Visually Arresting, Mentally Provocative, Emotionally Shattering

Rating: 10/10 (6 October 1999)

"American Beauty" is in many ways like a rose itself; On the outside, its surrounded with a captivating beauty, but as you get involved with it, you will understand with great pain and sadness that it also comes along with sharp, nasty thorns.

This is not your everyday American satire, instead, it is a stunning combination of family drama, character study, illicit love story, social commentary and modern tragedy. Sam Mendes has brilliantly created a film that displays the true beast that rages behind the walls of a perfect suburban home, and proves that the saying "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is nothing less than the truth. "American Beauty" has many elements that make it work, the main thing that struck me about this film was that even with it's scathing story of two families tragic exploration of moral decay and happiness, it still successfully combined both provocative humour and brutal honesty. I was astonished with it's overall sense of sincerity, it penetrated right into the dark heart of American society.

Another thing that makes this film soar is it's profundity, I was overwhelmed with it's enormous rush of richly layered meanings and thoughts, you will not believe how deeply it will impact your mind.

But of course, what would a film be without the performances? Kevin Spacey and Anette Benning are simply spectacular as the couple stuck in a loveless marriage, Mena Suvari, Chris Cooper and Wes Bentley are equally as impressive. The way this film explores these character's lives is remarkable, there is a consistent tone of complexity and truth in these people, and even though they couldn't be more flawed, we still sympathise and identify with them on so many levels.
"American Beauty" is definitely one of the best films of 1999, it shines with intelligence, imagination and heart. A triumph.