See it, and see it again

Rating: 8/10 (1 February 2000)

The title of this film really describes it. This film is almost flawless  I say almost because beauty is never perfect, but this comes pretty close. It's about the search for beauty amid modern dreariness, and how we tend to look in all the wrong places. But it can't be summed up in one line. It's a film made up of stunning formal elements  beautifully photographed, great characters, and a tight script that never flags despite the length. And magnificent acting. It's a nice example of how craft and art can combine to produce something more than the sum of its parts.
American Beauty borrows heavily from other arthouse films of the past  most notably Ang Lee's Ice Storm  especially in its style and characterisations, and if you've seen Ice Storm you can't miss the influence  and it's just as good if not better. It's a celebration of life as well as a heavy critique of modern lives and values. This is a team effort and everybody pulls together. Kevin Spacey is wonderful  he just leaves you wanting more. His minimalist style just suits this part  you need to probe beneath the surface, which is exactly what the film is about. Thora Birch as the confused daughter and Wes Bentley as her boyfriend with the secret of life are sensitive and subtle with their roles.
The only jarring note  the flaw in this beauty  is the curiously shallow character of Caroline portrayed by Annette Bening. Compared to the rich complexity of the other characters, Caroline is flat and predictable. We never discover what really makes her tick or how she lost her joylessness. She's just there to be a vehicle for her husband and daughter, which is a puzzle. She has none of the depths that Mary Tyler Moore's character played in Ordinary People, for example. Perhaps Sam Mendes wasn't particularly interested in the character. But it doesn't matter too much as the film is so good it can take a few sour notes.
This is a film I could watch again and again  and I can't wait  and still find more depths to plumb and more issues to think about without feeling I've been lectured about life, which so many other heavy-handed Hollywood directors do to their captive audiences. A light hand on the reins, as Sam Mendes has here, can produce a far better result. 8.5 out of 10.