Take the time.

Rating: 7/10 (27 May 2000)

American Beauty has many outstanding performances, including, of course, the leads played by Kevin Spacey and Annette Bening. There is also an exceptional characterization by newcomer Wes Bentley, who plays Ricky Fitts, the young drug-dealing philosopher. And the splendid look of the film is perfectly created by cinematographer Conrad Hall, along with wonderful production design, set creation, and, especially, a special effects crew, responsible for those unforgettable lush, red roses.
But just about everyone would agree with this. What everyone does not agree with is whether Alan Ball's script is on par with its interpreters. Much of the material is actually quite derivative. Ordinary People (1980) and Bliss (1985) are direct inspirations, but there are many others as well, including The Red Balloon (source of the floating bag motif) and Sunset Boulevard (source of the dead narrator concept). And there is some claptrap, such as the hackneyed homophobic military character and the trite soul-transformation when Lester (Kevin Spacey) decides not to consummate his lust for Angela (Mena Suvari) after he learns she's a virgin. Spacey's marvelous acting makes it credible, but there was nothing written into his character to account for such a transformation.
In spite of these flaws, there is much to recommend about American Beauty. Directed with freshness and vitality, Sam Mendes and his outstanding cast make you care about the characters and their plight. Their sensitivity is genuine. The film reminds us that we need to take the time to smell the roses, or else we will miss that which is truly beautiful.