Best Drama of Summer 1999

Rating: Null/10 (26 September 1999)

Since it was released in early September, I guess we can technically call this a summer flick. In a way, this movie deserves to be put up against the big summer blockbusters for comparisons sake. But then again, it probably does not since it has far more depth and entertainment value than anything that was released this past year.
Kevin Spacey was amazing in his role as Lester Burnham. He gave me flashbacks to Usual Suspects, when he played the carefully-crafted Verbal Kint. Lester is a complex individual who has been a slave to the ordinary over the years and has finally discovered his new-found freedom that allows him to keep living life.
The ensemble of characters that compliments Spacey is excellent. Thora Birch and Wes Bently do a wonderful job. Annette Bening's character, Carolyn, is a perfect foil to Spacey's.
To top it all off, the movie is edgy. It covers areas that seem to still avoid mainstream cinema. Because of this, I feel that the Academy will "overlook" this film when it comes to Oscar time, like they have so many times before with other deserving works. It's a shame, because American Beauty is, by far, one of the best dramas put together in years.