In my top 10 of all time.

Rating: 10/10 (13 January 2010)

I'm usually really careful not to praise a film to the point I make it seem overrated, but it's really hard for me to speak about this film and not simply gush about how great it is.
To me, the defining factor on what makes a great film is whether or not it changes you after viewing it. If you take nothing away from it, then it's not "great." Great films change you and make you see the world in a different way than you had before. "American Beauty" is one of these films. The message is so honest and true, it really does capture the essence of this confusing, often frustrating, yet ultimately beautiful thing we call life. Some might call it pretentious and simple. I feel sorry for those people for being so cynical that they can't appreciate a message so direct and honest such as this. The main theme of the film is that when you look closer, into anything...life is beautiful.
The family you see on the surface in this movie is like an example of the American dream gone horribly awry. On the the surface, they appear to be nothing but a sad, dysfunctional group of individuals. But, as the tag line says, "look closer." This movie teaches you that even underneath the ugliest situations, there is always beauty. Even death is beautiful. Most people spend their entire lives focusing on the bad, but this movie teaches you to step back and take in the wonder and beauty of the world, even in the midst of terrible situations.
Everything about this movie is top-notch. The acting is just phenomenal from all parties. The script is never boring, and the last fifteen minutes in particular are amazing. The structure is spot on. The directing balances just the right amount of humor and drama, without making either feel overbearing. The musical score is also poignant and, like everything else in this film, fantastic.
I didn't know whether to be horribly depressed or incredibly uplifted after watching this. My emotions were just swirling inside me. For a movie to impact you on that level is amazing. This movie can change someone's life. I know that's a bold statement, but I feel comfortable in making it.