 | I am happy to write a review of this wonderful film. It won Oscars for best director, best lead actor, best screenplay, and best picture. If you watch it just once, you will understand why.
Kevin Spacey (best actor) plays Lester Burnham. Lester is going through a mid-life crisis. He is bored, apathetic, and uninspired. He lives in the suburbs with his wife and teenage daughter. He works in advertising, while his wife Carolyn (Bening) is a realtor.
Something happens to Lester when he first notices Angela Hayes (Suvari). Angela is his daughter Jane's friend on the cheerleading squad. Lester quickly becomes obsessed with Angela. Angela is indifferent to his desires, while Jane is completely repulsed.
Lester also befriends the neighbor, Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley), a teen who has made a sizeable nestegg from dealing in marijuana. Ricky is quirky and seems to reject all social programming. He usually has a camera in hand and becomes obsessed with Jane (Birch). Jane flips him off as a response and says: "I wish you'd stop filming me."
This movie touched a lot of people deeply. When I first saw it, I was working a job I completely loathed. The scene which will always stand out is when Lester blackmails his employer for a "year's salary." Who has not dreamed of doing this to at least one past employer?
American Beauty is the story of a man who realizes that most of his social programming has not brought him happiness. Lester says his "marriage is just for show. A commercial for how normal we are when we're anything but." Lester decides to reject that social programming and finds a kindered spirit in Ricky. Eventually everyone realizes the bankruptcy of their own social programming.
American Beauty is about being true to yourself. It is a reminder that simply going along with the crowd is certainly not the way to happiness. It is simply a way of dying a slow death.
Spacey is excellent and hilarious throughout the film. Bening is convincing in her role as the bitchy, cold, ambitious wife. Birch is outstanding as the alienated teen. Bentley does a great job as Fitts. Chris Cooper is excellent as the homophobic neighbor Colonel Fitts. Peter Gallagher turns in a good supporting role as an ambitioius realtor. Every scene is well done.
The best performance is delivered by Suvari. She shows many different emotions and personalities throughout this film and is full of surprises. Her role is a complete contrast to her equally convincing role as the "goody-goody, choir-girl priss" in American Pie. She is full of surprises and perfect for this role.
Kirsten Dunst actually turned down the role of Angela Hayes. I love Kirsten, but nobody could have done Angela better than Mena Suvari.
The message of this film is timeless and always will be. You should be able to find it in most video rental shops. It is one of the few movies that I actually own.
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