Stupendous film debut

Rating: Null/10 (17 February 2000)

Stupendous film debut from theatrical director Sam Mendes ("Cabaret", "The Blue Room") that's a must-see for anyone who enjoyed Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm". Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening are at the head of a small family who it appears are coming apart at the seams: Bening's real-estate business can't seem to do as well as "real-estate king" Peter Gallagher, and Spacey hates his job so much he's willing to quit and work flipping burgers at a fast-food joint. Their daughter Jane (Thora Birch, in an amazingly mature performance) has to deal with insecurity and self-doubt in the face of her gorgeous model-hopeful best friend (Mena Suvari), plus figure out what to do with the intense neighbour (Wes Bentley) who seems to be obsessed with her; Bentley has his own plot on the side dealing with his military-obsessed father (a terrifying Chris Cooper) and his positively vacant mother (Allison Janney). Mendes' switch to film was the perfect thing to do; he seems to have no difficulties in understanding the medium, layering the film with incredible subtext and getting his actors to underplay over-the-top roles. Spacey absolutely shines as a man breaking free of a suburban nightmare and trying to really find the "beauty" in life, as does the ever-beautiful Bening, who seems to grow more fascinating as the years go by. Thomas Newman's unsettling score is one of the film's greatest assets of this, one of the very best films of the year.