TRULY BEAUTIFUL, IN MANY WAYS...MY #2 MOVIE OF THE 90'S

Rating: Null/10 (25 July 2000)

(Some things in the review could be considered spoilers, so don't read if you really want to see the movie and haven't, etc.) Many people just automatically discard any movie that's rated R because of the reasons given for this, but I urge you not to do that for American Beauty. Totally deserving of its Best Picture Oscar (and Bening deserved one!), as someone else stated, all the reasons given for the R-rating are crucial to the plot.
It chronicles the life and activities of Lester Burnham from the time the movie starts to the ending, his death. From the opening shots of the anywhere-USA street to the ending scene where the same thing is shown zooming out, this movie has you totally captivated. For a while after I saw it, I wasn't really sure how I felt...then ultimately, it hit me. This movie puts a mirror right into so many American faces, telling them so many things (and many that are going on to themselves right then).
This is something that shows the utter greatness of the film: audiences will grow to love and side with a middle aged, depressed man who fantasizes about young girls and smokes pot. This is just showing you, and oh how so well it does, that not everyone is perfect, and that you really can see the TRUE beauty in things if you just "look closer."
Spacey certainly deserved his Oscar for Best Actor; he made the others look like lightweights. Not all dramatic, it had its funny, and even hilarious moments, bringing about the epitome of a blend between drama, comedy, poignancy, and insight. The shining performance of Spacey as the everyday Lester Burnham is almost equaled, if not eclipsed, by Annette Bening's portrayal of Carolyn Burnham, his workaholic real estate wife. Bening is so real as the sugary sweet with a mean streak Carolyn that it reminds me of people I know! I thought Thora Birch's performance was far overlooked as Jane; I'd even go as far as a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
Overall, this film is just so incredible that you can't put it into words. My #2 of the 90's (a close 2nd to 1994's The Madness Of King George), rent it if you haven't seen it.
5/5 Stars.