Im actually going to enjoy writing this next review, partly because ive probably seen the film a hundred plus times, and yet have never got board of its quality. This review is on the academy award winning American Beauty, starring Kevin Spacey. Now im actually a really big Spacey fan, some of his work including The Usual Suspects and K PAX have been some of his best work. He has the knack of just making you admire what ever character he plays, he has a sort of presence that makes you feel this film is going to be powerful. He has a humorous side, he can play a dark side you name it, I even liked his recent portrayal of Lex Luther in Superman Returns, the role really suited him. Anyway without going off topic, we will now focus more on the film itself, both my parents and brother also admire this film because it has so many themes that any member of the family could relate to. For the kids the themes of growing up, sexuality and individuality are so evident. And for the parents its more about taking control of your life, not modelling it around what your partner wants you to be.
Main Plot:
The film follows the life of Lester Burnham (Spacey), a middle aged dad living in suburban America. He has a wife named Carolyn who is a really ambitious and successful real estate agent and a young teenage daughter named Jane, who is the typical American teenager. The family live what is pretty much a normal life, the wife wanting to move up in the real estate world,
a dad who just gets on with his life and a teenage daughter who's really just embarrassed about her parents. All of a sudden, one magical and gifted day Jane brings home a friend named Angela Hayes, who instantly attracts the attention of Lester. He can't seem to lay his eyes off her; Angela is simply beautiful, golden flowing hair, succulent red lips all of which Lester adores.
Moving on, the Burnham family finally have new neighbours moving into the house next door, a conservative dad named Frank Fitts, his wife Barbara and their teenage son Ricky. The family are somewhat different all together, the dad a strict army man has a hatred towards homosexuals, a mother who just seems to be their for the sake of it, and then a sun who although smokes and sells dope, also has a fascination of filming Jane.
With the stress of having an average Joe of a Husband and wanting to rise in her career, Carolyn one day has an affair with her boss, to which Lester walks in on. Lester however for some weird and strange reason doesn't really care, he's now so mentally pumped on impressing his daughters friend. He starts working out, eating right and generally just acting a lot more cooler, however things are not always as clear in suburbia, sexuality, individuality and death are all in store for these characters, but for who and in which order.
It would be so easy for me to just tell the whole story, that's how much I admire this film. You can't seem to get bored of it, and it's so contextually relevant to most people in society.
Characters:
Lester Burnham: Was played by the highly talented Kevin Spacey. I don't know what it was about this character, but I really felt I could relate to him. He wanted so much more from his life than the typical stereotypical hype of having a wife and a child and living in a suburbia lifestyle with a quaint job, a wife who hates him and a child who's so totally embarrassed to even be seen with him. Lester gave hope to millions of people that you can step out of the norm, go after that hot chick you daughters friends with, and live and extra normal life. What was fascinating about this character was his fixation over Angela. He would have these weird visions of seeking her semi naked with rose petals covering her cleavage. It was almost as if time had stood still, the movement of his vision, the way she would slowly mover her hand into her mouth, or smile would give you the impression that he's neither dreaming nor it being real. He even tried a stint at smoking pot, and for some reason started to love it, his local dealer obviously being the kid next door.
Carolyn Burnham: Played by Annette Bening, you really felt sorry for her. She always wanted so much more from her life. A husband that had some drive and ambition, and a daughter that would take makeup and boys more seriously. Her career was her main priority, and well sleeping with her boss pretty much strengthened that point.
Jane Burnham: Played by Thora Birch, she is the daughter on a key character in the film. She's not the typical girl's girl, she doesn't like wearing makeup, and just likes the way she is, and however her mother always seems to have a problem with it. She starts developing a relationship with the boy next door; I guess he is the only person that she can relate to.
Ricky Fitts: Ricky's the guy Jane starts to admire and eventually fall in love with, I guess a modern and un contemporary version of Pride and Prejudice. He has a fixation over video recording Jane, which at first really creeps her out, however she later encourages it. I guess videotaping is his escape from a military lifestyle imposed by his father, a very liberal minded person. He feels trapped, selling dope is his one way of earning some money, and he becomes Lester's dealer.
Colonel Frank Fitts: It would be silly not to mention Ricky's dad Frank, is liberal out of date views on society are evident throughout the film. He has a bad opinion on homosexual people, and this is perhaps because he is unsure of his own sexuality, which is show in the climax of the film.
It's certain to say that this was a really powerful, fast pasted and moving film. It dealt with some key issues, it showed that to some people a normal life isn't always what they want, and this is clear from Lester's character. I was glad this film won an Oscar and got so much praise because it was such a unique and different film. A great cast, brilliant script and directed really well.
Cast:
• Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham • Annette Bening as Carolyn Burnham • Thora Birch as Jane Burnham • Wes Bentley as Ricky Fitts • Mena Suvari as Angela Hayes • Chris Cooper as Colonel Frank Fitts • Peter Gallagher as Buddy Kane • Allison Janney as Barbara Fitts Run Time: 122 minutes Budget: $15 million Turnover: $356 million plus Release Date: September 8th 1999
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
Drama - Director: Chazz Palminteri - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring: Susan Sarandon, Penelope Cruz, Paul Walker, Alan Arkin, Marcus Thomas, Donna Hanover, Robin Williams
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
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...
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...
![American Beauty [DVD] [2000]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78526734.jpg "American Beauty [DVD] [2000]")
Feb 8th, 2008
exceptional by (3%):
very helpful by (97%):
![American Beauty [DVD] [1999]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/84099822.jpg)
