American Beauty (DVD)

All the hype and build up around this film made sure that I didn't go anywhere near the cinema when it came out. But when a housemate recently bought the rental video home I decided I'd sit through half an hour or so, just to give it a chance. 2 hours later I was left with a lump in my throat and a renewed perception on life. This film is amazing, one of the best I have ever seen. Brilliantly acted by the entire cast, not just the main stars. Thought-provoking ...
...the least unexpected. Great direction, interesting plot, wry and ironic at the same time, this is the total package. Rent it, buy it, just make sure you see it. I don't want to discuss any areas of the plot for fear of spoiling it for those who have not yet seen the film but be aware of the fact that it's main thread is human nature and interaction. If it doesn't alter your views ever so slightly, you are beyond redemption. ...

baloo 01.09.2000 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...'ordinariness' comes from a preoccupation with being special. American Beauty is entertaining and can be seen easily in these terms; but with a little thought, a lot more can be gained from this viewing pleasure. Deserved of the awards. If you enjoy the weirdness of life watch this film! ...

lipgloss 11.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

Few films fill me with antipathy as much as this over-rated nonsense. Its not even fit to act as leader tape for Magnolia which came out in the same year yet was overlooked. I'll (attempt to) swallow my bile and make a case for why this almost universally admired film deserves to be condemned to the recycling bin. The Story Older man develops an infatuation with a teenager. As its rendered here it leaves a nasty taste in the mouth, a vicarious, ...
...character is an OK guy then its perfectly acceptable. 'Lolita' (the original not the remake) deals with this subject matter intelligently rather than providing fantasy material for repressed cinema goers. Worse, it places this relationship as normal, healthy and desirable against the deviant behaviour of gays, a division further enhanced by the opposition between the nuclear family with repectable jobs as against the single drug dealing, homophobic ...

oedipus 17.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

AMERICAN BEAUTY With American society constantly experiencing traumatic events such as the Columbine shooting and the OJ Simpson trial, it is a popular theme among filmmakers to analyse likely sources of societal dysfunction such as life in the suburbs and the emasculation of the industrial male. Notable examples recently include The Ice Storm and Happiness. Here first time British director Sam Mendes, better known for his theatre success last year ...
...In short, Lester is the American dream gone wrong, he is there but he is not; physically solvent and emotionally bankrupt. He is soon to discover that life can and should offer more. After meeting his teenage daughter’s best friend Angela (Mena Suvari), he begins to fantasise about her, visualising her lying on a bed of roses and bathing in rose petals. It is here that the direction gets completely carried away with the use of such heavy handed imagery ...

splace 07.06.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...what could be any typical american family, the father is having a midlife crisis, the daughter hates her parents, and the mother is so career driiven she is at the point of insanity. The cast including kevin Spacey (who is outstanding) Annette Bening, and the gorgeous Mena Suvari, are all completely believable and spacey has not turned in such a convincing role since the usual suspects. the story turns out to be mainly Spaceys addiction to his teenage ...
...around, reverting to the misspent youth, drugs and rebellion to try and get his way, and in the end, he almost succeeeds but you would have to watch the film to see what i mean. the most remarkable thing about this film is the ending though, explaining through the writers eyes, how I beleive he interprets what will be his own death and how he hopes those final seconds of life will bring to him, if he dies this way, he will have found his own personal ...

mcpoeman 28.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

This film is set around the main character, Lester, and his life. He is in an unhappy marriage and his daughter seems to be going through that "teenage stage". Everything in his life seems bad and then things go down hill big time when he develops a crush on his daughter's best friend. All in all, Lester seems to be having a bit if a mid life crises. Without giving away the whole film, things go steadily down hill for Lester and his family, and never ...
...but it did drift for a bit in the middle as not alot seemed to be happening. Putting this aside, I think that this is the best film that I have seen for a bit and I can see why it was nominated for all those oscars. There is a deeper message to this film though and I think that it is trying to get people to look at their lives differently. Maybe we take too much notice fo the bad things and not enough of the good. Maybe we should appreciate the ...

flossy 02.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

I am so glad that I decided to go and see this movie! The acting was great, especially Kevin Spacey who made me laugh and cry throughout along with the younger actors who were absolutely superb. The storyline was strong and kept me interested right until the end credits. I must admit my favourite parts of the movie were the scenes with Kevin Spacey and Wes Bentley in the garage, as his farther is watching from the bedroom window. If you've seen the ...

linzib 06.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

This film is extremely disappointing, considering the acclaim that it received. The acting is very good, but not even good acting can cope with a wooden script and empty plot. The roses have almost no relevance at all in the film, but are made into a central part just for the romantic sake of it. The whole film does not run properly, with too many irrelevant points being made into main story lines, making the film tedious and boring. It didn’t deserve ...

schizochico 16.12.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

SATIRE is best when it has bite. This deserved winner of multiple Golden Globes (and tipped for a clutch of Oscars in 2000), bites deep. It also has class acts in Annette Bening and Kevin Spacey, stuck in another dysfunctional middle class marriage. Space y is at his lugubrious best as Lester Burnham, who feeling smothered by a monotonous job, a henpecking wife and daughter who he hardly knows - spectacularly jacks in his career and embarks on a ...
...heart of the modern suburban malaise of boredom and odd disconnectedness. Considering this is his first feature, Sam Mendes direction is supremely confident and mature. The characters are monstrous, yet also remain surpris ingly sympathetic and real. The film is also laced with a wicked humour, which is what makes this so watchable. Wicked!!!! ...

juliebushnell 22.09.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

It's one of rare case whens the movie gets Academy award, and it's worth it. It's really the best movie of 1999! Great script, perfect actors, magnificent soundtrack. It makes you think a lot. It makes you cry and laugh. And when it finishes, you're listening to 'Because' by the Beatles and you can't stand from your seat. You just keep sitting, overwhelmed. This was my reaction to this movie. This is really a MustSea! By the way, one should by ...

yatim2000 15.09.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...a story of an average American family who decide its time to make changes in thier lives. From the start, we know that Lester (Spacey) will die in a year, but yet all this is forgotten when we watch the characters grow/decline in stature. Lester smokes pot, blackmails his boss, and fantasises about his daughters friend (Angela). Lesters wife tries to present a sucessful image in life, but fails miserablly to hide her insecure interior. And thier ...
...This is an excellent story and, for me, it has a truly perfect and original script about 'real life'. The acting is outstanding by everyone, but Spacey does steal the show. It did deserve the Oscars it recieved (more in fact), and it is a must to watch. Others which are similar are: Hapiness ...

Jim-Jam 27.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...sued for! From one American Beauty to another.... You know you're in the presence of something special when a simple, character-driven movie sticks in your craw and won't let go. American Beauty is one of those movies that the average Joe will leave saying "that was pretty good I guess," and will wake up the next day saying "why can't I forget about that damn movie?" Sometimes, thanks to my severely limited intellectual abilities, I know something's ...
...mid-life in pursuit of an American dream that's universally defeating. He's in "The Matrix" big-time. Annette Bening is Kevin's wife. Last seen as Zazu the Occultist in the summer sleeper hit Minnie Driver is an Alien, Annette is a go-getting real estate agent, the virtual viral spawn of Tony Robbins and Mary Kay. "In order to be successful one must project an image of success at all times," she mantras. And in order to date Buffy one must get busy ...

Biggie 27.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...you remember the girl from AMERICAN PIE that was in Choir... who plays the oh so cute and beautiful cheerleader that lights up and ignites Kevin Spacey to live again. This is one of the most frightening portraits of a young girl that has completely fooled herself into a psychotic state of self-importance. Her own importance is measured by her desirability to others. If others want to fuck her... well that means she’s beautiful. And of course there ...
...sad statement. But wait... there are other great characters. The best, yet sickest, father / son relationship I’ve seen in film in a good long while exists between Chris Cooper and Wes Bentley. Chris Cooper plays a retired military Colonel that is intolerant of any and all other lifestyles. He wants his son to be a manly man... Willing to fight back and kick ass. He simply is not built for raising a son. He can’t accept anything other than a younger ...

naryan1 15.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...didn’t know much about this AMERICAN BEAUTY movie. Didn’t know much at all. I had retained the knowledge that it was a Kevin Spacey film, but that was about it. I had written a piece about how you folks could score free tickets to the movie if you lived in one of about 50 towns, and ya know... I’m proud as can be that I pointed those of you that are scoring tickets to this movie, to this movie. You see, this is one of those impossible films to market. ...
...it down to the basic plot elements would be about a middle age man wanting to fuck a high school cheerleader, a film that has a pot-dealing teen as a hero, a film about dissatisfaction with normalcy. A film with severe gay bashing. And sort of encourages teen runaways. Not something you can really sell. But then, those are just the surface levels of this incredibly complex story that really... at it’s core... is about the beauty of life around us. ...

naryan1 15.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

This film has some ver strange bits in. But i found it hilariously funny. The film is set very well as from the start you know that the father, Leicester, is going to get killed. But why? How? and by Who? There are lots of turns and humour that some would not like, including many sexual references and many references to masterbation. This adds to the effect and a funny scene is when the wife catches the husband masterbating in bed. I have now watched ...

MagicMeeks 15.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)