Superbly crafted.

Rating: 9/10 (17 March 2001)

The puzzling thing about this film for me is that no single scene will make you think "That was great". Instead, after a few moments reflection when the credits roll, you'll probably find yourself thinking, as I did, that you've just seen a great film.
(POSSIBLE SPOILERS)
IMO, the film deserved its Oscars. I don't think the film offers us ANYTHING we haven't seen before, to a greater or lesser degree, but I think that is the film's strength. In the characters and the way they act we see so much of ourselves, our frustrations made public and our inner desires laid bare. We've seen all of this before in good movies and the people we know intimately because it relates to US, in the way only the best movies and the most honest people can. Where I feel it differs from other movies that explore similar themes (I know they're out there, I just can't think of a particular example at the moment!) is this:
In satire it is all too easy to take a broad swipe at the obvious targets. The disenchanted middle-aged, for example (man or woman), without really digging under the surface and exposing what might perhaps make us a little uncomfortable. So you get the middle aged man, but you don't get him attempting to act on his desire for his teenaged daughter's best friend; OH NO! that would be too controversial and be sending out the wrong message! What the makers of "American Beauty" seem to understand is that a toothless satire just doesn't work, you need to have the courage to take your exposure to the very limits, or you shouldn't bother trying at all. "American Beauty", thankfully, doesn't pull its punches when showing the audience what life is REALLY like. The tone is also consistent throughout, which means it doesn't fall flat on its face by turning its characters into caricatures half way through.
This is down, in some way, to the script, but also to the beautifully judged performances delivered by all the cast. I think it would be deeply unfair to single out any one individual for special praise. Suffice to say that Kevin Spacey is a superb actor, as most would agree, and not even the less experienced members of the cast (Thora Birch, Wes Bentley, Mena Suvari) look out of place acting opposite him.
One thing I don't understand though: WHAT is so profound about a plastic bag blowing in the wind? I look hard, and I don't see a symbol of life's beauty/fragility, I just see litter! Greenpeace must be fuming about this... In all seriousness, though, it strikes me as one of the only false notes in the movie. It really is quite trite, and seems to be at odds with the subtlety displayed in the rest of the film. The characters themselves have done a perfectly good job of emphasising that sometimes we have to look closer to see real beauty, the point doesn't need to be laboured by such a blatant attempt at emotional manipulation. After all, it IS JUST a plastic bag!
Dubious attempt to use a device for transporting shopping as a hamfisted metaphor aside, this really IS a great film. The 90's has had its fair share of classic cinema, this is definitely one such example.