The Our Town of the Modern Era

Rating: 10/10 (2 April 2008)

The thing that is most astounding about this film, is not the fact that this was the first film Sam Mendes ever directed, nor is it the extraordinary cast or magnificent cinematography. While these are all honorable assets to the film, the truly great thing about this film is its script. Not only is it flawless in its plot, character interactions, twists, etc. But it depicts what has now come to be known as American life, utterly, beautifully if I say so myself (no pun intended), and what I would compare to the classic play "Our Town" only built for modern day people.
Kevin Spacey, Annette Benning, Chris Cooper, Wes Bentley, and the rest of the cast are all phenomenal in every sense of the word. The direction and cinematography are precise and leave you forgetting that you're watching a movie (the mark of a good film). The movie is about Lester Burnham (Kevin Spacey), and his mid-life crisis, the people that surround him and ultimately, his death (I'm not ruining anything its said within the first 10 minutes of the movie). It begins by showing his life as a father whose teenage daughter hates him, a job he hates, and a wife who is wound a bit too tight. It also shows the new next-door neighbors, a worn-down mother, an Army Veteran, and a creepy teenage boy who likes video-taping Lester's daughter, Jane (Thora Birch). What ensues is an epic exploration into the human condition, into love (or hate), into inner beauty, and into what gives our lives true substance. This film is an immense success, and I'm sure it will be enjoyed and studied for years to come.