American Beauty

USA 1999, 92 minutes
Dir. Sam Mendes
Rating: [M]
Genres: Drama / Black Comedy

Feat. Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Chris Cooper

Aroview: Signifying a coming-of-age of the 'indie' movie and mainstream acceptance of a darker sensibility, this most quirky of all Academy Award winners is a bitter pill of domestic and spiritual dysfunction candy-coated in cheery satire, smart pacing and winning performances.

Kevin Spacey is the fortysomething malcontent - loveless, jobless and soulless in upper suburbia - the sting being that underneath all his fear and loathing lies an essentially decent everyman. Thoroughly engaging and astutely written, the film only falls short of its reputation in the final reel, where it perhaps overworks to find both closure and significance.

Oscar - Best Picture

Member Reviews

Average rating (Very Good). Showing 1-3 of 6 member reviews.

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3 stars (Good Enough) Despite appearing the picture-perfect upper suburban family, Lester, a man who feels completely dead inside, has a wife and daughter who despise him, Dig deeper & it's a domestic tragedy. Laced with black humour & thought-provoking. ~GenXGirl
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4 stars (Very Good) Ambitious and disturbing jet-black comedy of an American family neighbourhood where things are not quite what they seem behind their pruned roses and white-picket fences. Spec-ta-cular! ~Tom H
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5 stars (Exceptional) Beautiful cinematography, a screenplay laced with dark humour and tragedy, and a game supporting cast all wrap around an absolutely spectacular, heart-breakingly moving performance from Kevin Spacey. ~Wizzums