Look Closer

Rating: Null/10 (12 March 2002)

When we all look at our lives, do we ever think of what people on the outside think of what is going on in the inside? Well that is exactly what the film American Beauty allows us to do, take a look at an ordinary suburban family and see how extraordinary there lives really are. What goes on behind closed doors isn't always what you think.
Look closer at forty something ad man Lester Burnham and his status-seeking wife, Carolyn, as their marriage and lives slowly unravel. Lester's wife hates him, his daughter Jane regards him with contempt, and his boss is positioning him for the axe. As Lester decides to make a few changes in his life; the freer he gets, the happier he gets. But Lester is about to learn that the ultimate freedom comes at the ultimate price.
American Beauty is a cinema masterpiece. I cannot remember a film that astounded me so much after watching it. The story of this movie is fantastic. To be placed within the hectic family of Burnham's and there neighbourhood was great. I love how this movie was filmed. Being from almost one man's perspective was just wonderful, in addition to the way the character Ricky Fitts uses his video camera is another unique piece of cinematography. The credit for this part of the film has to go to Cinematographer Conrad L Hall, who did a superb Job. Also praise has to be given to British director Sam Mendes, who did a fantastic job bringing American Beauty to our screens. Both these men deserved their Academy awards they were awarded.
Then what can you say about the cast of American Beauty. In one word, it was BRILLIANT. The star was of course Kevin Spacey, whose Academy award winning role was outstanding. His role of Lester had many touchy subjects related to it, but he handled it with the greatest amount of class that I have seen from any actor. Spacey is a legendary actor. His on screen wife, Caroline was played by actress Annette Bening who was also very good in her role. I enjoyed her performance in the drama, The siege. The way these two performed together onscreen was just great.
The role of Jane, the Burnham's daughter, was played by Thora Birch. She was very good in her role as the ignorant and frustrated daughter. Her onscreen chemistry with Wes Bently, who played Ricky Fitts, was also very good. Then you have the most librated character on the whole film, that of Angela Hayes portrayed by Mena Suvari. Her role was extremely controversial, with the nude scenes that she plays extraordinary. I love the use of rose petals with her character, and the way that both Spacey and Suvari handled there semi-love scenes onscreen. It is a shame that Suvari will no longer be doing these sort scenes since she has had a clause put into her contract.

There are many funny and very unforgettable scenes in this movie. The funniest and most tense of them all, would have to be at the dinner table, when Lester cracks the sh_ts with his family after losing his job. It was a brilliant scene and one that I could imagine might have taken more than one take. There are many personal scenes played by Spacey that I have so much respect for the man as an actor. The other funny scene is in the drive-thru, when Lester catches his wife cheating on him, very funny.
This movie is also a great view of how sinful our world really is, that is if you believe in sin. There is many situations that a religious person can say that this is the case with this film. Firstly there is infidelity, then there is reference to and there is murder, homosexuality, hatred and bitterness. This movie really does portray what life really is like.
So all in all, American beauty is one exceptional film. It has everything that you could want. It gives a good look at what life is really like. I can relate to this movie, considering my family was not unlike the Burnham's. It was like this between our mother and father, and family for that matter. It was an act for us and there was an act for everyone else. It was sort of fake in a way and it is exactly what American Beauty is trying to say I think. I love the dialogue between Lester and his Neighbour Frank, when they say:
`Where's your wife?'
'Uh, I dunno. Probably out f__king that dorky, prince-of-real-estate guy.'
`Your wife is with another man and you don't care?'
'Nope. Our marriage is just for show. A commercial for how normal we are when we're anything but.'
I believe many marriages and family's are just a commercial, but perhaps I am being a little general and biased in my observation. Anyway this film deserves all it accolades that it got and I am going to one day add to my DVD collection. This film is an 'American Beauty', look closer at it by all means.
Rating: 5 Stars or 10/10