every critique contains spoilers

Rating: 9/10 (2 August 2005)

One of the best movies I have seen. First, kudos to Allen Ball for the script because the writing makes the whole thing possible. The direction by Sam Mendes is also a superb effort and for a first-film he has to thank his lucky stars to have a storyline and cast such as this to work with. This is a story of two people 20 years into a relationship and where their lives are and who they are, compared to what they thought life would turn out to be for them being young and idealistic and not knowing what age, maturity and responsibility would do to alter who they are (or thought they were). Did anyone notice that Angela is the incarnation of the young Carolyn? Smoking pot, speaking freely about sex and just generally enjoying life and all the while trying to convince herself that she is not whom she really is? I believe this is why Lester has such an attraction to her, it is his wife 20 years ago. Lester rediscovered himself, Carolyn refuses to do so. It is so sad to finally discover that material things and projecting a false image becomes more appealing to a person than being brave enough to live life for what it really is. You want a husband? It is a lifetime commitment. COMMITMENT. You want a family? Again, a lifetime commitment. LIFETIME. Carolyn is more concerned with her own self respect and the image she portrays to the rest of the world than enjoying what she already has. Ricky, at age 18 has already learned this. She along with Col. Fits are living sad and lonely lives based on lies they choose to live. Is it so scary to be an individual? Is it so wrong to be who you are? I don't want to go over 1,000 words so I'll leave with this - the hardest thing to do is to look at yourself in the mirror and be proud of what you see. Or is that the easiest? ...