An ordinary American man had a crush on his own daughter’s best friend, and began his pursuit of her, and was finally killed by his wife. This is the basic plot of this Oscar Winning film, which, if had been dealt with another director, could be potentially very successful trashy murder thriller, or even romance, but what makes this film great is that it is not made to entertain every single viewer’s preferences.
Many people dislike this film. It is basically about a middle-class American man, his wife is an ambitious estate agent, while he himself is trapped in a monotonous office lifestyle. His daughter does not communicate with them often, as his wife is so dominating, and the tensions between them mean that he has no chance to express his views and his will, being constantly controlled by his wife. However, his view of life suddenly changes when he met his daughter’s best friend, who is the most beautiful human being he has ever seen, and has become totally obsessed with her. He becomes aware that there is a new vision in his life, he quits his job as he could not stand his life anymore and become a waiter at a fast food restaurant, he starts trying to get fit, and he starts smoking cannibis. He is starting to rebel. His wife starts to have an affair with a tremendously successful man, his daughter is going out with a drug dealer, and this perfect-looking household, this beautiful house, is starting to fall apart, yet he does not give a damn. Until finally the girl in his dreams is visiting the house and she even offered to go to bed with him…. I do not wish to tell the end of the story as it would spoil it all!
Many people think that it is a rather weird film; although I do admit that there is an awkwardness about it and it really isn’t perfect, but I think that the strangeness gives the film an almost surreal quality. The girl could just be another girl, yet to the man she is the ultimate symbol of beauty, a goal in his previously monotonous life. She is his adventure many people lack. Perhaps the film is an attempt to reflect the hollowness and monotony of our lives, our lack of personal goals. Beneath the ordinary crust of our daily life, there is a lurking danger – the loss of our own desires, our own wish. However, even the girl, the American Beauty is not perfect. Her beauty is merely superficial, yet she is constantly feeling extremely insecure, and constantly tries to go out with other powerful men in order to reassure herself that she is wanted. The insecurity is denied by herself, yet it is still an indication of the lack of a real personal goal, a wish to be fulfilled. There is a terrible sadness about the spiritual hollowness all the characters seem to suffer from, and perhaps in our society.
However, the other characters of the play such as his daughter’s boyfriend, the next door neighbour drug dealer, seems to be superior to everyone else. He once played a video to his girl friend featuring a plastic bag flying in the wind. He commented that there is so much beauty in this world he does not know how to take it all in. He is spiritually much more intelligent than the other characters. He is able to appreciate life, and has a definite goal, not simply floating in and out of life with unaccomplished and trivial desires.
Even the American Beauty, the flower itself is a symbolism. Being infamiliar about American families, I do not wish to comment on how reflective it is of American families, but I do think that there is a much deeper side about the film. I thoroughly enjoyed watching it, and although many people would probably not agree, it is such a pleasure at last to see a weird and wonderful film with such a dreamy, surreal atmosphere, so gently awkward yet tragic. I do recommend it to everyone – it should be watched more than once for complete appreciation and understanding.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2007 - Drama - Director: Mike Binder - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, Jada Pinkett, Liv Tyler, Saffron Burrows, Donald Sutherland, Mike Binder
Production Year: 1998 - Drama - Director: Carl Franklyn, Carl Franklin - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Meryl Streep, William Hurt, Renee Zellweger, Tom Everett Scott, Nicky Katt, Lauren Graham
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
[Sorry I didn't fnish my point earlier,i was press by a pizza in the oven]
ills (see below) which are inate in all of us (represented by the average man)due to our immersion in what we believed to be a rose smelling system.
janehammill 16.03.2001 19:37
superb op thanks,you've got this film to a T,i enjoyed the thought provoking american beauty but can understand why it does'nt have universal appeal, its a bit surreal and quirky,cheers jane
sister_ray 16.03.2001 19:27
I thought this film tried to reflect the ills of wesrtern societies:-increasing voyerism, peadophilla, adultery, drug taking(ok not particulary hardcore drug taking) and gay bashing by latent homosexuals.
Thoughtful op. though, thanks.
From its first gliding aerial shot of a generic suburban street,American Beautymoves with ... more
a mesmerising confidence and acuity epitomised by Kevin Spacey's calm narration. Spacey is Lester Burnham, a harried Everyman whose midlife awakening is the spine...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Look closer at the most talked about film of the year. A funny, moving and shocking ... more
journey through life in suburban America.Look closer at fortysomething ad man Lester Burnham and his status-seeking wife, Carolyn, as their marriage and lives slowly un...
From its first gliding aerial shot of a generic suburban street,American Beautymoves with ... more
a mesmerising confidence and acuity epitomised by Kevin Spacey's calm narration. Spacey is Lester Burnham, a harried Everyman whose midlife awakening is the spine...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Marking the feature film directorial debut of award-winning theatre director Sam Mendes ... more
this funny moving and shocking journey through life in suburban America follows the trials and tribulations of Lester (Kevin Spacey) and Carolyn (Annette Bening) ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Intelligent script, inventive direction, superb acting...memorable in every respect Disadvantages: Definitely not one for the children. Explicit language, sexual content and violence.
EnglishPatient 22.01.2001 ·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of American Beauty (DVD)
![American Beauty [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78526734.jpg "American Beauty [DVD] [2000]")
Mar 16th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
