Can anyone say "Rip off"?

Rating: 1/10 (5 June 2000)

Take two infinitely more superior films called "The Ice Storm" and "Happiness" and mix them together in a bowl. Add a touch. Just a touch of Alan Ball's imagination and you have "American Beauty". The most over-hyped and over-praised film I've seen in my life.
In one measly little sentence...this film is NOT new. I've seen it all before and better in the aforementioned films. While I do think that the cinematography and color design was the best thing about the film the absolute worst was the rest. There is not any film out there that can be as pompous and self-serving as this garbage.
It may be well cast and the actors my ravage their roles with unholy relish but it just isn't new. It's been done already. I rank this with "The Insider" as one of those movie people only see the good side of and give good reviews to without realising they have been brainwashed by other peoples opinions before seeing it. If this is not the case they only give it a decent review out of respect to the filmakers/actors previous work. I'm not kidding. For both of these movies this is the conclusion I reached after pooling many peoples opinions.
"American Beauty" is VERY, VERY overhyped and NOT original. See it and make up your own mind. Don't listen to anyone elses voice but your own. If you still like it then I still respect you.