One of the most truthful and amazing movies I have ever seen.

Rating: 10/10 (11 August 2002)

I just saw this movie for the first time last night and I can't stop thinking about it. It is one of the most amazing films I have ever seen and I think it has an extremely important message which is hidden by the denial of people in society and the shamelessness of the people in Hollywood (see my trailer comment at the end). The trailer did not interest me and I dismissed the movie as another piece of hollywood crap, but after seeing the movie I'm speechless.
I've recently made a lot of drastic changes in my life and it seems like this film was exactly what I needed to see at this time. I think it has had a profound impact on my life in a time when I'm questioning almost everything in my life from friends, to family, to career. I think it is an accurate portrayal of the dark underbelly of a society of posers and people in denial of who they are, what life is about and what it has to offer.
I think one of the main reasons I loved this film is that I can definitely relate to many of the characters including Ricky (artistic and observational), his father (in denial of his sexuality and projects his anger at his family), Lester's daughter (sees her parents' breakdowns first hand), and Mena Suvari's character (totally fake personality, need to feel unique). The film does an excellent job of exposing the reality behind many people's false exteriors and presents us with another view on life and how a person can change they're life....if they're willing to.
I have to give this movie a 10. I was busy in the middle of college when this movie came out, so I don't remember what awards/ nominations this movie or its actors got, but I think it'd be one of the greatest snubs if it didn't win a lot of awards. I'm an artist and I can say that even though the trailer led me to believe that the "American Beauty" was Mena Suvari, the true American Beauty is revealed with the brutal honesty of this film.
The people who focus on the so called "negative" aspects of this movie (Lester's lust, murder, death, etc.) completely missed the message delivered in this film and I feel sorry for anyone who cannot relate/understand it.