Beautiful!!

Rating: 10/10 (24 July 2001)

I've found it difficult to get people to agree with me, but I feel American Beauty functions well in all of the major aspects of film; photography, script, direction, acting, editing, score, production design, etc. Most of the people where I live have a hard time with the content of the movie; the language, sexual references, nudity, substance abuse, etc. And although I myself don't approve of those things either, I felt that American Beauty does not glorify them. In fact, the movie made me feel glad that my life is not that bad. Admittedly, the characters are very cliche and represent a specific stereotype, but I think I could identify with some of the characteristics of all of the characters.
I felt that the editing between the different story lines was great. It kept moving between them and kept the viewers interest in the story. All of the actors did a wonderful job. I love Kevin Spacey and I'm looking forward to more work from Wes Bentley. Alan Ball's script is witty, and biting. And I loved the films score. It wonderfully accompanies the mood of the story.
I don't want to spoil the movie for anybody who hasn't seen it yet, so I won't reveal any plot specifics. But please, see this movie at least once. Maybe you'll love it, maybe you'll hate it. Either way, this movie will do something to you. It will make you feel something.