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American Beauty (The Awards Edition) Customer Reviews (106 - 108 of 109 Reviews)

Beauty in every way, shape and form.
Hollywood has always gone out of the way to portray life in the big city, or on the countryside, but the suburban lifestyle remained to be explored in greater detail. "American Beauty," a script written by Alan Ball, would become the most praised film of 1999, exploring the ups and downs of suburbia through the eyes of one man. As boasted in the movie trailers, "American Beauty" proves that a comedy can be serious, and a drama can be humorous.

The film contains a large cargo of controversial issues, from drug use and dysfunctional families to homosexuality and sexual relationships that span two different age groups. In a time period where so many people are too timid to discuss these issues it is refreshing to see that a movie which is widely available to the general public is carrying all of these issues among its lines of dialogue and sweeping camera shots. Director Sam Mendes keeps the movie going at its own unique pace, bringing the characters to life with a top-notch cast and a superb crew.

Kevin Spacey is the ever-drab Lester Burnham, a typical suburban male who leads a monotonous, routine lifestyle with his domineering, real-estate wife Carolyn, and his emotionally-distanced daughter Jane. A typical day at work and a family dinner are among the many aspects of life shown through Lester's eyes. When Carolyn and Lester attend Jane's cheerleading performance at a school basketball game, Lester is suddenly thrown into a world of sexual fantasy when he lays eyes on his daughter's friend, Angela Hayes. This begins his descent/ascent, and is soon working out to build up his body for his new love and smoking joints he gets from his teenage next door neighbor. He quits his job, blackmails his old boss, and begins working as a short-order cook at a fast-food restaurant.

This is perhaps one of the most controversial films ever. But, it is also one of the most hauntingly realistic and powerful movies that has ever moved audiences to feel such emotion for life and connection to the characters it portrays. Each scene has its own way of making us believe in the emotions that Lester is experiencing, and very soon, we are in his world, going through the life that he is living, sometimes laughing, sometimes crying, and sometimes bewildered by his actions. To be able to feel that deep a connection is the mark of a truly great film.

Kevin Spacey makes the most unbelievable character in history, bringing such hilarity and laughter to the screen, while at the same time making sure the audience knows that his character is being totally serious and sincere in his actions, and not doing it for mere attention. Annette Bening is wonderful in her role as Carolyn, who is the strong yet very fragile wife of Lester. She has a wonderful knack for showing her emotion, whether it be happy or sad, at all times of filming. The teenage actors, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari and Wes Bentley, are superbly rendered here, making the teenage aspect of the story realistic and memorable.

The film has a great deal to offer for all age groups who watch it. It deals with real-life issues in a reality-based setting, with characters who can easily parallel people in real life. It is no wonder that the film received the awards it did; it is a truly remarkable masterpiece that will be remembered by all for years to come.

Stunning 'Beauty'
One of the best movies I have seen in the recent past. I had a chance to watch DVD version of the movie recently and its never boring rather, I find it more thoughful.

No doubt - this is Kevin Spacey's best. Lot of venueus for exhibiting his acting skills. So many to point out - while at the fast food drive through meeting his wife with her boy friend, while clarifying the neighbor that he is not 'that', while talking to her daughter's friend after the game, and the best of all, while hearing that it is her first time. I don't see Kevin in the movie but Lester himself. He has lived the character. Class of acting! The Oscar he got was well acclaimed!

Interestingly most of the crew in the movie have excellently acted - be it her daughter or wife or the neighbor or neighbor's father.

There is enough fun in the movie - the dialogue commenting the two partners jogging with his neighbor is one best example. Cinematography - another wonder in the movie. The flying dirt bag shot by the boy is a beautiful poem of its own. Dialogues, Direction, Screenplay, Story - everything deservers appreciation - Flawless.

If at all critics complain about too much of reality or too much of abnormal characters in the movie - well! life is not normal always. Not everyone is perfect! And everyone with our own idiosyncrasies. But inside, the movie is very deep and requires varied serious thoughts.

And we cannot forget the silent serious and thoughtful emotion existing throughout the movie. The movie is never dirty or vulgar rather 'beautiful'.

A Rare, Mesmerizing Film....
~~~I have a dysfunctional family. My mother is a crazed realtor who's failure only leads to an affair. She never talks to me anymore, probably because she only cares about her career. She and my dad fight more often now. My dad is...I don't know what my dad is. He quit his job technically, but I guess he conned his way into getting paid without working. We used to be really good, but not anymore. He's obsessed with my friend, Angela. She's a cheerleader at our high school. She thinks she's so sexy and brags about all the people she's slept with. She even wants to sleep with my dad, which I think is gross. My dad knows this and is working out like mad just for her. Pft. Ricky Fates...that's my new neighbor. He is a strange boy that goes to school and walks around with a video camera taping dead birds. His father abuses him and is pro nazi. I think I like Ricky. Lately, I've been talking to him more. He is...beautiful.....Oh, and me? I am just an ordinary girl who's depressed. I hate my parents because everything they do is for themselves. They pretend to love me. And as you can see, my life is not exactly the best........~~~

That is the what life would be like in the shoes of Jane Burnham, who's life she believes to be one of the worst. Portrayed by Thora Birch, Jane is not your typical "hot" chick you're used to seeing in high budget films. Of course, she is not ugly either. Perhaps...beautiful? So says Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley), who is the boy with the camera next door. He likes to tape "beautiful" things, and has a strong interest in Jane.

Now Jane's friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari) is your stereotypical cheerleader--a little snotty, a little popular, attractive, and blonde. Her physical features is what drives Lester Burnham, who narrates the film from underneath the tombstone. Feeling the adversities of his marriage, job, and family relations, Lester feels dead. It takes a scent to wake him up from his slumber and live again....a certain scent.....a rose perhaps.....Angela..........

This film is about beauty. It is about stereotypes and judegements. The stereotypical features that are shown from the outside that are not always true. In fact, they are far from true. An ordinary girl may not be as ordinary as you think. The strange freak with the camera who just got out of a mental house may not be such a freak afterall. The typical blonde cheerleader may not be as sexually active as perceived. And the seemingly ordinary parents are soon to be discovered as not quite so ordinary. The only beauty in life does not come from all the sunsets, sunrises, snowy mountaintops, the accentuating blue sky, or the glow of the silver moon surrounded by millions of specks in the everlasting sky. Perhaps beauty can be sought out within a dead bird? A plastic bag?

In this heavy movie which contains a bit of sex, drugs, money, power, and discrimination--all themes of drama--director Sam Mendes delivers a powerful, dramatic, yet comedic tale of America's beauty. He defines America not as a wealthy country with independence and refinement. Rather than depicting the Eagle that symbolizes America, he defines it with the Turkey--the actual symbol Benjamin Frankilm wanted as the Nation's bird. Why? Because turkeys are humble. America is humble. That is where our beauty lies.

Mendes perfects this rendition of America with the help of cinematographer, Conrad Hall, and Thomas Newman with the musical score (Also did score for Shawshank Redemption). Both played an important role to depicting the film's thesis. The cinematography was tender, yet vivid in the most simplest sense. My favorite shot was of the raindrops falling. Watch and you'll see. The music was mesmerizing....nothing more to say but great. 5-star movie, especially for those who rate films on high standards (more than just acting and plot). This film was deep, comedic, sexy, romantic in an absurd way, and dramatic. If you are looking for a hilarious comedy or something to lighten your mood, this one may not be the wisest of choices if you're not into deep drama.

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