Without a doubt, American Beauty is one of the best films of 1999. It's freshness and inventiveness of using the cinema's most powerful tool, namely the use of visual images, make it a unique and truly wonderful film going experience.

It revolves around what maybe your typical American family, in your typical American suburb, with their typical American neighbours, the typical American job and high school experiences. But the movie takes these elements and brings them to a new level, critiquing them but at the same time allowing us to think quiet seriously about them. But American Beauty adds another level to all of this, allowing its visual elements to invites us into the heart of the movie itself.

Directed by new-comer Sam Mendes (a new-comer to film at least, he's been directing in theater for close to ten years and was hand picked to direct American Beauty by Spielberg himself), American Beauty stars Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening as a couple hopelessly lost in their suburban lives, and in search of themselves.

After being married for so long they've reached a cross road of do or die. And the movie explores their angst and frustration, and affects us as it does the characters, in many emotional ways. It explores how we search ourselves and others to make our lives complete. And just when you think everything may turn out all right real life slaps you in the face and changes everything. Spacey gives a powerful performance, turning a character that could easily have been sour and depressing into someone who is reflective and still remembers his sense of humour.

American Beauty is also full of crisp, interesting images. Be it rose petals, or simply a plastic bag blowing in the wind, this film is full of truly original visual imagery. Overall, American Beauty is powerful, moving, enlightening and funny, definetly one of the best films of 1999.

Grade: A

(c) September 27, 1999, Steven H. Lee


Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older