Trouble in suburbia

Rating: 9/10 (24 February 2016)

The Burnhams; Lester, Carolyn and daughter Jane, seem to be a typical, happy family living in a typical American suburb... of course things aren't as perfect as they outwardly appear. Lester's opening narration tells us that he will be dead within a year but he might as well be dead already. He appears to be having a midlife crisis; he hates his job and is fantasising about his teenaged daughter's friend Angela. Meanwhile Carolyn is also frustrated with her work and has an affair while Jane holds her parents in contempt. They aren't the only less than perfect family in the street; their new neighbour Colonel Fits it a bigot who beats his son Ricky for the slightest reason and Ricky is constantly watching, and filming Jane.
Lester's life changes when he overhears Angela telling Jane that she'd sleep with her father if he toned up a bit. He starts exercising, quits his job and starts smoking dope that he has bought from Ricky. As the film approaches the end there are hints at who might kill Lester but there are several possibilities; Carolyn has started going to a shooting club, Col Fits thinks Lester is involved in a sexual relationship with his son and Jane is telling Ricky she would like it if somebody killed her father.
This is a really good film; it could easily have been excessively melodramatic but a combination of a fine script, excellent direction and a top-notch cast make it engrossing and possible for the viewer to care about characters who are in many ways unsympathetic. Kevin Spacey is on top form as Lester and is ably supported by Annette Benning and Thora Birch as Carolyn and Jane. The story nicely combines moments of comedy with tragedy. Even though the ending is fairly unforgettable the film still stands up to repeat viewings. Overall a top quality film that shows a darker side to apparently ordinary lives.