Not your typical film.

Rating: 9/10 (16 February 2004)

In a world full of consumers and with such importance placed on self image and materialism, people struggle to find happiness.
American Beauty is a wonderfully beautiful and visually stunning achievement in film, chock full of impressive acting performances from all involved. It's visual style is something that most films can only aspire to reach or imitate. The mere use of the rose petals here is a compliment in itself. The story is one that stereotypes the lives of your typical average American, and rightfully so. It displays the faults and beauties of American culture through eccentric, but not unrealistic characters. In actuality, this movie strikes pretty close to fact just by the characters that are portrayed within it.
First of all, the acting in this film is truly remarkable. Rarely is such a competent cast assembled that not only can act, but can interact realistically with each other. Kevin Spacey shows us once again that he is extremely talented and has quite a range, worthy of recognition. He's hilarious here as a man going through a mid-life crisis as he realizes the boring person that he's become. Annette Benning, as Spacey's wife, plays a neurotic and materialistic baby-boomer mom, on the brink of a nervous breakdown as her search for happiness goes on, and as her family further plunges into failure. As an audience member, you really begin to despise her character because she pulls it off so well. In that sense, a job well done. Chris Cooper, also a very talented actor, plays the hardcore Marine father that lives next door. Through extreme punishment and discipline, he tries futilely to make his son "perfect" in his eyes. His performance displays the inherent problems with extreme discipline. The rest of the cast is very competent as well. No acting performance is below average.
Through a well placed musical score and vivid imagery, American Beauty moves along as a piece of art, with an opera like and epic feel to it, and surprising with a very minimal story that uses it's depth and characters to it's advantage. There are many meanings and interpretations to be taken here, which makes it very easy to re-watch and an excellent pick for anyone's collection. Very enjoyable and very original. More films like this should be made, and a very impressive job by a debuting director. Classic.
My one and only qualm with the film was the entirely ridiculous pot prices. Two-thousand dollars for an ounce?! Oh yeah, and it's G-13.....right. Other than that, a perfect film.