having an affair with a fellow real estate agent Buddy Kane(Peter Gallagher). Jane falls in love with the next door neighbor Ricky(Wes Bentley) who is under strict watch by his ex-colonel father Frank(Chris Cooper). This movie takes ordinary people and creates a chain reaction, changing their lives forever. Mendes has directed this film with incredible skill and panache, and Ball's script is brilliant. The real story here is the ensemble, which won Best Ensemble award at the Screen Actors Guild Awards . Kevin Spacey is simply incredible as Lester, winning his second Oscar and first in the lead actor category(He recently won for The Usual Suspects as supporting actor). Annette Bening gives the performance of a life-time as Carolyn, bringing new meaning to the word lead actress. Thora Birch is great as Jane, the perfect image of a confused teen. Mena Suvari is able to give a good deal of depth to a stereotypically unlikeable character. Bravo! Chris Cooper is an excellent character actor, making Frank Fitts an unforgettable character. One of the most surprisingly brilliant and hardest characters was played with perfection by Wes Bentley. Peter Gallagher is suave as Buddy, and Allison Janney gives one of the strangest yet most powerful roles as Ricky's mother. All together, this film won five Oscars, and is a must-see for everyone!
Rating: 
Summary: Spacey saves
Review: If weren't for the great acting of Spacey this movie would have burned. The plot is so uninteresting and lame I can't understand the great reviews.
Rating:
Summary: American Beauty ...look closer
Review: Lester Burnham, (Kevin Spacey) is an adult who is trapped in a cell during his day to day life. He is a free man, he just has trouble talking to his wife and daughter Jane (Thora Birch, from 'Patriot Games', 'Clear & Preasent Danger'). Until he goes to see Jane play a game of netball. During the interval, cheerleaders entertain the audience, and Lester is drawn into a fantasy world by Jane's friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari 'American Pie', 'Loser'). He is no longer in a cell. He can now live again thanks to her. And a boy next door who films everything through his video camera, not to be a voyeur, but to look for people's inner beauty. I think this movie builds tension well. It also makes beautiful use of rose petels. It has an ending that may shock you. 'American Beauty' is an interesting movie. It has some controversial themes, and it also is directed in a different fashion to other movies. The director/writer commentary is very interesting. I also like the belly-button art work on the cover. Very beautiful. Some people may find this film depressing. It isn't a comedy, but it is still well done. I didn't want to see this movie at first, but once I did I liked it. This movie grows on me every time I watch it. A very worthy winner of Best Picture.
Rating:
Summary: An American Masterpiece
Review: It's very rare that a film can make you laugh with genuine sincerity, yet move you with a true force of emotion. American Beauty shines from beginning to end, thanks to the deft direction by Sam Mendes and the brilliant screenplay by Alan Ball. Yet, Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning, Wes Bently, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari and Chris Cooper only elevates this gem into a higher plane with the best ensemble performance of the decade. Wonderfully touching, yet never overwrought. Funny, but never degrading. To watch it is to experience it. Conrad Hall's photography makes it all look like a priceless painting that moves. At times, it is even sensuous, but mostly, it is illuminating. No amount of words can describe the beauty that this cinematic masterpiece generates. All the awards and praise reaped on this movie is all justified. And then some. Watch it, feel it. For those who have not watched it, you probably don't know what I am talking about. It's OK. Someday you will.
Rating: 
Summary: ...just plain mediocre
Review: This is the kind of film that Europeans love about America: it has every single ridiculous stereotype about suburban life, from hiding your true feelings from the neighbors to gun-totting nut cases who beat their children. It was so bad that I was stunned at the attention it got. Not a single scene or emotion rings true. Is this, along with film versions of cartoons and old TV shows, the best that Hollywood can do?
Rating:
Summary: Beauty is truth
Review: Some people shock me, with their stupidity. They seem to believe that this is a movie about a man who only wants to have sex with a teenage girl. That is not the point, and every time i hear a pair of middle aged housewives saying that it is I want to laugh at them and cry for them at the same time. The movie isn't about Lester having a mid-life crisis. He didn't. He had a revaltion. Lester stopped accepting conformity and authprity in his life, and discovered the true meaning of life, which is to just have a good time. And then Lester died, after his closet homosexual neighbor shot him. At the very least this movie will cause you to reexamine your life. MAybe the peole that don't like this movie noticed a character in it that hit too close to home. I loved it and if you are open minded you will too.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishingly Beautiful Movie EVER
Review: I love this movie. I don't understand people who don't appreciate the "beauty" of this film. Direction, Acting, Script, all is in perfect harmony. I think this is as far as the "masterpiece" can get. Kavin Spacey has given his best performance. The camera work is superb. The DVD also offers the commentary and footage "Look Closer" and other goodies. Some DVDs have very stupid commentaries that I really don't care to listen, but this one is very worth listening! Just Love this film.
Rating:
Summary: Foul mouthed and Degenerative
Review: I see very few BAD movies and this is a useless piece if garbage and a waste of the money I paid to see it, so why waste ones hard earned money on owning it? It isn't funny, it isn't clever, it lacks any artistic value and it made me feel like I should have been in some ... dark adult ... theatre. What is funny about some man who in the real world would be considered a pedeophile? Or a family that is foul mouthed, mean and sick in mind and spirit? Maybe I am just tired of movies that mock the average family and paint a picture that average means foul mouthed, disrepectful and degenerate. I was so disappointed that Annette Bening who talks about how great her family is would stoop so low as to be in a movie that was so yucky.
Rating:
Summary: People Think this is a great movie, Why?
Review: I really don't see the appeal of this movie. Kevin Spacey plays a man who is sick, Annette Benning plays a woman who is sick, everyone casted in this movie plays a character who is sick both emotionally and everyday wise. This movie really is no better then a porno film.
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