American Beauty - A near life experience.

Rating: 10/10 (16 September 2010)

As some other reviewers have commented - this is a truly remarkable film, a one off.
It grazes, in some cases rather deeply, the placidity, the complacency, the inauthenticity of the middle class, middle age experience. A wonderful film which opens doors just enough for us to get a peep at something uplifting - and then that experience is dashed.
There is violence just below the surface, murder even. Yet there is passion, deep-seated need. Above all this film gives us a near life experience.
The acting is - well; superb. Spacey rightly gets an Oscar. He dominates but does not carry the film. Wes Bentley gives an amazing performance. At the time I was sure he was destined for great things.
Superb soundtrack - brilliant screenplay.
There are so many superlatives for this movie. A must see.