American Beauty (DVD)

This is a beautifully made film, which is funny and a good satire on America and people’s weaknesses. The main character’s obsession with a teenage friend of his daughter is only a part of the film’s theme and the narrative touches on the state of business and religion and other “American beauties”. It is quite a long film but time never seemed to drag whilst I was watching it. The acting, especially by Kevin Spacey, is excellent and it is a joy ...

MarkAlston 09.08.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...lots of awards from the American film industry must be considered at least a little predictable and suspect, at best. I got a surprise though when I saw American Beauty. Right from the very beginning it just made me laugh and laugh. It worked a wonderful spin on the American way of life. It was all there and it was incredibly well put together. From a gay point of view, it was simply side-splitting. I don’t know how it worked from a straight outlook, ...

markedwards 29.07.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...on a popular theme, an American family with a troubled teenage daughter with strange parents. The film however has some clever twists. One day, the father, Kevin Spacey snaps and makes some changes in his life, whilst losing any inhibitions he once had. He becomes infatuated with his daughters best friend, even resorting to body building to impress her. The plot, acting and humour keeps you captivated. This is a thouroughly enjoyable film. Worth ...

bigphil 24.07.2000 · Read full review
Review of American Beauty (DVD)

American Beauty was one of those movies that I never got round to seeing at the cinema. I recently saw it on DVD and was mightily impressed. I had not really spent too much time looking into what it was about so it came as a very pleasant suprise. Briefly the story is set in modern day America and centres around family in crisis, Kevin Spacey plays the middle-aged father (Lester Burnham) who lusts after his teenage daughter's best friend (Angela) ...
...There were many things about American Beauty that I particularly liked. The first has to be the performance by Kevin Spacey. What a fantastic actor. He revelled in the role and for me the success of the film hinged on this performance. The timing and delivery of the 'funny bits' always spot on. Take nothing away from the other actors but Spacey stood head and shoulders above them all. Second was the way the film was directed and filmed. Without ...

bobfibber 08.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

This film certainly had a lot of hype to live up to. Not being able to catch it at the cinema, I waited patiently to rent it, and finally I got round to it, and I was certainly glad I did. I wasn't entirely sure what the film was about, when I rented it, apart from some guy(Kevin Spacey) having a mid life crisis. Which is true. But there are other elements, his daughter(your average, insecure, angry teenager) has a friend who thinks her dad is sexy(to ...
...been in a mental institution. Kevin Spacey's wife(forgive me, I'm no good on names) is having an affair with some really smarmy git with big eyebrows(who I totally recognise). It doesn't sound so inspiring so far does it, but it truly is. The performances from all(although especially Mr. Spacey) are excellently carried out and convincing, the dialogue is witty and sharp and it is an all round good film. The ending is also very appropriate and lets ...

arcadionseyes 15.02.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

American Beauty is the story of a typical suburban family living in America, in what is seen as the 'happy normal family life'. This illusion is shattered when Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey) decides to change his life, upon seeing his daughter’s friend Angela. Lester's 'mid life crisis' results in dramatic changes to the whole household. Upon seeing Angela Lester's life changes, he begins to feel like a man again, shown by his new obsession with ...
...will be a confrontation. American Beauty is an enrapturing film, which will make you want to continue watching. The way in which it has been shot and directed is spectacular, capturing the exact essence of what this film is about. American Beauty displays what happens when a person goes against what is considered the norm, it reflects how easily the mirage of American family life can be broken. I truly enjoyed this film and would thoroughly recommend ...

lilkat 22.02.2004 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

A friend of mine and myself when to the cinema to see this film and what a let down it was. The more I watched, the more I felt tired.. what a bore, no action, no story, and no nothing, I even had to ask my friend "what is this about" even she didnt't know. All I could see was a middle aged man how had the hots for his daughters friend and was having problems with his wife and his own mind. I was a complete waste of time and money. In my opinion ...

bluemum 14.07.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

American beauty promised much with media hype around Oscar’s time and the eventual nomination for 54 academy awards. (Well it may as well have been). The film itself was a surreal look at American family life and through the fantastic performances of Kevin Spacey and Annette Benning. A shockingly narrow plot sits at the bottom of the pan and fails to thicken at all. The catch phrase should have been “Its good but not that good. Yes it was enjoyable, ...

MarcusPerkins 06.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...not prone to believing every American citizen cliche in the proverbial book, then this, I assure you, is a film for you. Mid-Life crisis, psychotically restrictive fathers habouring severe sexuality insecurities and, well, asparagus. So typically British, yes? Well, not if newcomer Sam Mendes has anything to do with it. This beautifully shot snapshot of suburban serenity (or not) follows the life of the real American family; not all glitz and glamour, ...
...you thought a drama couldn't be funny, then look again, as the rose-laden mid-riff-molesting promo poster tells you to. And that is an instruction worth taking. What you would expect from Hollywood is more of the same. What you get is Kevin Spacey, the most versatile and unpredictable current talent. And he is simply superb. And the dialogue? A twisting, turning subtley superior tour-de-force of emotion, intrigue and sexual desire. And a bath full ...

slim_sim_uk 16.05.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...probably means more to an American audience as it deals with American values & the American dream life (& that it’s not everything it’s thought to be). It also shows that the images that people project are not really the people they are. Annette Benning is excellent as Spacey’s power-driven wife who is increasingly angered by the changes in her husband. It is a sad film in a way though a happy ending would have spoilt it totally and I don’t think ...

Alix23 10.09.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

Before I say anything about this film, one thing I will say is you should at least rent this movie even if you think it’s not the sort of movie for you. I thought just that, but was infact very impressed with the movie. So what’s this film about? Well, I’ll tell you, but I will only tell you the outline otherwise I’ll be giving the film away! Lester is married to Caroline. They have one teenage daughter (about 18 yr’s ...
...on the outside. However, things start to fall apart when Lester goes to see a school show that has his daughter in and falls for one of her friends. Things get worse as this friend starts to come around to his house more often as a friend of his daughters and he begins to get obsessed by her. Because of this he starts to change his life and consequently, so does his wife….. You’ll have to watch the film to get the rest otherwise I’ll ...

GR-Design 18.01.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

American Beauty is a powerful commentary about finding the joy in life and remembering what is really important. The film tells the story about Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), a 42-year-old man who announces to the audience at the outset that he has less than a year to live. He goes to his daughter Jane's (Thora Birch) cheerleading debut and he then notices her friend Angela (Mena Suvari) and everything changes for him. Lester's erotic fixation on ...
...potential sex partner. American Beauty is a true ensemble piece and it is the interaction of each character's story that makes this such a complex and rewarding movie. Movies like this, movies that both touch the soul and challenge the heart, don't come around very often. I thought that this film was one of the best a wee bit dirty but what do you expect. It was rated 18. I also think that the soundtrack to it was good if you havent already seen ...

leeds_united_17 13.06.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

...well-behaved 42-year-old dreg of an American dad until he spots his teenaged daughter's girl friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari) whose beauty transforms him. Part of the fun of this very funny and enjoyable movie is watching Lester break out of his self-imposed shell and blossom with the rose petals as he tells everybody what he really thinks as though he had nothing to lose. His daughter Jane is a brooding raven-haired beauty who likes to put on ...
...have here is your typical American suburban street. What makes American Beauty a great success is a witty script with a deep and beautiful lesson for our age by Alan Ball, superb direction by Sam Mendes and outstanding performances from just about everybody in the cast. Benning is brilliant with her silly finger gesture and her one foot sideways stance, like a fawn just learning to walk, and her squinty little eyes full of merriment, and that raised ...

Ronny 19.08.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

What can I say? This movie has left me feeling so good. I must have only seen it about half an hour ago, but I had to come and review it because that is how good it is. Featuring Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening as a couple whose marriage is falling apart. Lester Burnham (Spacey) is this forty something guy who decides to make a few changes with his life, such as smoking dope, buying a Firebird car, and sleeping with his daughter's friend. Very ...
...Spacey, give the film an almost Woder Years style feel, but it is very good all the same. You are not prepared for the ending at all, but it finishes in such a way that everything is rounded off nicely. I won't spoil it for you, just go and buy it. ...

RussellC 23.03.2001 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)

After watching American Beauty I left the cinema feeling lifeless. The movie did not inspire any particular emotion in me, but it actually removed good feelings from inside me. I did not enjoy this movie at all. It may be a "real" look at what has become of the "American Dream" - but frankly, I don't need to see it. There were characters, such as the gay neighbours, who featured so little in the movie that I have to wonder why they were brought ...
...the new neighbours with a military father and a disturbed mother. The mother's story brought to the surface so many issues which could have been delved into much deeper. But instead her situation is presented to the viewer and then left, as if it is no longer of consequence. The focus is on other people, other themes, and this even gets repetitive. I felt too that the director did not credit the audience with much intelligence. The common theme ...

WednesdayAddams 10.08.2000 · Read full review
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Review of American Beauty (DVD)