Rating: 
Summary: Beauty opens eyes
Review: This movie was amazing. People that say it was a sick movie missed the point completely. It wasn't about being sick, it was about real life and being able to see how anything can be beautiful if you just look closer. The dancing bag is a perfect example of that. The film was gorgeously directed and the roses were a perfect metaphor. I cannot praise this movie too highly.
Rating:
Summary: DIVINE GRACE
Review: Since I saw the trailer I knew it was the kind of film I must see... I didn't make a mistake.This film is THE BEST film I ever seen! I love every moment, every scene, every character... It's extremely perfect made, it's also original, suprising... and BEAUTIFUL. When you have seen it, you realize that every character has a human side; in the beginning they all seem an stereothype but they aren't... They all have many BEAUTY inside, the beauty which floats in the air of their world... The music goes with every feeling of them; it all is a great show of divine grace. It's the perfection taken to the screen. And, to end my great review... What can I say about the most talented, charming and VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL man in the world? With Kevin, there aren't words enough to tell all the BEAUTY he has in-and-outside. I love him as I love the film... a film I keep inside as a treasure.
Rating:
Summary: Amazing moviemaking
Review: Say what you will about the quality of movies nowadays,this movie makes up for movies like "Mission to Mars" or any Chuck Norris movie. I was a little leery about seeing this movie. I was afraid I had been overexposed to action movies and special effects. I was worried that a movie without asteroids or dinosaurs wouldn't keep my attention. Worst of all I was afraid it was a chick flick. I was so impressed with the quality of this movie I don't know where to begin. To me the movie was a journey for Lester, he was unhappy with his life and didn't know how he had come to be so. The ending was known right from the start, but you hoped it still wouldn't come because you liked Lester, and by the end you wanted him to be happy. Unfortunately, for him the first moment in his life he knew who he was and seemed truley happy was his last. The look on his face during the last scene is what made him a lock for the oscar as far as I am concerned. It reminded me of Jack Nicholson in "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" American Beauty is a great movie. If you didn't think so thats okay. I respect that.
Rating: 
Summary: Interpretations Galore
Review: "American Beauty" is being interpreted as a film about appearances but I believe it is more than that. Suburbia has been satirized for decades but this film has captured America's attention more than those other films. The people who have found it shallow have offered shallow interpretations--"the perfect family from the outside is dysfunctional when subjected to scrutiny." Also, reviewers proffer that the film is a morality lesson telling us that pursuit of material possessions is empty and cannot provide happiness. Yes, yes, but these are truisms and there has to be more to "American Beauty" than this.I think "American Beauty" is a filmic version of U2's album "Achtung Baby." To me it says this: People who are obsessed with the way things look rather than what they are fail to perceive truth and beauty. The boy next door epitomizes the search for reality, and the film is about Lester's evolution in that direction. The less effort he expends in creating an illusion, the more acute his discernment of reality--and with that growing discernment comes the revelation that reality is far more emotional than the illusions we construct to represent reality. Thus, the object of his desires, when viewed through Lester's evolved eyes, ceases to be a symbol of seduction and becomes what she is, a frightened child. "American Beauty" is a wonderful film. Best of the year? I don't know. I preferred "Eyes Wide Shut," which deals with the exact same themes.
Rating:
Summary: MUST SEE :)
Review: Simply put, it's an awesome movie that captures the simple beauty of our world..taking the mundane and making it, well, beautiful. Awesome cast, great story and directing, can't miss!
Rating:
Summary: GREATEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME!
Review: It is easy for me to say that American Beauty is the best movie I have ever seen in my entire life. It effected me in so many ways. It is all so very difficult for me to put into words. The acting, direction, choreography, art direction, musical score, screenplay, and everything about the movie is perfect! Every time I go to see the movie at the theatre (4 times now), I come out crying. I find it that overwhelming, powerful, and meaningful. This is a MUST SEE movie! Everyone should see it at least once. I commend all those who gave this movie 5 stars. I wish to thank everyone involved in the movie for making it so well, and constructing and performing it out so admirably. I congratulate Kevin Spacey who won and Academy Award for Best Actor, Annette Bening who was nominated for Best Actress (and sadly did not win), Wes Bently (who should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor), Mena Suvari, Thora Birch, Peter Gallagher, Chris Cooper, and Allison Janney. Also, the crew: Sam Mendes who was extraordinary for Directing (won Best Director), Alan Ball who won for Best Screenplay, the Producers, Thomas Newman (who was nominated for Best Original Score, and should have won it for his absolutly stunning work), Conrad L. Hall who won for Best Cinematography and rightfully deserved it, and David Lazan (who unfortunatly did not win for best Art Direction). Last but not least, Dreamworks Studios for taking up the challenge, and anyone else not mentioned. You all did your utmost to make this picture work. And it did. And it was beautiful.
Rating:
Summary: Truly worth every moment
Review: Time may be the most expensive commodity we have and it was worth every penny during this 2 hour epic about the most "ordinary" family in America. Kevin Spacey's performance was outstanding as was the performance of Annete Benning and the rest of his co-stars. The twists in the plot and true fellings people have are shown dramatically and perfectly. The insight and true genius is only surpassed by the true accuracy of the movie. If you have not seen it, be sure to do so before its out of theaters.....or just buy it..as i know i and many of my colleagues will.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Mediocre Oscar Winner
Review: American Beauty adds to the list of mediocre Oscar winners such as Forrest Gump. This film is very much like a TV sitcom with a few twists. Kevin Spacey has that appealing persona, though his character doesn't have much depth. His wife is an extremely unappealing character, and very annoying. The kids are okay and have some funny one liners. There are some good impressionistic effects such as the red rose petals covering the foxy cheerleader. The lady sitting behind me in the theatre was laughing hysterically at things I considered slightly amusing, and she cried at the end. I have no idea why. The overall effect of the film is the typical midlife crisis, with some bizarre and unbelievable incidents... Also the film explains too much, the mark of directing for the masses ("you know I'm kidding, dont you") I give the film 3 stars for Spacey's acting, good as usual, but the film has no message beyond what a cutting edge sitcom's message would be. But in that case better to watch Married with Children.
Rating:
Summary: Great movie - Definitely worth the Oscars!
Review: In my opinion, this film is one of the best movies, if not the best movie, of 1999. Kevin Spacey (again) performs incredibly, and so does the rest of the cast, including Annette Bening and all of the younger actors. It's a perfect mix of drama and comedy, and not as if the movie wasn't already very impressive, this is also director Sam Mendes feature directing debut. The film definitely was worth the 5 Oscars it was given at this year's Academy Awards -- it might even have gotten another one for the soundtrack, which is brilliantly composed by Thomas Newman.
Rating:
Summary: American Beautified
Review: American Beauty: a film portraying dysfunctional suburbia at it's best. Lester lives his life as though dead, apperently afraid to stand up to his own wife. He is an embarrassment to his family without trying, and he knows it. As we follow through Lester casting his gaze on his daughters friend, Angela, to his wife maintaining to be money-hungry through it all, we begin to understand that all they want is to be happy. Carolyn (wife) found it with the Real Estate King, Jane (daughter) with Ricky, and Lester finally with himself (with a bit of help from Angela). That happiness was found in a plastic bag. I think that it shows the trials of "looking normal and happy" for a suburban family filled with as much dysfunction as yours or mine. Definitely a wonderful, wonderful movie.
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