Rating: 
Summary: I wish I would've caught this on the big screen
Review: I loved this movie. Everything fit together to the letter. This film gives you an idea of how many people's lives get away from them.
Rating: 
Summary: American Trash and Selfish Bliss
Review: This is a film for people with short attention spans. It presents a number of dramatic subplots and eccentric characters that all add up to nothing. The love story is what kills the film because the kid with the camera, whatever his name is, is so boring and pretentious it almost made me sick to watch him act. I realize this is an unintelligent review, but I think it is only appropriate that a review for this overblown piece of trash should be unintelligent. Okay so the kid loves his father who is a racist, violent loser, and the kid loves a girl and ignores all other girls, and he is perfect, and he knows everything. They should have called this movie "Jesus Christ in Suburbia". Middle aged men will love the character of Kevin Spacey though and his pathetic attempts to break through the monotony of his life. Hint: Buying a car, exercising to improve looks, and not working...oh, and smoking marijuana...yeah, he's really correcting things by becoming more materialistic and more selfish. Some people can afford to be heartless and greedy I guess.
Rating:
Summary: What? Critics mess up Again!
Review: This movie has bad acting and an even worse storyline. Fortunately, I don't give a crap for low high school girls who complain and whine that their breasts are 2 mm smaller than the average or about a crazy guy who video tapes people who is the son of an even crazier military officer. Who cares about a movie that is all about teen sex? A lot more than you think. Who cares about a person being in Seventeen magazine? A lot more than you think. But this movie is not compelling, just plain stupid and way too long. I can't give you enough reasons not to watch this film. Take my advice, don't get this film. But you can ignore it and face over two hours of torture or over two hours of napping time.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Movie for Boomers!!
Review: Right now, I'm watching a scene from this movie for the umpteenth time. I think it's the best movie I've ever seen. Perhaps it's because I can identify so well with Lester Burnham. There are so many truths of life here. However, if you're not a boomer, you may not get it.
Rating:
Summary: WORST FILM EVER IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND
Review: What was the Academy thinking? Giving so many Oscars to a film like this when so many other great films (Scream 3, Wishmaster 2 and K911) didn't even get nominated. I just don't understand.The film itself is diabolical. Kevin Spacey does his best with a one-dimensional role but still manages nothing more than mediocre. Annete Benning reminded me too much of my old Principal for me to like her at all. And 2 of the 3 teenage characters were like...in there twenties. The film goes nowhere and makes no point for 2 whole hours. Absolutely nothing happens and if the camera kept on rolling passed the credits I doubt anything ever would. The title is meaningless and is obviously "carefully selected" to make would-be audiences think that it is some kind of art movie. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to reccommend about American Bueaty. From the lazy cineamatography to the ultra-lame and empty script. The only thing worth noting is how much Thora Birch has grown up since 1996s Alaska. NEVER SEE THIS FILM FOR ANY REASON!
Rating:
Summary: Brains are beautiful, as long as they are intact.
Review: This is by far the worst movie I have ever seen. I can't believe it was nominated for ANY award. They people who made it should be ashamed of themselves. I feel this movie is only applauded for its shock value. Someone's brains are blown out, a man lusts for his teenaged daughters classmate, two grown men kissing, a strange father/son relationship involving drugs. I felt the movie was flat and boring. Who wants to watch this dribble the movie equivalent of C-SPAN? What a waste of my time. I love intense movies. Too bad this isn't one of them.
Rating:
Summary: Best film of 1999!
Review: This was the best film of 1999, even thoughh 'Being John Malkovich' is equally good and in some ways better, I can't really choose. 1999 was a very good year for movies, lots of brilliant and fresh films coming out from some brave new directors. Too bad 2000 isn't shaping up as good, let's just hope it gets better. I think that it is a great shame that the DVD version does not offer the alternate ending. This 'alternate ending' was completely different and is said to hold the best bits of Conrad Hall's brilliant cinematography. There must be a strong reason why they didn't keep it, but the viewer must decide which version to see. A special edition double-sided disk with both versions of the film would be nice!
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous
Review: I don't know how anybody could dislike this film. In my mind, not only is this the best picture of 1999, but is one of the best films ever created. Unless you seriously can't watch a movie that doesn't have a "happy ending," I highly suggest this movie. Kevin Spacey's and Thora Birch's parts were done to perfection, and Mena Suvari is absolutely amazing in this movie. Sam Mendes did a wonderful job with this picture, and the story written by screen writer Alan Ball was emulated perfectly. The only negative point I came across in the film was the overacting at times by Annette Bening. Aside from that, this movie truly is marvelous!
Rating:
Summary: I see why it won BEST PICTURE...
Review: This is a truly beautiful story; when watching it, I felt like I was reading a very compelling book, seeing it all being acted out before me. Kevin Spacey is an accomplished actor. Mena Suvari was very "talented." Yet that wasn't entirely all what the movie was about. It was a story about random suburban life anywhere in America. An unappreciated man, with a materialistic wife, a troubled, ignored daughter, a very "hungry" girl, and a "strange" yet very smart filmmaker are the main characters in this very engaging screenplay. All props go out to those who played in the movie, and certainly director Sam Mendes. If you haven't seen this movie you have missed out on an all-time classic that will never, ever grow old in years afterwards.
Rating: 
Summary: Good to the last drop.
Review: I judge movies a lot of the time by the following standard. If the movie fades out, or cuts to the credits, or just plain ends and I feel a tingle, like what I just watched had real meaning for me, then I say that the movie was good. (auto: 3 stars) After that, it's up to my critical side to give the movie the other two stars. In the case of American Beauty, Mendes' use of color and Ball's use of dark comedy make for a good ride. This movie can appeal to both teens and adults, and does. This is a very accurate portrail of teens in today's society and it also gives a wonderful depiction of something I've always thought to be true. Adults are just grown-up kids, they aren't any better, and sometimes can be even less sophisticated. It all depends on the person. Sometimes a kid grows-up and becomes a straight edge workaholic (Carolyn) or sometimes a kid grows-up and realizes that being older doesn't mean you can't still have fun. (Lester) This movie definitely gave me that feeling earning it 3 stars and then Mendes' direction, Ball's writing, and Spacey's incredible performance boosted it one more star. I highly recommend this feature.
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