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American Beauty (The Awards Edition) Customer Reviews (40 - 42 of 109 Reviews)

One of the top films of the 1990s...
Nominated for eight Academy Awards, and winner of five including Best Picture, American Beauty is one of the best films of all time. Exploring the depths of the American Dream - a good job, a nice house, the perfect marriage, etc. - the film is dripping with symbolism and satire. A cinematic study of societal dysfunction, American Beauty will affect a broad range of emotions within its viewing audience, and it'll make you laugh as well. This is a great movie, and although some people will shy away from it, everyone should see American Beauty at least once so they can form their own opinion...

Kevin Spacey plays the role of Lester Burnham, a middle-aged suburban resident who seemingly lives the American Dream. He and his wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) have a nice house, a beautiful daughter Jane (Thora Birch), and successful careers. But things aren't always as they seem. In reality, the Burnham's are the definition of dysfunctional. They fight over everything, screaming at the dinner table about ridiculous things such as vegetables. Carolyn is engaged in an affair with rival real estate broker Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher), and Lester is suffering from a creeping depression/mid-life crisis.

Meanwhile, Jane is developing an infatuation with the strange boy who recently moved in next door, Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley) - a drug dealer/homespun director with a homophobic Marine Corps father, Frank. When the source of Frank's homophobia bubbles to the surface, we learn that - just like the Burnham's - most of the neighborhood is living a different life from that which shows on the outside...

Kevin Spacey follows up his amazing performances in The Usual Suspects and L.A. Confidential with his Academy Award for Best Actor in this film. Some of the funniest scenes in American Beauty involve the depressed Lester Burnham and his mid-life crisis meltdown. The way in which Spacey walks out of his job is utterly hilarious, and his weed-smoking, weight-lifting regimen in an effort to get pumped up and impress his daughter's friend is classic. But Spacey's performance is not alone. His brilliant role is complimented by Annette Bening's Oscar-caliber transformation into Lester's bitchy, cut-throat real-estate broker wife, Carolyn Burnham. Together, the two can stage an onscreen fight like no other fake married couple in cinema history, and it's a true pleasure to watch.

American Beauty is further strengthened by Chris Cooper's role as the Burnham's homophobic neighbor (October Sky, The Patriot, Seabiscuit) and Mena Suvari's role as the big-talking school girl Angela Hayes, object of Lester's desires (Kiss The Girls, American Pie). American Beauty is a film bursting with stage talent, one that benefits from solid direction, a well-designed screenplay, and superb dialogue. Odds are, you'll either love it or hate it. But irrespective of your final take, American Beauty will invoke passion one way or the other. That's why this film ranks as a definite must-see...

The DVD Report

Stunning!
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!

An American Masterpiece
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.

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