strangely affecting and effective- American Beauty joins my top 10

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2000)

In a hotel room the other night, I was checking out the options for possible in-room entertainment. It came to my attention that AMERICAN BEAUTY was available on a pay-per-view basis in the room. I've been wanting to see this movie for some time, and I seized the opportunity to do so.

Rarely in my life has a movie affected me in the way that this movie did. The strange symmetry of it all- even the parts that should have produced grief- were astounding.
There have been critics who have stated that the climax of this movie was jejune and unworthy of the film. It's MY belief that anyone who believes that is afraid to face that climax.
This movie exposes many things- the emotional death that we can avoid in our lives, the physical death that we cannot, how fear of difference can cause someone to become a twisted shadow of themselves- and all of these things are exposed with warmth and beauty- even the final sad but triumphant end.

I recommend this movie to ANYONE who can deal with difficult questions- and answers. This movie is now one of my personal Top 10.