Questioning Beauty?

Rating: Null/10 (8 January 2003)

One of the three post-modern must see films (along with Fight Club and The Matrix). American Beauty is the stand-out American feature of the time. It's just one of those good films, one which i can't see anyone disliking. It has a plot, and is crafted perfectly; one for the critics and the movie-goers. One for society; what IS American Beauty? So many things are said in this film, that you'll take enjoyment from it time and time again. I cannot stress how much you should see it.
The film takes us through the life of the suburbian white American family, the father, mother and daughter. Alongside them, we have another, father, mother and son. The story chronicles their relationships, their absurdities, and questions almost every facet of society, and the pretence of it all.
It is not something which will make you cringe with politics, all this can be escaped should you want to not see it. You don't have to sit and wonder at the iconography either(why the roses, why red?), or wonder about mise en scene, and why things are so bland, the greatness in it lies in the fact that it IS there, should you want to, but isn't the focus point of the film.
It has everything. Titilation (in the bluntest sense!), thought, feeling and humour. So much so that it cannot be categorised. Watch it, you'll see. American-Beautiful!