Rating: 
Summary: The Perfect Movie (Look Closer...)
Review: If you get this movie, you understand that it is one of the most beautiful (no pun intended) movies ever made. Same Mendes and Alan Ball, both newcomers to movies, created a wonderful movie about a disfunctional American family. Kevin Spacey got a well deserved best acting Oscar, and Wes Bentley gave an unbelievable performance as Ricky Fitts, the only person in the film that can see the beauty of the world. Never have I seen a movie that can make me laugh and then make you just sit back and go "WOW" within minutes of each other; the scene where the family is eating dinner after Lester quits his job has to be one of the best acted scenes I've ever seen. This is not a movie for everyone - some people will not truly understand it, but if you do, there is no finer movie to see.
Rating:
Summary: Best movie of '99.... um, sadly not
Review: American Beauty is the kind of movie that, without any shadow of a doubt, will recieve a backlash. It was overly loved at the time it came out, so I believe there will be a certain amount of the opposite later. And this is truly undeserved. While it may not be the greatest film of '99 (which the awards suggest) in practically any other year from the last 10 I would rarely have agrued. My own personal problem is that while American Beauty is a great film, it's nothing compared to some of the films from last year. Now, I love this film. It's the kind of thing Hollywood never does enough. It is a damn fine film. Spacey is great, Bening has never been better (but is that so hard?) and Sam Mendes reminds everyone why we should let more Brits make movies. We've just got far more subtlety and intelligence than your usual Hollywood director. The script is great, filled with wonderful dialogue and some great charcters. In fact, I can hardly say anything bad about his movie. The only thing is that maybe, just maybe, the guy next door isn't quite a strong enough character. And it's just not as good as some of the other films which were over-looked in '99. But don't let me put you off. This film is excellent. Buy it! Watch it! Now! Honest!
Rating: 
Summary: Unusual and thought-provoking
Review: A very unusual and strangely haunting film, 'American Beauty' starts off by depicting a seemingly 'normal' scenario (an ordinary neighbourhood, an everyday suburban family) and then gradually peels the layers off to reveal the subversiveness that lies within. It's protagonist Lester Burnham is an archetypal middle aged family man who has been letting his life chug along for the past so many years...until inspiration, in the unlikely form of lust for his teenage daughter's nubile friend, sparks new life into him, and he begins the process of rebelling against the monotony of his existence. This is, of course, a sore inconvenience (to put it mildly) to people around him, not least to his wife, a fanatically, obsessively organized real estate dealer. Drawn into the fabric of the plot are the Burnhams' new neighbours - a strange, intense young man with a fascination for Lester's daughter and for photography, and his domineering, violently conservative ex-armyman father. A rich cast of characters and, fittingly, a cast of performers that more than do them justice. Kevin Spacey's remarkable talents find their full expression here, in an extremely difficult and courageous role. Annette Bening is better than one had ever imagined she could be, the underrated Thora Birch and Mena Suvari are outstanding, and Chris Cooper, that brilliant, understated actor, is superb as the martinet father next door. Wes Bentley is very impressive too...but he will have to prove himself in more varied roles in the future. For all its serious and disturbing concerns, 'American Beauty' is an immensely entertaining film. Somehow, it manages to be unreal, often very theatrical (director Sam Mendes is predominantly a theatre person) without ever seeming overdone or obvious. There are laughs aplenty - mainly as the audience goes along with Lester, taking malicious pleasure in his digs at conventionality and orderliness - and only later, in retrospect, can we realize that we were really laughing at ourselves. For 'American Beauty', despite its very endemic title, is really the story of what modern life has degenerated into. It's quite possible that even the filmmakers themselves meant it as a satire on American values and lifestyle...yet, the film is full of moments that each and every one of us can identify with. Take, for instance, Lester's impassioned appeal to his wife - 'IT'S ONLY A COUCH!" - when, on the brink of a rare moment of intimacy, she shouts to him not to spill champagne on the expensive furniture piece. Without ever adopting a preachy or self-righteous tone, this film speaks volumes on subjects like alienation, self-awareness, tolerance, and complacency - themes that are perhaps even more crucial today to our part of the world than to the audiences the movie was made for.
Rating:
Summary: American Beauty is a film you won't forget!
Review: I finally saw this movie after all the hype, and realized that it was actually as good as everyone said it was! Some people commented in their reviews that the characters are all steriotypes, but I think the main point was to show that in the past twenty years we have oversimplified and become parodies of ourselves. All of the performances in this movie are equally fantastic and believable. The plot is intricate and simple at the same time. Whether you love it or hate it, American Beauty is a "must see"! For those who enjoy this movie, I suggest "Ordinary People", the 1980 Oscar winner for best picture and predecessor for American Beauty.
Rating:
Summary: beautifully filmed and executed
Review: There are some scenes in this movie that you'll never forget... some will make you smile, some will make you laugh and some will make you cringe. The characters are so real in this movie... you totally forget that there is any acting going on. Real people with real hang-ups, you see them warts and all.Middle-aged angst, teen angst, voyeurism, infidelity, jealousy, apathy, homophobia, murder, patricide, blackmail, drug use... I'm not sure if there is a problem in modern society that isn't in this film. It was an incredibly crafted piece of work, however, to get so many stories within stories, so many topics and have them all work in a film of less than 2 hours. Every actor from the most insignificant extra all the way to Spacey and Bening did an outstanding performance. There was no scene that seemed artificial or staged... everything seemed like reality, as you could picture it happening. The film is sometimes a comedy, but also a tragedy... but not just a dark movie w/ a few light moments. Like life, the light and dark are intertwined into a feast of emotions, sights and sounds. The film underscores the fact that life is often stranger than fiction... and while all of these crazy stories and people intertwine, everyone else's life always seems more convoluted, bizarre and complicated than our own when taken out of context. The R rating is not a joke... this is NOT a film for kids. There is nudity, sexual inuendo, drug use, violence and probably more that I'm not remembering right now, but that should be enough... this is a film for grownups - period.
Rating: 
Summary: If you like well done dark movies and feeling worse than...
Review: ...before you watch the film, this one's for you. As for me, my disappointment lies in expectations. I heard great things about the film and saw excerpts which led me to believe it would have many humorous moments. I wish advertisers would do more honest up front promoting of their films. Say something like "well done, well acted, dark film about suburbia that will leave you feeling depressed" so that if that is what you are in the mood for you can say, "yep...this one's for me." As for me, I wish I had not spent the money. I give the movie two stars only because it is well done...for that type of film. I just never care to see these types of films. Life's rough enough. Give me an average or better comedy or thriller any day.
Rating: 
Summary: Below average movie, definitely not best picture material
Review: When I saw the oscar nominated American Beauty months ago, I expected a very fine movie with talented actors like Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. Instead what I found was a very bland, often wierd film about a man named Lester (Spacey) going through a mid-life crisis. Why in the world did this film win over the Green Mile! While this movie is fair for the average movie fan, Big movie buffs like myself should not expect anything more than just a fair movie. For those of you who still want to see this movie, don't get your hopes up for this best picture winner. Instead, I recommend renting what should have been the true best picture nod: The Green Mile.
Rating:
Summary: very fair, definitely not best picture material
Review: When I saw American Beauty months ago, I thought with talented actors like Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening, the film would be very good, espeically since it was nominated for best picture alongside Green Mile. I saw this film and was very disappointed. How in the world did this film beat out The Green Mile! . While there were some good parts in the film, overall it just wasn't even oscar material. The film was average for a just plain movie, but very rank for a oscar contender. For those of you seeing it, don't get you hopes up for a oscar winner. Instead, rent what should have been the true best picture winner, The Green Mile.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not great.
Review: I was somewhat disappointed with the endless hype received by this film. True, the talented actors did well in their roles, the cameraman was undoubtedly a genius of his profession, and the author of the plot was both witty and imaginative. The only real problem with this film is the script. For instance, the conversations between Wes Bentley and Thora Birch--while necessary to the plot--are stretched to the point where one is sitting impatiently, waiting for the end of the scene. The dialogue is, more than anything else, predictable. That is really the worst part of this good film, the fact that one can see the lines coming several minutes ahead. However, having noted that exception, one must note that compared to the other films of recent years that have been hyped as the "Best Film of 199-!", (such as the latest "Star Wars", "Jerry Maguire", or "Cruel Intentions"), "American Beauty" undoubtely stands out as an intelligent film that actually succeeds in making the viewer take a new and close look at the calm life to which all of us have become so accustomed.
Rating:
Summary: FINALLY THE DVD OF THIS BRILLIAN FILM
Review: Ever since the video release of this film in May, I've been waiting and hoping for any word on The DVD edition. Finally it will arrive on October 24th, and by the looks of the extras it will be worth the wait. So technologically advanced fans like me rejoice, your wait for one of the most brilliant satires on suburbia is almost over. American Beauty is almost here!
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