American Beauty
3.5/4
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher
Rated R for Strong Sexuality, Language, Violence and Drug Content
While that's certainly a cynical viewpoint, there's a lot of truth in that belief. Does every "director" of whatever imagine that they're going to be doing that for the rest of their lives when they're four? Of course not. A lot of that has to do with said four year old not knowing about the business world, but still.
That's the reality that the Burnham family has faced, and they're all just beginning to realize it. Lester (Spacey) has been walking through life in a semi-comatose state, until his mind and spirit are awoken when his daughter's gorgeous friend Angela (Suvari) arouses his animal instincts. Carolyn (Bening) has bought into the superficiality of suburbia and is desperately clinging to what little comfort it provides as she sees her husband rebel. Their daughter, Jane (Birch), despises her parents, especially when they "try to take an interest in her." She's being videotaped by Ricky Fitts (Bentley), the mysterious boy next door. Initially, she finds this to be creepy, but then finds it cool and affectionate. Ricky's relationship with his parents is also hostile, with his dad (Cooper), a clearly disturbed Marine, lives his life as if he's still in boot camp, and his mother (Janney) is barely aware of the world around her.
The film is about how people try to find themselves once they realize that their lives are a fantasy. Many films have taken this route, but few have been as bleak and as cynical. There is humor in this film, but much of it is of the dark variety. I think a lot of people will do some deep soul searching after watching this movie. It's that kind of film.
The acting is terrific. Kevin Spacey, one of our most versatile actors, is great as the man who finally stops buying into the bullshit and openly defies it. He is excited by his interest in Angela and begins working out to impress her. Annette Bening is good, but has her over-the-top moments. She's deeply superficial, but not because she's a narcissist, but because her life has become all she knows, and the reality that she is deeply unhappy is something that she wants to avoid acknowledging. Thora Birch, who would later go on to portray the most aggravating character I've ever seen in "Ghost World," is quite good as the teenager whose contempt for her parents has caused her to give up hope that they'll ever be tolerable. She has great chemistry with Bentley, who manages to be creepy and sexy at the same time. Their story is in some ways the most interesting because they are so good. Mena Suvari is adequate as the Lolita who takes advantage of Lester's interest in her, but there are moments where she is stiff or over-the-top. Chris Cooper is genuinely frightening as the deranged Frank. This man is not right in the head.
"American Beauty" is the film debut of director Sam Mendes (after two TV movies). He was chosen by executive producer Steven Spielberg, whose instincts are right on the money. This is a provocative and well thought out movie that forces us to look at our lives. The characters and their situations are compelling and more importantly, it's intelligent and knowing. Everyone will see themselves in at least one of the characters, and will likely see someone they know in one of them. The exceptions are Ricky and Frank, although that's not really a criticism since they're so well written and acted.
It's not flawless; some scenes are played too broadly and would be more effective if they displayed a harder edge, and Carolyn's dalliances with the uber-successful and sleazy real estate agent competitor Buddy Kane (Gallagher) aren't as interesting because Carolyn doesn't come across as real as everyone else. And there's clip at the end that is part of the finale but how it fits into it isn't explained (although it's easy to guess). Still, this is a eye-opener.
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley, Chris Cooper, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher
Rated R for Strong Sexuality, Language, Violence and Drug Content
I just don't want to be ordinary.When we're little, we all have big dreams about what we want to be. "I want to be a fireman!" "I want to be a police officer!" "I want to be a doctor!" "I want to be a movie star!" When we're young, the possibilities seem endless, as if we can get anything we want. While it's true that America is the "Land of the Free" and with hard work you can do anything you want, the reality is that either through circumstance or changing interests, most of us don't become what we dream of and end up sitting in a cubicle somewhere pushing money around on a computer.
While that's certainly a cynical viewpoint, there's a lot of truth in that belief. Does every "director" of whatever imagine that they're going to be doing that for the rest of their lives when they're four? Of course not. A lot of that has to do with said four year old not knowing about the business world, but still.
That's the reality that the Burnham family has faced, and they're all just beginning to realize it. Lester (Spacey) has been walking through life in a semi-comatose state, until his mind and spirit are awoken when his daughter's gorgeous friend Angela (Suvari) arouses his animal instincts. Carolyn (Bening) has bought into the superficiality of suburbia and is desperately clinging to what little comfort it provides as she sees her husband rebel. Their daughter, Jane (Birch), despises her parents, especially when they "try to take an interest in her." She's being videotaped by Ricky Fitts (Bentley), the mysterious boy next door. Initially, she finds this to be creepy, but then finds it cool and affectionate. Ricky's relationship with his parents is also hostile, with his dad (Cooper), a clearly disturbed Marine, lives his life as if he's still in boot camp, and his mother (Janney) is barely aware of the world around her.
The film is about how people try to find themselves once they realize that their lives are a fantasy. Many films have taken this route, but few have been as bleak and as cynical. There is humor in this film, but much of it is of the dark variety. I think a lot of people will do some deep soul searching after watching this movie. It's that kind of film.
The acting is terrific. Kevin Spacey, one of our most versatile actors, is great as the man who finally stops buying into the bullshit and openly defies it. He is excited by his interest in Angela and begins working out to impress her. Annette Bening is good, but has her over-the-top moments. She's deeply superficial, but not because she's a narcissist, but because her life has become all she knows, and the reality that she is deeply unhappy is something that she wants to avoid acknowledging. Thora Birch, who would later go on to portray the most aggravating character I've ever seen in "Ghost World," is quite good as the teenager whose contempt for her parents has caused her to give up hope that they'll ever be tolerable. She has great chemistry with Bentley, who manages to be creepy and sexy at the same time. Their story is in some ways the most interesting because they are so good. Mena Suvari is adequate as the Lolita who takes advantage of Lester's interest in her, but there are moments where she is stiff or over-the-top. Chris Cooper is genuinely frightening as the deranged Frank. This man is not right in the head.
"American Beauty" is the film debut of director Sam Mendes (after two TV movies). He was chosen by executive producer Steven Spielberg, whose instincts are right on the money. This is a provocative and well thought out movie that forces us to look at our lives. The characters and their situations are compelling and more importantly, it's intelligent and knowing. Everyone will see themselves in at least one of the characters, and will likely see someone they know in one of them. The exceptions are Ricky and Frank, although that's not really a criticism since they're so well written and acted.
It's not flawless; some scenes are played too broadly and would be more effective if they displayed a harder edge, and Carolyn's dalliances with the uber-successful and sleazy real estate agent competitor Buddy Kane (Gallagher) aren't as interesting because Carolyn doesn't come across as real as everyone else. And there's clip at the end that is part of the finale but how it fits into it isn't explained (although it's easy to guess). Still, this is a eye-opener.
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