American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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Lester Burnham is a loser. His wife and daughter loathe him for his weaknesses. He is deemed useless at work by an "efficiency expert" and is about to lose his job. He's out of shape and just plain miserable. Then, two things happen: he meets daughter Jane's best friend, Angela, and new neighbors - a retired Marine colonel, his wife and son, Rick - move into the neighborhood. These two seemingly unimportant events become a catalyst of change for Les and those around him in theater veteran Sam Mendes feature film debut, "American Beauty."

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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Once in a while, a great while, you get to see a film that is a symphony of writing, acting and filmmaking. It's the kind of movie that, as you sit there watching, you find a smile of pleasure plastered on your face for sheer enjoyment of what's happening up on the screen. "American Beauty" is such a movie. From its "sex, lies & videotape" style opening through its multiple stories that weave together like an elegant tapestry to its high-tension conclusion, the film is the best thing to come out of Hollywood this year. Maybe several years.

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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"American Beauty" has one of the best ensemble casts that have graced the screen since "The Big Chill." Led by the fabulous Kevin Spacey as Lester, the ensemble cast is made up of talented, capable actors, right down to the kids. Joining the Academy Award winning Spacey are Annette Bening as his control freak, real-estate selling wife Carolyn; a grown up Thora Birch ("Regarding Henry") as his daughter, Jane; Chris Cooper ("October Sky") is strict disciplinarian, ex-Marine Col. Frank Fitts; and, newcomer Wes Bentley plays the colonel's teenage son, Rick. Also included are Peter Gallagher ("The Player") as the slimy entrepreneur Buddy Kane, the real estate king, and Mena Suvari ("American Pie") as the sultry young fox who is the object of Lester's newly released desires. Allison Janney ("Drop Dead Gorgeous) is the Colonel's psychologically troubled wife. Scott Bakula and Sam Robards as a gay neighbors, Jim and Jim, rep the only "normal" family in the neighborhood.

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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This large cast has plenty to keep them occupied with the original screenplay by first-time feature writer Alan Ball. His script weaves a complicated tapestry with its multiple stories that impact all of the principle characters. Lester is unloved at home and at his job. His wife and daughter treat him as a useless drone whose only function is to provide a paycheck. When Les sees Jane's friend, the pretty and sexy Angela, his life changes. Les's obsession with the adolescent vixen is the catalyst of change in his life. When new young neighbor, Rick, turns on the older man to pot and a don't-give-a-damn attitude, Les seizes the chance, for once, to care about himself.

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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This tale of Lester's rebirth is complemented by the other story threads, beginning with wife Carolyn (Bening) obsessing with becoming a successful real estate broker. Her self-help tapes, owning the right house, the right car, even the right garden are how she equates happiness. When Les becomes his own man, Carolyn makes changes, too. She has a fling with Buddy Kane and takes up target shooting. Carolyn cannot accept what she is and blames Les for anything wrong in their life.

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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Jane (Thora Birch) is a troubled teen whose low self-esteem is fueled by not-so-best-friend Angela. Jane notices Rick when she catches him secretly videotaping her. At first repelled by his apparent voyeurism, she soon gets to know the boy and likes his independent spirit. Rick sells pot to finance his extensive and expensive video set up and to fool his disciplinarian father who brooks any infraction of "the rules" with sudden and brutal violence. Colonel Fitts (Chris Cooper) is a tortured man who can't adjust to civilian life and has homophobic rages that say he doth protest too much. Rick's mom withdrew from reality years before because of her husband's hateful rigidity. All of these paths and characters converge, in the end, with tragic results.

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The combination of a large and talented cast, complex stories, super intelligent writing by Alan Ball, expert art direction by Naomi Shohan, imaginative lensing by Conrad L. Hall, and deft direction by Mendes make "American Beauty" a truly special film. This is what movies are all about. I give it an A.

Reeling Reviews

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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Special Features:
- Audio Commentary by Director Sam Mendes and Screenwriter/Co-Producer Alan Ball
- "American Beauty: Look Closer…" featurette (21:52)
- Storyboard Presentation (with Commentary by Sam Mendes and Director Of Photography Conrad L. Hall) (61:17)
- Theatrical Trailer 1 (3:01)
- Theatrical Trailer 2 (1:11)
- Cast & Crew
- Production Notes

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American Beauty (1999) [Repost]

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