Excellent characters and story

Rating: 10/10 (28 January 2000)

American Beauty was a terrific film. Sam Mendes did an excellent job in making a visually stimulating and well integrated movie. It is my understanding that this is Mendes' first attempt at directing a film. I am anxious to see what he does next.
I also felt that the casting and acting were excellent. Kevin Spacey did a good job of demonstrating a middle-aged and middle-class husband and father who is experiencing a mid-life crisis. Annette Bening also played convincingly the role of the success-driven wife.
The movie is clearly a commentary on life in middle-class suburban America, and I feel that it hits the mark. It sheds light on some of the lunacies involved in daily life. Some of the issues explored in the film are very topical to many Americans.
American Beauty was perhaps a bit on the long side, but like any good film with a riveting plot, I didn't notice at all. All in all, well done.