I hate to agree with so many critics, but "American Beauty" is unquestionably the best picture of 1999. Alan Ball wrote the most magnificent screenplay of the decade and entrusted it to a first-time director, Sam Mendes. Ball could not have made a better choice. Kevin Spacey ("The Usual Suspects," "L.A. Confidential") plays the remarkable lead, Lester Burnham, in undoubtedly the best performance of the year. The rest of the cast, most notably Annette Bening ("Regarding Henry," "Bugsy") as Carolyn Burnham, Lester's wife, Thora Birch ("Patriot Games") as Jane, Lester's high school aged daughter, and Mena Suvari ("American Pie") as Angela, Jane's best friend, are all perfect in their respective roles which seem to be designed with each of them specifically in mind. With a central theme similar to that of "Fight Club," of the fascist-like oppression of the modern worker, this film attacks every angle imaginable and often digs beyond to present us with the most thoughtful and truthful look at American suburbia ever put on film.
Lester, Carolyn, and Jane appear from the outside to be a normal middle-class American family, and for a long while, they have been. One day however, Lester learns that his company has hired a consultant who will examine each employee's worth to the company and will let people go accordingly. Lester sees through the B.S. and discovers the first of a slew of important truths revealed in the film, that no matter where you work or how long you've worked there, your job, and thus your security, is always hanging by a limb. So with this revelation and another in the high school gym, Lester decides to change a few things about his life. Lester's wife Carolyn, a real-estate agent, is at first amused by his seemingly psychotic behavior; however, after a typically unsuccessful day at work, although she will not admit it, she begins to feel the same way as Lester. Meanwhile, Lester's daughter Jane comes to a somewhat similar conclusion when she decides that she's had enough of her beautiful best friend's "perfect" existence. Lester spots his daughter's best friend, Angela, the head cheerleader, at a basketball game in the gym and is immediately taken by her beauty. His discovery of Angela is the second revelation that leads Lester do the decision to completely reform his life. Trust me here, this is just a part of the early plot set up for this masterpiece. This film digs so much deeper and, like the cover begs you to do, makes you look so much closer at every detail of family life than you can possibly imagine.
Kevin Spacey decisively won the best actor Oscar for his work in "American Beauty," and even in a strong year for film, this choice was a no-brainer. As Lester Burnham, an every man for middle-class America, Spacey delivers a dead on performance that does nothing short of inspire. Annette Bening, in the second best female performance of the year (note Hilary Swank in "Boys Don't Cry"), is perfect as Carolyn, a model for the working woman of America. Alongside these two brilliant performances, I was enthralled by both Thora Birch's Jane, a typical American teenager who learns not to be afraid to explore whatever life throws her way, and Mena Suvari's Angela, a seemingly typical cheerleader type who has a significant revelation near the end of the film. In fact, an aspect of this film that makes it so amazing is that every character experiences totally unexpected epiphanies that change the way we look at them, at the film, and even at the world around us. Also very noteworthy are tremendous supporting roles by Peter Gallagher ("While You Were Sleeping"), Wes Bently, and Chris Cooper ("October Sky").
The most comparable film to "American Beauty" in recent years has got to be "Happiness," a very good film from 1998 that similarly dealt with the struggles of a wide range of characters to find happiness in a complex and unfair world. Although "Happiness" was a very credible film, comedically darker and even more tragic than "American Beauty," none of the performances or the pure emotional impact of that film will ever live up to the genius of "American Beauty."
"American Beauty" is a must see for all movie goers mature enough to handle the subject matter. This film works beautifully in every form it attempts: as a hilarious comedy, a powerful drama, a dazzling character study, and as a modern satire. What a pleasure it is to see the Academy honor what is truly the best film of the year with its proper awards and respect.
Rated R for sexuality, language, and violence
My Top Ten list of the 90's:
1) American History X
2) Schindler's List
3) Shawshank Redemption
4) American Beauty
5) Pulp Fiction
6) Fargo
7) Goodfellas
8) Forrest Gump
9) Primal Fear
10) Bound
A middle-aged man confronts the reality of his suburban life. His marriage is in shambles. His daughter doesn't acknowledge his existence. But a chanc...More at HotMovieSale.com
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