I never forget a face but in your case I think I'll make an exception :)
I never forget a face but in your case I think I'll make an exception :)
Member since:31.08.2002
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AMERICAN BEAUTY
Certificate; 18 (Sexuality, language, violence and drugs) Duration; 122 minutes. Direction; Sam Mendes. Cast; Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari, Chris Cooper, Peter Gallagher, Allison Janney, Scott Bakula.
The ‘American Beauty’ of the title refers to the beauty of the American dream. Living in a beautiful home surrounded by beautiful gardens with a beautiful white picket fence in a beautiful neighbourhood. Then there’s the beautiful wife and the beautiful daughter. The rituals that are involved keeping up these beautiful facades are normal, in most people’s eyes. Director Sam Mendes and writer Alan Ball attempt to lift the lid on the American dream and delve deeper to find out what goes on beyond those front doors.
The film begins with an aerial shot of a typical American neighbourhood, slowly drifting from street to street like a leaf being guided by the wind. Accompanying this is a narration by Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey);
“I’m 42 years old and even though I don’t know it, in less than a year, I’ll be dead”
These words from beyond the grave hit you like a speeding train and immediately drag you in, eager to find out more. The aerial shot closes in on one particular home and one particular family, Lester Burnham’s. Lester is a husband and father living in a world which many others would call bliss. He has a well-paid job, he lives in a beautiful home, he has a beautiful wife and daughter. Trouble is, his existence is joyless. He’s not respected, he’s just another cog in the wheel. Far from being normal, he feels frustration, depression, loneliness and contempt in equal measures. His wife and daughter don’t give a damn about him, they barely talk to him. Lester’s version of American beauty is dysfunctional and estranged. Carolyn Burnham (Annette Bening), Lester’s wife is a high-flying real estate agent, she only thinks of the next sale, the next wage packet, the next car, the next Italian silk sofa. She hasn’t time for Lester or his needs and they don’t have sex any more. When she discovers him masturbating next to her in bed, she is
horrified rather than aroused. Carolyn’s version of American beauty is far from perfect but she puts on a brave face, if only her family would follow suit. Jane Burnham is their teenage daughter. She hates her parents. Her mother has no time for her and she can’t remember when she last spoke to her father. She’s sullen, spoilt and in her mind awkward and misunderstood. These are the Burnham’s. They live their American dreams from one day to the next. Something is about to change and change they do. Lester and Carolyn play the couple and visit Jane as she plays a cheerleader at a high school Basketball game. Suddenly Lester’s eyes focus in on Jane’s friend, Angela Hayes, a fellow cheerleader. Her beautiful body, sexy smile and knowing looks at him stir him in places he no longer knew he could be stirred. This is his awakening. He no longer embraces the American dream and goes on a voyage of self-discovery and to hell with the consequences on his uncaring family. He smokes a joint with the boy next door, Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley), he resigns his job and blackmails them into paying him off, he buys his dream car a 1970 Pontiac Firebird, he pumps iron and works out to give him a body that looks good when he’s naked, he even pursues Angela Hayes the girl who initiated his metamorphosis. Carolyn is unsympathetic with Lester, she hates his new found freedom and quick witted, cynical put-downs. She finds solace by throwing herself at her work and at the ‘Real Estate King’ Buddy Kane (Peter Gallagher). Jane hates it even more, her dad’s fascination with her promiscuous friend makes her feel even more awkward and unwanted. She finds solace in the arms of next-door neighbour, Ricky Fitts, who she views as just as unusual as herself. Ricky videos everything that moves, deals drugs and has an ex Colonel father who is homophobic and collects nazi plates. The truth is, Ricky is the only one who sees beauty beyond the American dream. His cool, artistic, perceptive persona have a positive influence on Jane and Lester who becomes one of his regular customers.
This is what lies behind Lester’s front door but remember the opening line of the film “I’m 42 years old and even though I don’t know it in less than a year, I’ll be dead”.
This is a remarkable film. It’s funny, touching, original, sharp, entertaining yet unassuming. The dialogue is witty and direct yet sometimes shocking. The American dream on screen is a sad reflection on modern society, a dark commentary on everyday existence and the knife-to-the-heart finale has in effect created one of the best films of recent years, one that is already an art-house classic. This film won Oscars for best director, best actor, best cinematography and best screenplay and all were well deserved. The narration from the grave, the fine ensemble cast, the black comedy with a tragic twist ending and the contemporary direction combined have provided a terrific finished article. I have seen plenty of criticism on this film, mainly from American reviewers, who no doubt didn’t take kindly to the mocking of their way of life but personally I thought it deserved all the plaudits. Sam Mendes was a first time director at the time and it was also writer Alan Ball’s first Hollywood script, which all in all adds weight to the sense of achievement they must have felt. Conrad Hall adapted the cinematography and visually the film was laden with ideas. A zoom in on Angela Hayes in the cheerleading scene and Lester fantasising about Angela, naked in a bathtub of red roses were particularly creative. The Ricky Fitts video footage scenes offer further evidence.
Kevin Spacey who played Lester Burnham is a terrific actor (The Usual Suspects and L.A Confidential are further evidence) and his creation here is splendid. He emits a mixture of feelings (frustration/ callousness/ cynicism/ vulnerability/ caring) during the film all played with terrific authenticity. Personally I loved Lester Burnham, he rebelled against suburbia and lived again his teenage years. I guess there is always a price for your actions and this film portrays that, albeit Hollywood style, vividly. Annette Bening’s character, Carolyn Burnham, was a thankless role to play. She was a materialistic, frigid, uncaring bitch who instead of trying to repair her crumbling
Pictures of American Beauty (DVD)
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marriage embarked on an affair with a colleague. It’s difficult to feel anything for her really, when Lester fought back, you thought she was getting her comeuppance. Thora Birch played Jane Burnham, which was a demanding role for a teenager in such an adult contented film. Indeed she had a controversial topless scene (she was only 16 at the time). She played the hard done by teenager role with aplomb. Great things were expected from her after this films release but she’s gone a bit quiet since. Wes Bentley played Ricky Fitts and considering he was the least well-known actor in the film, he did a fine job. The cool, assured exterior of his creation had hidden depths and there’s still some curiosity I have over some of his actions that are unanswered. After Kevin Spacey I think he must take runner-up in the acting stakes. Chris Cooper played the extreme right wing ex Colonel of the U.S Marine core, Frank Fitts. His homophobic views, his authoritarian hold on his son and his insistence on law and order prevented him from him showing his love. He really loved his son but he was repressed, it made you think what else his character was holding back. Mena Suvari who played Angela Hayes, the sexy typecast slut also had a difficult task. Given that she was also a young actress at the time and that she had to do a topless scene and be pursued by a man old enough to be her father, she did remarkably well. At first she appeared uninteresting and shallow but when her character allowed her true self to be revealed, the real Angela Hayes was revealed. Suvari captured this really well. Peter Gallagher played Buddy Kane,’ The Real Estate King’ he can now be seen in the ‘O.C’, the latest teen drama from the U.S while Scott Bakula from ‘Enterprise’ fame can also be seen as a homosexual jogger.Subjects included in the film are wide and ranging, much like real life is. Drug taking isn’t exactly glorified in the film but it is excepted and not everybody will want to see that on screen. Strong language and hints of sex and violence have teetered the film to a deserved 18 rating. The adult content is hard hitting, direction hasn’t held back at all.
I have no doubt at all that the main storyline of the film is true. The American Beauty we all crave and live by is just a façade. The people who we see everyday smiling, walking, talking and driving are not who they seem to be. Everybody is an individual, no two people are the same, a situation cannot be created where everyone looks, lives and does the same thing. I believe that this film was partly so successful because it showed, without holding back, how false life has become, how boring and mundane it can be. It was the first film to do so. It did so Hollywood style thus exaggerating the point but it did it nevertheless.
If you want to see a film different from most, American Beauty is your thing. It has no forebear’s and cannot be compared to other movies because it was trendsetter rather than a trend follower. American Beauty is entertaining and creative while touching and tragic, combinations that always conjure star potential.
Production Year: 1995 - Drama - Director: Ang Lee - Original Language: English - Classification: Universal - Starring: Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant, Greg Wise, Hugh Laurie, Robert Hardy
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: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
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
I really disliked Kevin Spacey in this film ~ the first I ever saw him in ~ it was so believeable it coloured my perception of him ~ and I find I automatically discard films to watch when I see he is starring in them ~ we originally watched this thinking it was going to be something else we had been recommended to watch ~ ~ ~ the irony of the "stereotypes" like "the boy next door" being safe ~ "the homophobic colonel" ~ "cheerleader" ~ all being turned on their head ~ even the money being saved up for the boob-job ~ made this an unforgettable (and possibly uncomfortable) thought-provoking film. I really enjoyed the contrast of Ricky's leaf-falling film-within-the-film ~ ~ ~ ~ What is the book you said it wasn't like? ~ ! ♥♥ ! ~ ........................................................... ~ jes ~ ! ♥♥ !
Boothegoose 02.10.2006 15:01
A very thorough review of one of my favourite films. Well done, you have done the film ample justice!
ice_pink 24.09.2006 10:25
A brilliant review with loads of dfetail and telling us everything we need to know!! xx
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: Check Site. Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
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...
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...
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Oct 21st, 2004
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