An American Classic

Rating: 10/10 (14 January 2001)

Simply a perfect movie. Sam Mendes' gives us a spectacular adaptation of Alan Ball's tale of the hidden underbelly of sedate suburbia. Kevin Spacey is subtly breathtaking as Lester, a man on the verge of his mid-life crisis. Annette Bening is equal to the task as his neurotic possession-obsessed spouse. The tension between them is palpable and convincing, as is the conflict they have with their daughter played wonderfully by 17-year-old Thora Birch. Through their family dynamic as well as the one examined next door at the Fitts household, we see that all is not well within the confines of our white picket fences. Mendes' use of slow motion photography and music gives us ample opportunity to peer into the fantasies Lester Burnham has created to combat the tedium of his anaesthetized existence. The object of his lust, a superficial yet vulnerable comulsive liar, is portrayed beautifully by Mena Suvari, who rebounds in a big way from her somewhat wooden role in American Pie. This movie blossoms on every level and obviously smelled sweet to the Academy. As Lester would say, this movie RULES.